《Infinite Range: The Sniper Mage》


 Chapter 1 1: The Human Cannon

    "Listen up, everyone. Our studio doesn''t keep freeloaders around. When *Infinite Dimensions* opens, don''t pick any useless sses."


    "Warriors, Pdins, Priests, Archers¡ªthose are fine. You won''t have trouble finding dungeon runs or a gold-farming squad."


    "Our goal is simple: make money! Go all out for the money!"


    In Baiguo City, inside a small online gaming studio, the manager, Charles, was hyping up his staff with a fiery pep talk.


    *Infinite Dimensions*unching?


    Wasn''t that five years ago?


    In the corner of the studio, Orson''s eyes snapped open.


    "This is... Rank Studio?"


    Orson nced around, bewildered, at the familiar yet strange faces around him, muttering in disbelief, "Did I¡­ juste back to life?"


    He grabbed his phone from the desk. The screen disyed the date clearly: June 12, 2027.


    "Unbelievable... five years ago. I''m back on the day *Infinite Dimensions*unched!" Orson shot up from his seat in shock.


    The global hype around *Infinite Dimensions* imed it was the closest thing to a second reality, co-created by three leading AIpanies. But Orson knew howughable that notion was.


    The truth? *Infinite Dimensions* was a trial world crafted by the gods of the gxy to train humans to resist interdimensional creatures!


    When the game firstunched, everything seemed normal. But three yearster, *Infinite Dimensions* would merge with reality, flipping the game into hardcore survival mode. Death in the game would mean real death.


    In the fifth year of the Infinite Dimensions Era, Orson had been exploring ancient ruins when he found an extremely rare item. Jealous, the strongest guild in the U.S., Dragon''s Kiss, hunted him down and ambushed him, leaving him dead.


    Seeing Orson standing there, Charles scowled and sneered sarcastically, "Certain washed-up pros can pick a cash-hungry ss like Mage if they want¡ªbut if you don''t cough up at least two gold a day, don''t bother showing up."


    "Orson, don''t waste your energy on people like him."


    Next to him, Bradley whispered, urging Orson not to lose his cool and give Charles an excuse to make trouble.


    "Bradley! Good ol'' Bradley, still fresh as ever!" Orson was stunned for a second, then lit up with excitement.


    Bradley gaped at him in confusion. Orson quickly covered, "Er¡­ looks like you''ve slimmed down a bit. Almost didn''t recognize you."


    "Yeah, starving nine times out of ten does that to you."


    Scratching the back of his head, Bradley nced at Orson, puzzled by his odd behavior. "Hey, with your skills in ranged DPS, you could y Archer and still earn enough to cover Sienna''s surgery. Don''t worry too much."


    The smile on Orson''s face froze, and he murmured, "Sienna?"


    In hisst life, Orson had been a professional eSports yer, winning the national championship for three years in a row for one of the hottest online games. Fans called him the undisputed Arcane God, Orgod.


    But then he got dragged into a match-fixing scandal. Kicked out by his club and pped with millions in damages, his reputation was ruined. The name Orgod became a disgrace in the gaming scene, and he could only make ends meet by grinding for gold in a studio.


    Sienna was his little sister. They didn''t share blood, but they grew up together in an orphanage, and Orson treated her as family.


    Two days ago, Sienna''s kidneys started failing, and the doctors issued a critical warning. She urgently needed a kidney transnt, an operation costing eight hundred thousand yuan, just for a slim chance at survival.


    Desperate and heavily in debt, Orson had begged his former teammates, now minor celebrities, for help. Instead of kindness, he faced endless humiliation.


    "I was just thirty thousand short... I failed her. I''m such a failure!"


    "Big brother, don''t worry about me. I''m ready¡­ take me home, okay?"


    Five years had passed, but that conversation still haunted him. Even as he died, regret and guilt tormented Orson.


    Now, gritting his teeth, Orson clenched his fists. He had been given another chance, and he was determined to change their fate this time.


    "Hey, Orson, I know it''s not much, but here''s twenty thousand. It''s all I have; maybe it''ll help for now." Bradley carefully pulled out a bank card.


    Orson''s expression softened, and he gently pushed the card back with a grateful smile. "Hold onto it, Bradley. I''ll rack up some rare loot and gather the money myself."


    "Alright! I believe you can do it!" Bradley breathed a sigh of relief.


    As soon as the server opened, Orson donned his VR helmet and entered the game.


    "Three years in beginner mode. I need to get as strong as possible before hardcore mode kicks in. This time, I''ll protect everyone!" Taking a deep breath, Orson''s gaze sharpened with resolve.


    At the character creation screen, dazzling CGI trailers showcased each ss.


    *Infinite Dimensions* had an unmatched level of freedom in character sses. Six base sses, ny-nine subsses, with further advancements at levels 20 and 50. There were also hundreds of hidden sses awaiting discovery.


    "Select your ss and name."


    Orson didn''t hesitate. "Mage. Username: Orgod."


    With that, he appeared dressed in a white robe, holding a wooden beginner''s staff.


    Suddenly, a system window popped up: "Dear yer, could we trouble you to fill out a brief survey?"


    "Maintain a 60% uracy rate, and you''ll have a chance to win rewards like silver coins and Soul Imprints!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Orson smirked. Most gamepanies threw out simr gimmicks, often stingy with real rewards in the end.


    But at the mention of a Soul Imprint, he couldn''t help but feel intrigued. "I always did wonder what that Soul Imprint was all about¡­ An Elite-grade imprint could be interesting."


    In *Infinite Dimensions*, equipment and items were fully tradeable, but Soul Imprints were permanent once equipped. A character''s ss defined their baseline potential, but Soul Imprints determined their ultimate ceiling, acting as a yer''s innate skill.


    yers could only slot three Soul Imprints: Human, Sacred, and Divine.


    The quality tiers, from lowest to highest, were: Mortal, Spirit, Lord, Elite, and Godly.


    In his past life, the rare item that got Orson killed was an Elite Soul Imprint, and it had been an unbreakable source of envy and death.


    It was early in the game, so every second counted. Most yers would skip the survey. But Orson remembered a schr yer who had won a Lord-grade Soul Imprint worth millions just forpleting it, giving him a huge advantage at the start.


    Enduring the endless questions, Orson started answering. The first few questions were straightforward, mostly about gaming knowledge, the yer''s experience, and familiarity with the background lore.


    "If your teammates die while fighting a boss, and you''re left alone, what would you do?"


    A. Quit the team to minimize losses.


    B. me your teammates in the chat.


    C. Run and pray for your teammates.


    D. Fight to the death.


    Orson frowned slightly, realizing the questions were getting tougher. After a moment, he picked D.


    "Correct answer!"


    Orson nodded in approval. *Infinite Dimensions* had no patience for the weak; pushing boundaries was the game''s main theme.


    Four hourster, Orson was thoroughly drained but still answering questions.


    "Is this what they call a ''brief'' survey?"


    Five hundred questions covered everything from ss strengths and weaknesses to strategic approaches. For new yers, it was a nightmare.


    Luckily, Orson''s experience kept him going.


    "Ding!"


    "Incredible! Your uracy rate is over 99%. Rating: Extraordinary Talent!"


    "You''ve earned a Godly-grade Human Soul Imprint!"


    "You''re the first yer worldwide to finish the survey! Bonus reward: a Super God-grade Human Soul Imprint!"


    Orson froze, stunned. What... a Super God-grade Imprint?


    In his previous life, fewer than ten yers in the entire Chinese region had ever received a God-grade Soul Imprint. He''d never even heard of a Super God-grade one.


    "Would you like to equip the Soul Imprint?"


    A pure white imprint hovered in front of him. Heart pounding, Orson swallowed hard and nodded.


    "Congrattions! Your Human Soul Imprint has been awakened!"


    **[Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye]: Super God-grade**


    *Passive Skill 1*: Every 10 monsters killed increases attack range by 1 meter (initial cap: 0/1000 meters).


    Deities'' Comment: "What''s wrong with an absurdly long range for Mages?"


    *Passive Skill 2*: Every monster killed increases mana by 1 point (initial cap: 0/10,000 MP).


    Deities'' Comment: "So what if Mages have endless mana?"


    "Holy¡­ monster kills boost my mana and attack range? And it levels up even more?"


    Orson rubbed his face in disbelief. This Soul Imprint was¡­ insanely overpowered!


    With no hesitation, he started the game.


    Orson could hardly wait to confirm whether he was dreaming or if the developers of *Infinite Dimensions* had truly lost their minds.


    The screen shifted, and Orson appeared in Newbie Vige #3313.


    Two hours into the server''sunch, the vige was still packed, a testament to the game''s poprity.


    Ignoring the main quest, he headed straight for the nearest monster spawn zone.


    **[ck-skinned Goblin: Level 1]**


    **[HP: 80/80]**


    **[Attack: 6]**


    Orson skimmed his own stats: 10 points of magic attack, 100 HP, 50 MP.


    Taking down this newbie goblin was easy, though it would barely drop any rewards.


    He raised his staff andunched a basic fireball attack.


    -10


    -10


    After eight hits, the goblin fell, taking a few swings with its rusty knife. Each fireball drained one MP, so he lost a total of 8 MP.


    And that was why the Mage was the ultimate cash-guzzling ss. Even a basic attack consumed mana, making it dependent on rare equipment with mana regen stats and high-cost magic books.


    If you invested tens of thousands, a Mage might outshine a standard ss, but it was a role for big spenders only.


    "You have in a [ck-skinned Goblin], gaining +3 experience."


    **[You have been blessed by the Great Spirit God, increasing your attributes slightly.]**


    Suppressing his excitement, Orson checked his status panel again: **MP 42/51!**


    It was a small increase, but Orson knew it was just the beginning.


    "So this is a Super God-grade Soul Imprint? It''s absolutely broken!"


    A chill ran down Orson''s spine. If he continued grinding Level 1 goblins until he maxed out¡­


    The *Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye* at level cap would grant him 10,000 MP and a range of one kilometer!


    He wouldn''t be a Mage; he''d be a human cannon!


    He could practically stand in the vige and nuke bosses in the wild!

 Chapter 2 2: It Really Got Longer!

    "I actually¡­ got longer!"


    Orson took down ten goblins in one go, his eyes brimming with excitement as his attack range extended from the initial 10 meters to 11 meters.


    A mere one-meter increase might seem trivial to most, but for a former pro like Orson, it was a game-changer. That extra meter meant he could keep opponents at bay with his positioning, making it impossible for them tond a basic attack, and giving him the first strike advantage in PvP.


    If his range increased by 10 meters, 100 meters¡­ or even 1,000 meters¡­ He''d be an invisible nightmare, eliminating yers without them even realizing who had attacked.


    "Your level has increased to Level 2."


    Orson checked his stats panel. With the range boost from **Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye**, he didn''t have to worry about close-quarters death risks. He poured all five of his newly-earned attribute points into magic attack power.


    With 15 points in attack power, taking down a goblin now required just six basic attacks instead of eight.


    "You have in a [ck-skinned Goblin], gaining +2 experience."


    ¡­


    His MP was drained once again. Without any mana regeneration equipment, Orson was forced to rely on the basic skill **Meditation** to restore it.


    "This is still too slow."


    It took him at least 5 seconds to lock onto a goblin and 10 seconds to kill it, so at most he could grind four monsters per minute. Plus, since the goblins were lower level, the experience points were diminishing, and with plenty of other yers aroundpeting for kills, finishing the 10,000 goblin target could take ages.


    But Orson didn''t mind. He returned to the Newbie Vige and epted the main quest from the vige elder, then opened up his magic talent tree.


    **Talent Points Remaining: 2**


    Each level granted one talent point.


    In *Infinite Dimensions*, the talent tree determined a character''s growth path. Before advancing, Mages had four primary paths: Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth.


    - **Water Mages** were well-rounded, with both offense and defense.


    - **Wind Mages** had short cooldowns and excelled at one-on-one battles.


    - **Earth Mages** maximized defense and crowd control.


    - **Fire Mages** specialized in raw damage, with the drawback of high mana consumption and low survivability.


    Given his Super God-grade Soul Imprint, Orson was determined to go the Fire Mage route.


    *System message:* "Apologies, the Magic Talent Tree is not yet essible."


    Orson wasn''t surprised. Generally, the talent tree activated at Level 10, requiring yers to journey to Edgar City toplete a mage trial quest.


    But there was a workaround¡ªOrson knew of a hidden quest to unlock the talent tree early: *Eva''s Lost Hat*.


    In the far corner of the vige, a worried-looking girl was frantically searching the ground for something.


    When Orson approached, she looked up with tear-filled eyes, crying, "Has anyone seen my hat? My master will be so mad at me¡­ wahhh¡­"


    She was a stunning beauty, holding her hand over her lips as she sobbed, her chest rising and falling dramatically. Orson''s eyes gleamed; it was truly a fountain of vitality.


    "Killing monsters around the Newbie Vige may drop the quest item [Eva''s Apprentice Hat]." Orson epted the quest without hesitation.


    Though this was a hidden quest, the reward wasn''t particrly valuable since the small talent boost would hardly matter before Level 10.


    Orson only knew of this quest thanks to a forum post titled *Top 10 Busty Beauties in Edgar*. Most yers whopleted the quest weren''t in it for the reward¡ªthey were just interested in the view.


    By now, almost four hours had passed since the gameunched, and many yers were starting to leave the Newbie Vige, so there was lesspetition for monsters.


    "You have acquired the quest item [Eva''s Apprentice Hat]."


    "Nice, that didn''t take long to drop," he said, sighing in relief after only 30 goblin kills.


    Afterpleting the main quest to kill monsters, Orson hit Level 3 and allocated his points to increase magic attack.


    Then he returned to give Eva her hat¡ª*ahem*, toplete the quest.


    As he handed in the hat, the magic totem began to glow, and his previously locked talent tree lit up.


    At the base of the tree were three starting talents: **Scorching mes**, **Mana Drain**, and **Spell Cooldown Reduction**. Each one represented a different path for Fire Mages.


    Orson chose without hesitation: "Scorching mes, that''s the one!"


    **[Scorching mes]**


    Effect: Normal attacks and spells inflict 1% of the user''s MP as damage over 3 seconds. This can increase up to 10% MP damage, with a 2-second cooldown.


    For most Mages, this talent was useless in the early stages. A Level 10 Mage''s max mana was usually around 500, so maxing out this talent would result in just 150 damage over 3 seconds¡ªnot as useful as **Mana Drain** or **Cooldown Reduction**.


    But for Orson, this was nothing short of a god-tier talent!


    With a maxed mana pool of 10,000, his burn effect would deal 1,000 damage per second, totaling 3,000 over three seconds.


    Who could possibly withstand that?


    Orson returned to the monster spawn area, ready for another grind session. Hours flew by as he mowed down a thousand goblins with his magic machine gun. His grin stretched wide as he checked his stats.


    **Username**: Orgod


    **Race**: Human


    **Level**: 4


    **Magic Attack**: 25


    **HP**: 110/150


    **MP**: 720/1100


    **Attack Speed**: 0.50


    **Agility**: 5


    **Defense**: 3


    **Range**: 110 meters


    With his mana capacity now nearly self-sustaining, **Meditation** could restore 5% MP per second out ofbat, allowing him to spam attacks without interruption.


    As for his 110-meter range¡­ He was practically a Newbie Vige turret.


    "Who''s a Fire Mage? I''m a mobile artillery!"


    The more Orson grinded, the more pumped he got. He invested all four of his talent points into **Scorching mes**, adding a 4% MP burn to his attacks.


    Standing atop a hill, he aimed his staff down toward the valley, and fireballs rained down.


    -25


    -44


    -44


    Only one basic attack was needed before he turned away to search for his next target. Three seconds of burn damage added up to 132 points, more than enough to send an 80-HP goblin straight to respawn before it could even reach the hill. His grinding efficiency was insane!


    **MrMeowgi:** "This game is trash! I just started, and I can''t get a single kill!"


    **SirLagsALot:** "Bro, look up on that hill! Is that a Newbie Vige defense tower farming mobs by itself?"


    Laters who joined the game stared in disbelief as goblins fell one by one. Someone even considered reporting it as a bug¡ªonly to find there was no such option. After all, the gods didn''t make mistakes.


    **System Announcement**: *yer Orgod''s merciless streak has reached 1,024 goblin kills, earning the title "Goblin Ripper."*


    **System Announcement**...


    The chat erupted with yers frozen in shock. *Who the heck kills over a thousand goblins, the weakest monster in the game?!*


    **AlienWolf:** "Holy hell, who is this guy? How bored do you have to be?"


    **FrostyFairy:** "Seriously? Did goblins offend him or something? All that effort for a trash title?"


    **GodlikeGamer:** "Wait¡­ that username seems familiar¡­"


    ¡­


    yers filled the global chat withints, wondering if Orgod was the most ridiculous yer they''d ever seen, calling out hisck of regard for "goblin welfare."


    Meanwhile, at Gxy Studio, the leveling squad was advancing toward Edgar City.


    A Level 7 Warrior pulled back his hood, revealing a striking face framed by silvery hair. His brows furrowed, "What the hell is Orson doing?"


    "Half a day spent killing over a thousand trash mobs that don''t even drop loot. He''s out of his mind!"


    Charles, leading the party, nearly blew a fuse. "Screw this! Everyone log off and take a break. He clearly doesn''t want to stay in this studio."


    "You have unlocked a +10% drop rate bonus."


    Orson''s eyes lit up at the title''s effect. That extra 10% drop rate would make a noticeable difference in the early game, meaning a higher chance of rare loot even among the junk drops.


    *System Alert*: *The Beast Race has sensed your intense hostility.*


    *Elite Level 10 Boss: Goblin Emperor will personally hunt you down. If you die or flee, the title will be revoked.*


    Orson froze. A Boss Raid alert appeared in the top right corner, with a 30-minute countdown.


    He was only Level 4, but he knew all too well how powerful a Level 10 Elite Boss could be. He considered calling on the studio team to help him, but then his vision blurred with a sudden sh of red. Someone outside the game was trying to force him awake.N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 3 3: Dont Look Down on Me Just Because Im Broke

    Inside Rank Studio, Orson took off his VR helmet, only to be greeted by Charles''s unpleasant face.


    "Are you out of your mind, former pro Orson?" Charles sneered.


    "What did I do?" Orson replied calmly, standing up and noticing that Bradley and the others had logged out as well, heading toward him.


    "Quit pretending. It''s been eight hours sinceunch, and all you''ve done is kill a thousand goblins. Do you think this studio is your personal retirement home?" Charles barked, his tone full of disdain.


    "I don''t see it that way, Charles," Orson replied with a light smile.


    Bradley quickly intervened, trying to smooth things over. "Take it easy, Charles. Orson''s skills are undeniable, and he was just farming for a title¡ªthose in the know will understand."


    With a forced smile, Bradley offered Charles a cigarette, but Charles turned his head with a scowl and didn''t take it.


    "Skill? What skill? If I hadn''t given you a chance, who would hire you, Orgod?" Charles mocked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Orson merely looked at him without a word.


    "Everyone, report your progress!" Charlesmanded, grumbling under his breath.


    "Leo, Level 6 Priest, sold two pieces of junk gear for 10 silver."


    "Wyatt, Level 6 Pdin, got 12 silver from auction."


    "¡­"


    Bradley sighed as he reported, "Level 7 Warrior, sold one green item for 40 silver¡ªthat''s about 400 bucks."


    "And you, my so-called pro? Cat got your tongue?" Charles smirked, clearly waiting for Orson to embarrass himself.


    Orson remained indifferent. "Orson, Level 4 Mage, 90 copper."


    "Hear that? Ny copper! This is the ''skill'' of our former pro? He must have skin as thick as a rhino," Charles scoffed, seizing the chance to tear him down.


    The others, except Bradley, burst intoughter, sneering at Orson''s pathetic earnings.


    In *Infinite Dimensions*, 1 gold was worth 100 silver, and 1 silver was worth 100 copper.


    Eight hours of ytime, and he''d only earned 90 copper¡ªa measly nine bucks.


    "Come on, it''s just the first day. This little gap in progress isn''t hard to close," Orson said, unwilling to stoop to Charles''s level. Charles was the kind of person who enjoyed belittling others to make himself feel powerful.


    But Charles, seeing Orson''s calm response, became irate. "So you''re here to freeload, huh? I''m paying you a fat sry every month, and for what? To sit around?"


    "Hey! Charles!" Bradley interrupted angrily. "Screw you!" He grabbed Charles by the cor, ready to swing, but Orson held him back. "Don''t fight. It''s not worth it," he said.


    At over two hundred pounds, if Bradley got into a brawl, three or four people might not be enough to restrain him. Orson quickly pulled him to the side to defuse the situation.


    Bradley''s eyes were full of frustration. He had been a loyal fan since Orson''s debut in the pro circuit at 16. Seeing his idol treated like this was more than he could bear.


    "This is outright bullying!" Bradley fumed, his whole body shaking. "We''re paid peanuts! Our 3,500 sry is a joke, and we still have to give up 70% of any gold we farm. What gives him the right?"


    "If you''re not bringing in real money, then you''d better¡­" Charles began, but Orson cut him off with a smirk.


    "Charles, I quit."


    "Orson¡­ you''re serious?" Bradley''s eyes widened in shock. He knew that Orson''s sister was waiting on a kidney transnt. If he quit now, what would he do?


    Orson nodded, and Bradley stammered, "But¡­ what about Sienna''s surgery?"


    "Don''t worry," Orson reassured him with a smile. "I''ve got a n. I''m thinking of forming a gaming guild."


    Bradley hesitated. "But a guild seat in *Infinite Dimensions* is super expensive, man."


    Charles burst outughing. "What, did you forget? A guild seat is five million! You think you''re still the Orgod from your pro days?"


    Hisckeys chimed in,ughing. "Amazing! Next time we see Orson, we''ll call him Guild Master!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Keepughing while you can," Bradley snapped, his face red with anger. "You''ll regret it soon enough!"


    mming his hand on a desk, Bradley left the studio with Orson.


    "Just three months¡ªno, one month! I''m going to p every one of their faces red!" Bradley muttered, still fuming.


    Orson put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "No need for words, man. I won''t let you down."


    But in his mind, a glint of dark resolve took hold. *Don''t worry, Bradley. In just two weeks, Charles will be calling you ''Sir.''*


    Returning to his dingy, cramped rental, Orson surveyed the familiar, chaotic mess of his room.


    There was one prominent decoration: a massive poster of a young Orson, surrounded by fans, raising the *Sword and Conquest* championship trophy for the third consecutive year in front of a nationwide audience. The image exuded pride and glory, a snapshot of his finest moment.


    But that triumphant youth was gone. Only a revenant remained.


    "I never threw that match," Orson whispered to himself. The scandal had trapped him, and the death of his sister had broken his spirit.


    But now, it was time to rise again.


    A phone call interrupted his thoughts.


    "Hi, are you the seller of the ''Gently Used Gaming Pod, Like New''? Would you consider lowering the price a bit? I''m ready to pay a solid five thousand for it!"


    "Uh¡­"


    Orson nced at the dusty gaming pod in the corner. It was a top-of-the-line model he''d bought two years ago for over two hundred thousand, hoping to list it online to help cover his sister''s medical bills.


    "Sorry, wrong number." He hung up decisively.


    Given the earning potential of *Infinite Dimensions*, earning five grand would be nothing for a seasoned yer like him.


    In his past life, he hadn''t realized how lucrative *Infinite Dimensions* was. He''d sold the gaming pod and relied on the studio''s equipment, wasting an entire year and falling behind everyone else.


    Not only that, but with the studio taking a 70% cut of his earnings, Charles became a millionaire while Orson barely got by.


    After eating a cup of instant noodles, he powered up the gaming pod and logged back into the game.


    ---


    **Goblin Emperor Raid Countdown: 29 minutes, 3 seconds.**


    The countdown paused based on a yer''s online time to ensure they wouldn''t miss it due to real-life interruptions.


    "You have in a [ck-skinned Goblin]. Experience +1."


    Orson perched atop a hill, systematically picking off goblins below.


    With his current speed, he could easily burn through fifty monsters per minute, maximizing his **Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye** bonus before the boss arrived. He was well aware that in battle, range and stamina were everything.


    "Wait, did I just get a skill book?"


    After around 200 goblins, he picked up a white skill book. Orson grinned. The **Goblin Ripper** title was clearly working its magic with the increased drop rate.


    "You have obtained the Apprentice''s Magic Tome: Chain Fireball."


    **Grade E Fire Magic: Chain Fireball**


    Effect: Consumes 40 MP to release three explosive fireballs, dealing 120% damage to enemies within a 5-meter radius. Cooldown: 5 seconds.


    "A bit higher damage than my basic attack, but it''s costly on mana," Orson muttered. It was a simple starting spell avable for one silver at the Edgar Mage''s Shop.


    "AoE ssh isn''t bad. If I can round up the mobs, three fireballs could make a dent."


    Equipping the spell, he nned his strategy. Paired with **Scorching mes**, this would give his efficiency a major boost.


    The only problem was that in the Newbie Vige, monsters were sparsely positioned, designed to prevent crowding and give beginners a chance to learnbat safely.


    *System Alert:* "Attention! Goblin Emperor will arrive in one minute!"


    Orson steadied himself and checked his Soul Imprint panel:


    **[Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye]**: Super God-grade


    - **Passive Skill 1**: Every 10 monsters killed grants +1 meter attack range (current cap: 160/1000 meters).


    - **Passive Skill 2**: Every monster killed increases MP by 1 (current cap: 1600/10000 MP).


    Orson sat cross-legged, activating **Meditation** to optimize his mana. Though he was only Level 4, his extended range and massive mana pool gave him everything he needed for a tough fight.


    A furious roar echoed through the valley as a colossal, robed goblin appeared, shrouded in dark magic.


    **[Elite Boss: Goblin Emperor]**


    **Level**: 10


    **HP**: 12,000


    **Attack**: 240


    **Skill**: Summon Undead


    "Those stats¡­ pretty strong. This should be fun." Orson''s eyes gleamed with both tension and excitement.

 Chapter 4 4: Starting with a Tower

    The Goblin Emperor''s attack power was a hefty 240, while Orson had only 150 HP. One hit from the boss would spell instant defeat for him.


    Ordinary teams would have no chance against a boss like this. Unfortunately for the Goblin Emperor, it was up against Orson, the "human cannon," with an extreme range of 170 meters for relentless basic attacks!


    **SecondFloorListener:** "Check it out! Big boss spawn!"


    **ThirdFloorPerformer:** "Whoa, this boss looks epic. Could it be a world boss? That health pool is insane!"


    **Heaven''sGiftedWarrior:** "What are we waiting for? Attack! As long as it has a health bar, it can be taken down. This could be a jackpot!"


    Orson positioned himself on one side of the valley, carefully calcting his attack range. However, nearby yers, upon seeing the boss appear, went wild with excitement; even if they just hit the Goblin Emperor, they felt it would be a victory.


    -12!


    -25!


    A wave of yers charged the Goblin Emperor, most dealing pitifully low damage. They didn''t realize their mistake until it was toote; the Goblin Emperor raised its staff, and a dark hexagram appeared, summoning a horde of undead goblin warriors from the ground.


    **[Goblin Undead Warrior: Level 5]**


    **HP**: 300/300


    **Attack Power**: 20


    Triggered by the attack, these undead warriors turned hostile and charged the yers nearby.


    "A necromancer-type boss? This monster density¡­ interesting," Orson''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. If the boss could summon so many undead, he had an ambitious idea.


    **Area Chat:**


    **Randomyer:** "Oh no, these goblin grunts are coordinating attacks!"


    The nearby yers quickly fell, over thirty spirits soaring back to the respawn point like fireworks.


    **"Hold the line! Reinforcements, move in!"** one yer tried to rally the others, but it was a futile effort. The average yer in the Newbie Vige was only Level 3 to 5, and anyone facing more than three undead warriors couldn''t survive for long.


    Panic spread as yers retreated toward the Newbie Vige, luring the undead warriors to the vige entrance. Now, if anyone stepped outside the safe zone, they were as good as dead.


    **SteelSkinPride:** "It''s over, a zombie invasion! We''re doomed!"


    **Michelleyer:** "I was so close to Level 5! Now I''ve lost 30% experience. What do we do?"


    The death penalty in *Infinite Dimensions* was steep, costing yers 10% of their experience each time, with a small chance of losing items. The yers who had joined in the boss raid were now too scared to try again. Yet, with the undead warriors remaining outside the vige, they were effectively trapped, falling far behind the main leveling group.


    **Heaven''sGiftedWarrior:** "Don''t panic! Monsters aren''t supposed to attack yers in the vige. It''s obviously a bug; the game AI will fix it automatically."


    The same yer who had rallied them to attack the boss tried to calm everyone down, but it only sparked more bacsh.


    "You think we believe you, you lying old man?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Yeah! If you hadn''t told us to charge the boss, those goblin zombies wouldn''t be attacking us!"


    "My brother''s in Edgar City earning decent coin already. You think you can make up for the time we''ve lost?"


    A wave of mockery drowned out the poor Level 5 sword-wielder, who found himself cornered at the healing station.


    Boom¡ªboom¡ªboom!


    Three fiery explosions erupted near the vige entrance, nketing the clustered undead with fire.


    -30


    -85


    -85


    Three zing fireballs struck a five-meter radius, incinerating a group of undead warriors. mes and explosions tore through them, leaving several undead reduced to ash.


    In the next moment, a volley of small fireballs rained down, forming a spectacr meteor shower. Each undead touched by the mes fell instantly.


    Everyone froze, looking toward the distant forest in astonishment.


    **Heaven''sGiftedWarrior** beamed, as if his predictions were confirmed. "Ha! I knew *Infinite Dimensions* would fix the bug!"


    **SteelSkinPride:** "Sweet! The defense tower''s kicking in!"


    **BurgerEater:** "As far as I know, our vige is the only one with a defense tower. Other Newbie Viges don''t get this kind of luxury."


    "You have in a [Goblin Undead Warrior]. Experience +7."


    "You have in¡­"


    "You remain undetected."


    Orson continued his barrage of basic attacks and Chain Fireballs, quickly clearing the clustered monsters and leveling up to Level 5.


    He soon realized that the undead warriors had all marked him with aggro, but his range exceeded their detection range. The undead wandered around aimlessly, while the boss, frustrated, began summoning more undead warriors.


    With most yers hiding in the vige, these newly summoned undead had no target and simply stood in ce, bewildered.


    High up on the hill, Orson wore a wide grin, his staff nearly on the verge of overheating from constant casting.


    With no one else brave enough to venture out, he didn''t have to worry about anyone stealing his kills. Using his extended range to pick off stationary targets felt like operating a mobile mortaruncher, able to target monsters from a safe distance across the hill.


    Moreover, since he was outside the boss''s detection range, even if he exhausted his mana, he could simply stop attacking to disengage and use **Meditation** to recover.


    "My vige has a divine tower protecting it! Starting out with a tower¡ªwho else has it this good?"


    "In this blessed vige, I''m destined for greatness in the world of *Infinite Dimensions!*"


    ¡­


    Everyone cheered, looking to the hill with excitement, certain that a divine me tower was protecting the vige.


    Only a few yers noticed something unusual. "Why can''t we pick up the dropped items?"


    Within ten minutes, four hundred undead goblin warriors had been in. With the added bonus of his **Goblin Ripper** title, Orson received drops of threemon pieces of white equipment, a few greens, and two silver coins.


    In *Infinite Dimensions*, gear is ssified into six ranks: White (Common), Green (Superior), Blue (Refined), Purple (Heroic), Orange (Legendary), and Red (Forbidden).


    In the early days of the game, a Level 10 blue-quality piece could fetch 5 gold, or roughly five thousand yuan, at auction. Beyond equipment, rare items, Soul Imprints, and unique treasures couldmand even higher prices.


    This handful ofmon drops didn''t interest Orson. Farming progress for his **Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye** was the main objective. The Goblin Emperor was now the ultimate "working emperor," summoning waves of monsters with no means of defending himself.


    Orson had lost count of how many waves of undead warriors the boss had summoned. In his mind, there was only one goal: farm!


    Was he exploiting a glitch? In *Infinite Dimensions*, the concept of "glitch farming" didn''t exist. The gods had designed the game for yers to do whatever it took to be stronger.


    In his past life, Orson had seen far crazier farming methods¡ªa Dragonmaster casually lounging in his castle, sipping wine and singing, while his nine dragons wreaked havoc on a nearby dungeon. In one night, he destroyed a dungeon the size of a mid-sized country, killing every boss and earning loot worth billions.


    In *Infinite Dimensions*, as long as a yer was powerful enough, they could effectively be a game-breaking "bug" themselves!


    But,pared to the terrifying interdimensional creatures, his current power was still child''s y¡­


    Time flew by, and five hours passed.


    **9991!**


    **9995!**


    **10,000 monster kills achieved!**


    Orson copsed onto the ground, utterly exhausted. At this point, just seeing another goblin made him want to puke.


    **System Announcement:** *yer Orgod, like a god descended, has in 10,000 goblins, earning the title "Beast Tribe Heretic."*


    **System Announcement¡­**

 Chapter 5 5: If It Doesnt Have a Scope, Its a Cannon!

    **AristocraticPrince:** "Ten thousand goblins¡­ Is this even real? Orson, are you secretly a legend?"


    **HellFireThong:** "Killing a thousand goblins is for lunatics, but killing ten thousand? That''s pure genius!"


    **StoneManiac:** "What did goblins ever do to you? Or are they dropping epic loot or something?"


    ¡­


    The world chat exploded. In less than twenty hours, Orson had wiped out ten thousand goblins¡ªno longer just insane, but downright terrifying.


    "Orson''s got god-tier farming efficiency!" someone muttered, awe-struck, at thest dungeon before the main city boss of Pound Nn. Even if goblins were low-level beast mobs, Orson''s terrifying efficiency had everyone talking.


    Orson had leveled up to Level 6, adding points to his **Scorching mes** talent, raising it to level 6, and channeling all his stats into magic attack.


    Finally, his Soul Imprint had leveled up. He excitedly opened his panel.


    Orson stared, eyes widening in disbelief, and finally managed to say, "Damn¡­ that''s OP!"


    He''d expected only a modest increase¡ªmaybe a doubling of his range and mana limit at most. Instead, both stats had increased fivefold!


    **[Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye]: Super God-grade**


    - **Passive Skill 1**: Every 10 monsters killed grants +1 meter attack range (new cap: 1000/5000 meters).


    *Deities'' Comment*: "Truth exists only within one''s range."


    - **Passive Skill 2**: Each monster killed increases mana by 1 point (new cap: 10,000/50,000 MP).


    *Deities'' Comment*: "No mage can resist the allure of bing a machine of destruction."


    He took a sharp breath. He''dpletely underestimated the growth potential of a Super God-grade Soul Imprint. Wasn''t this set on turning him into a walking death cannon?


    What kind of monster was a 5,000-meter range?!


    If he attacked something that far away, he''d be firing blind¡­


    To be clear, the average yer''s visual range in *Infinite Dimensions* capped at 2,000 meters. Anything beyond that was just a blur, impossible to target with any uracy.


    In this game, Archers had the longest range. After reaching level 20 and unlocking the skill **Eagle of Light**, an elite Archer could lock onto distant targets outside their usual range. In guild wars, a high-tier Archer could even snipe enemy mages in the backlines, earning top yers afortable monthly guild stipend.


    "I need a targeting system. Satellite positioning, something! Otherwise, this range is useless," Orson mused.


    He checked his newly earned **Beast Tribe Heretic** title, awarded for killing ten thousand goblins.


    **[Beast Tribe Heretic]**


    Effect: +10% item drop rate, +1% rare drop rate.


    Note: While wearing this title, entering any Beast Tribe settlement will trigger an immediate area-wide hostility.


    "This title is solid!" Orson''s eyes sparkled. Though it only added an extra 1% rare drop rate, he knew there was a world of difference between "item drop rate" and "rare drop rate."


    If the rare drop rate triggered, he was guaranteed loot of at least blue quality, if not higher.


    As for being attacked in beast territories? Orson weed it¡ªthat just saved him the trouble of hunting down mobs.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Goblin Emperor''s roar echoed through the valley, and Orson detected a hint of frustration in it.


    Elite bosses in *Infinite Dimensions* had some level of intelligence. As an early-game boss, Goblin Emperor must have been infuriated by Orson''s treatment, being farmed like a goblin mob generator.


    A kilometer away in the forest, the boss was now just a hazy figure to Orson. He spent a moment adjusting his aim.


    Poof, poof, poof¡­


    He started with three rapid-fire Chain Fireballs, each exploding at the boss''s feet.


    **Missed!**


    "Damn it. Of course, it''s not easy to hit from this distance," Orson muttered, his vision straining. In *Infinite Dimensions*, target-locking stopped working past 200 meters, so aiming required intuition alone. Just because you locked onto a target didn''t guarantee a hit¡ªeven newbies often missed basic attacks at point-nk range.


    "Alright, let''s see if you can handle this!" Orson psyched himself up.


    Four years of pro eSports experience, three years ying *Infinite Dimensions*, plus two years surviving in hardcore mode¡­ If there was no clear solution, he''d just make one!


    "Wind direction¡­ check!"


    "Coordinates¡­ check!"


    "Angle, 55 degrees¡­ check!"


    As he summoned his fire spell, a dark six-pointed star glowed beneath him. His hair billowed, and his magic surged with power.


    Orson''s face turned serious; at this moment, he was every bit the me Mage God!


    The fireballs streaked through the blue sky, drawing the attention of the yers below as they barreled toward the Level 10 Goblin Emperor.


    -42!


    The Chain Fireball struck the boss squarely in the head, making it stumble. Six stacks of Scorching mes activated, spreading fire across its body.


    Orson''sbat log disyed a satisfying number:


    603!


    603!


    ¡­


    In just three seconds of burning, the boss''s health¡ªinitially 12,000¡ªhad dropped by nearly a fifth, inflicting over 1,800 points of burn damage!


    "Amazing¡­"


    Orson had expected it, but seeing the effect still made his heart race.


    **ThunderStrike:** "Is the¡­ is the defense tower helping us kill the boss?"


    **ILovePizza:** "What are you all waiting for? High risk, high reward! My fate is my own! Charge!"


    Thousands of yers roared in excitement. The mysterious tower, seemingly protecting the Newbie Vige, was really just a benevolent powerhouse, graciously assisting the yers!


    Almost a full day since the server opened, and no team had managed to take down a Level 10 elite boss. It was clear to everyone that killing this boss would yield incredible loot!


    Everyone had the same thought: "The riches granted by the Divine Tower shall be mine!"


    Disregarding costs or casualties, they charged at the Goblin Emperor in a chaotic wave.


    **You have been detected!**


    The boss instantly locked onto Orson''s hiding ce, ignoring the horde of yers rushing toward it as it summoned even more undead warriors. Fixated on him, the Goblin Emperorunched into a death charge straight for Orson.


    Orson remained calm, backing up a few steps before aiming again, predicting the boss''s path.


    Dozens of fireballs streaked through the air, forming a fiery meteor shower that rained down on the boss. Though many missed, every hit triggered **Scorching mes**, inflicting burn damage.


    -603!


    ¡­


    Minutester, the boss, now charred ck, had closed the distance to less than 200 meters from Orson.


    **ThunderStrike:** "Holy crap, the boss is going down! All hail Tower Grandpa!"


    It wasn''t that the Goblin Emperor wasn''t powerful¡ªTower Grandpa was simply too insane. In the end, the boss could only burn to ashes.


    "Good thing it was an undead mage boss with a lower health pool. If it had gotten any closer, it would have obliterated me," Orson exhaled, waiting for **Scorching mes**'' cooldown beforending another hit to finish it off.


    With a final blow, the boss copsed, releasing a cascade of dazzling loot.


    Drooling, the nearby yers stared at the pile of equipment, among which several imperial gold coins glinted.


    What a motherlode!


    Each gold coin alone was worth a thousand yuan!


    The boss loot was of unusually high quality, with no whitemon gear¡ªjust a mix of green and blue items.


    "Is that staff¡­ purple?"


    "Could it¡­ could it be a heroic weapon?!"


    **OldBankFriend:** "Let me show you all what my thirty years of fast looting experience can do!"


    A sword-wielding yer darted forward, his hand lightning-fast, snatching the heroic weapon and turning to flee. But to his shock, the staff slipped out of his hand and fell back to the ground.


    "What the¡­? It won''t let me pick it up?!"


    The swordsman''s face froze, his morale shattered. "Damn it, *Infinite Dimensions*! After we died seven or eight times over, shouldn''t these items be ours aspensation? Curse you, you *@#%$..."


    A crowd of yers surrounded the loot, each attempting in vain to pick it up, only to find it impossible.


    **ThunderStrike** picked up a blue chestte, only for a message to pop up: *This loot does not belong to you. If not imed in 30 minutes, it will be unlocked.*


    "Doesn''t belong to me? Then who does it belong to¡ªthe GM?" **ThunderStrike** muttered, baffled.


    "Ahem¡­ if you all could just make some room, please."


    Orson cleared his throat, pushing his way through the crowd.

 Chapter 6 6: VIP Service

    Orson disabled the ck [Heretic of the Beast n] title and leisurely picked up two imperial gold coins from the ground.


    Not bad. That''s about two thousand bucks in his pocket.


    "What¡­ He can actually pick it up?"


    "This is so unfair! Why does he get it?"


    "Don''t tell me he''s the one who killed the boss? Still in Level 1 beginner gear? Could he really be¡­ a GM?"


    The crowd of yers stood frozen, staring in disbelief as Orson, d in beginner gear, casually summoned a Level 10 purple staff into his hand.


    "Boss damage output was over 600 DPS earlier. That''s impossible for any yer right now."


    "Definitely not a yer. Probably a dev fixing a bug¡ªwe''ve seen those before."


    ¡­


    The crowd''s eyes, alight with greed, fixated on Orson. If the newbie vige didn''t restrict PvP, Orson had no doubt they''d swarm him to kill and loot everything.


    ---


    [Pinoc''s Spirit Staff]


    Level: 10


    ss: Mage


    Magic Attack: 70


    Attack Speed: 0.78


    Effect: Recovers 3 MP per second


    Set Bonus (3 pieces): +120 HP, +150 MP


    Set Bonus (6 pieces): +200 HP, +300 MP


    ---


    "Hmph. It has MP regeneration, but 3 points? That''s pathetic."


    Orson shook his head with slight disappointment.


    Weapons with MP regeneration are valuable, but this was useless to him. If it regenerated MP by percentage, then it would have been a different story.


    In Infinite Dimensions, yers could equip six armor pieces and four essories. However, only heroic-tier or above gear came with set bonuses. Collecting three or six matching pieces would activate extra stat boosts, with rarer sets even unlocking awakening skills.


    The mana boost on this staff didn''t matter to Orson, but the HP boost was decent. Still, as someone who specialized in long-range attacks, he wasn''t nning to engage in meleebat any time soon.


    Besides the staff, the boss had also dropped three Level 10 blue armor pieces. Orson promptly listed them in the auction house.


    Low-level gear like this was only transitional; its value would plummet after the opening phase of the game. Selling it now made the most sense.


    ---


    ThunderStrike: "Wait¡­ You''re a yer?"


    Orson nced at the swordsman blocking his path.


    To avoid unnecessary trouble, he calmly shook his head. "Official test personnel. Designation 404."


    Ever since learning the truth behind Infinite Dimensions, Orson no longer identified himself as a "yer."


    In three years, the term "yer" would cease to exist. Instead, people would face life-and-death trials as "challengers."


    "Phew¡­ Scared the crap outta me. I knew it! There''s no way this game lets yers get this OP¡ªit''d be totally unbnced."


    A collective sigh of relief swept through the crowd. If a Level 7 newbie mage could take down a boss from hundreds of meters away, it''d be game over for everyone else.


    ---


    ThunderStrike: "Hey, mind if we talk?"


    Orson eyed the [SSR] prefix in the swordsman''s username, sneering inwardly as he pocketed his loot and walked away.


    "Listen, since the staff dropped in the game, our SSR guild master¡ªhe''s a mage¡ªmight want it. Name your price."


    The berserker caught up to Orson, switching to private chat.


    "You can buy it, but I won''t sell it to your guild," Orson replied meaningfully.


    "What''s that supposed to mean? Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty?" ThunderStrike fumed, his tone growing hostile.


    Without another word, Orson muted him.


    Many yers disyed guild prefixes in their names, and this swordsman was clearly one of SSR Guild''sckeys.


    Orson''s history with the SSR Guild ran deep.


    In Sword and Conquest, he''d brought countless honors to this guild. But in the end, he was scapegoated and betrayed, left to bear the stigma of match-fixing.


    In his past life, Orson had been powerless against the overwhelming force of capital. But now, things were different.


    "You framed me for throwing matches and ruined my name. Just wait¡ªI''ll settle this debt with interest." Orson smirked coldly.


    ---


    Back at the vige, he submitted his main quest and listed the staff at a starting bid of 20 gold coins, with a two-hour auction window.


    To avoid being stalked by other yers, Orson logged out, took a hot shower, and got some rest.


    ---n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    At dawn, he re-entered the game.


    "You have new mail. Please check your inbox!"


    "Your auctioned item has been sold."


    "Your auctioned item has been sold."


    ¡­


    The moment Orson logged in, five notification messages appeared. He opened his inbox to review the transactions.

 Chapter 7 7: Clearing the Field with Me?

    **ShatteredCrown:** "Hello, 911? I think someone''s scamming me here."


    ShatteredCrown kept checking Orson''s ID, verifying that it really was the same guy who sold him the staff. Otherwise, he would''ve left the party ages ago.


    "Bro, how about I give you some extra gold and you find a few Level 10 yers to help us farm monsters?"


    Orson replied with augh, "Rx, boss. Just sit tight and get ready for a smooth ride."


    Orson held his patience a moment longer and added, "Are you sure you don''t want to bring along a couple of friends for some AFK chat time?"


    ShatteredCrown was exasperated. "Could you just focus on leveling us up? Or I''ll help fight, if that''s what you need."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    He waspletely over it¡ªbeing scammed was one thing, but wasting leveling time? That would be a real disaster. If he fell too far behind, his friends would mock him to no end.


    Orson shook his head and declined the offer. He led ShatteredCrown into the *Mist Forest*, where they found the monster farming zones.


    **[Spectral Wolf: Level 8]**


    **HP:** 700/700


    **Attack Power:** 40


    **Skill:** Fearsome Combo


    A spectral wolf, with a dark and ghostly appearance, emerged. The monsters here were much stronger than those in the starting vige, so most yers formed parties to farm them. In fact, Orson could see at least three different groups farming around him.


    **ShatteredCrown:** "These spots are packed. Let''s find a quieter area."


    Orson smirked, "No worries¡ªthey can''t outfarm me."


    "Unbelievable. A Level 7 mage bringing a Level 1 noob here? You want to die? Get lost!"


    Nearby, a Level 9 archer nced over disdainfully, pulling off three quick shots to pull in aggro from a distance. His six-man party was well-coordinated, and they lured in a pack of eight Spectral Wolves.


    The tank, a knight, roared and used a basic taunt skill to draw the monsters'' attention, while the priest healed him. The others focused on dealing maximum damage to the wolves.


    Orson observed the team. From their coordination and setup, it was clear they were experienced yers who knew what they were doing.


    "Uh¡­ Orson, these monsters are a bit much. Maybe we should back off," ShatteredCrown whispered, already feeling nervous.


    But Orson just grinned at the archer''s team. "Thanks for gathering the monsters for me."


    He raised his basic staff, channeling fiery magic, and unleashed three consecutive fireballs in the middle of the wolf pack.


    -55


    -55


    ...


    The archer chuckled dismissively, watching Orson attempt to steal their kill. "Not bad, kid. You learned an AoE spell pretty quick, but that''s still not enough."


    In *Infinite Dimensions*, kill-stealing happened all the time. Typically, the yer or party that attracted the monster''s initial aggro got full experience upon the kill. However, if the other party''s damage output far exceeded that of the original group, they could overtake the aggro and secure the kill.


    "Is that so?" Orson smiled slightly.


    -704!


    Instantly, a terrifying string of red numbers appeared over the wolves, and all eight were dead in an instant.


    **"You have in [Spectral Wolf]. EXP +30"**


    **"You have in [Spectral Wolf]."**


    **"Your level has increased to Level 3."**


    "What the¡­"


    What kind of damage was that? What kind of farming efficiency?


    Is that even a yer?


    ShatteredCrown stared, eyes wide in disbelief. Just moments ago, he''d been skeptical about Orson''s abilities. Now, he''d gone from Level 1 to Level 3 in one move.


    ShatteredCrown was starting to seriously doubt if they were even ying the same game.


    **"Your level has increased to Level 8."**


    After grinding through waves of Level 5 Goblin undead, Orson had already gained a ton of experience. Although the boss summons had provided reduced EXP, he should''ve reached Level 9 if he''d been grinding normal monsters.


    He allocated all his stat points into Magic Attack, and upgraded his **zing Burn** skill to Level 8, which now dealt 8% of his MP as burn damage. This allowed him to deal a devastating 800+ damage with each burn effect.


    The six-man party looked on, dumbfounded, unable to process what they were seeing.


    **Reckless Rogue** dropped his jaw. "Holy¡­ What kind of freak show is this?"


    Orson then became a merciless farming machine. He didn''t care who else was around¡ªhe burned down any monster he saw and moved on to the next. Ethics? Courtesy? Those were just other people''s limits. His mind was calm, without the slightest hint of guilt.


    The archer''s party initially tried topete, but after five minutes without gaining a single EXP point, they gave up. Orson was actually saving them time by pulling all the monsters toward him.


    "Boss, why don''t you bring in a few more people? Might as well fill up those extra slots. I''ll even give you a 12% discount."


    Orson pocketed the silver coins and items on the ground, looking at ShatteredCrown with a dead-serious expression.


    ShatteredCrown stood there,pletely disoriented. Stammering, he replied, "G-give me a minute. I do have a few friends who were sleeping. I''ll get them in!"


    "Don''t go anywhere, Master! You better not leave me here!" ShatteredCrown quickly added Orson as a friend, terrified that his newfound powerhouse would vanish. He reminded Orson repeatedly to stay put.


    Orson nodded with a sigh. Time is money, after all.


    Orson nced around the other farming spots, noticing they were mostly upied by guild parties. He sent a message in the local chat: "I''ll be using the three Spectral Wolf farming spots in the northeast for the next hour. Apologies for any inconvenience."


    ShatteredCrown froze for a second. "Damn, just clearing the field like that? You''re ruthless, man."


    Immediately, someone replied in the chat.


    **ElderEsctor**: "Oh? Do you think our Holy Cliff Guild doesn''t exist?"


    **Skysher**: "And what guild are you from, so arrogant? Our Dragon''s Kiss Guild fears no one. Try taking our spots if you dare."


    The Mist Forest had six Spectral Wolf spawn points. Dragon''s Kiss controlled three of them, with another one taken by Holy Cliff Guild. All the other yers had to fight over the remaining two spots.


    This wasmon during the game''s opening period. Big guilds had more yers and better gear, leaving casual yers with no chance topete.


    Orson''s expression darkened. In his previous life, the top guild **Dragon''s Kiss** had dominated *Infinite Dimensions* right fromunch. Currently, a third of the top 50 yers in the rankings were from Dragon''s Kiss, a guild backed by a multibillion-dor corporation. Naturally, they acted as ruthlessly as they pleased.


    "Oh, I was going to leave you two spots. But since you asked for it, I''ll take all four."


    Orson replied with a cold smile. Now that his former killers had shown up, he had no reason to hold back.


    Let''s see who can be more ruthless.


    **Skysher**: "You''re lucky we can''t kill here, or I''d have ughtered you by now, punk."


    **ElderEsctor**: "C''mon, bring it on if you''ve got the guts! Just standing there trash-talking?"


    The guild leaders mocked Orson in the area chat while farming monsters, assuming he was all talk. Orson said nothing, focusing instead on surveying the terrain.


    **Reckless Rogue**: "You''re a strong mage, man. Why not join us? We can go hunt higher-level monsters."


    The archer from earlier, now impressed by Orson, tried to recruit him. He even booted another random mage from his party to make room.


    "No, thanks," Orson replied without hesitation.


    Reckless Rogue frowned, eyeing Orson like he was an idiot. "I''ll admit, you''re good, but going solo against those guilds is just suicide."


    Orson looked at him coldly. "Just watch."


    Reckless Rogue scoffed. "Yeah, right. Good luck not getting ganked out of the game."


    Ignoring him, Orson began marking coordinates on his map and estimating the angles he needed for his basic attacks. His n was simple: everyone wanted to fight for the mobs? Fine. He''d just take the entire field for himself.


    With a ridiculous range of 1,022 meters, Orson could cover almost half of the *Mist Forest*. Plus, with his 10,300 MP and a five-second cooldown on his Triple Fireball, he could bombard four monster spawn points continuously.


    Even if he couldn''t lock onto targets precisely from that range, it didn''t matter. As long as he kept casting, he''d eventually hit every freshly spawned Spectral Wolf.

 Chapter 8 8：So Many Girls

    **"Your friend ShatteredCrown has logged in."**


    Ten minutester, ShatteredCrown showed up in the *Mist Forest* with a small group.


    **"UltimateSweetheart has requested to join your party."**


    **"BigBaby has requested to join your party."**N?v(el)B\\jnn


    **"LittleBaby..."**


    Orson blinked at the party requests. What the... they were all girls? And what''s with these usernames¡­?


    Thest request was even more outrageous¡ªa girl with the ID **YoungMaster''sckStockings**. What kind of yer even chooses a name like that?


    Damn!


    He''d told ShatteredCrown to bring a few friends, not a whole posse of girls. What kind of joke was this? A stab to the heart of every lonely single guy out there!


    Orson''s face darkened as ShatteredCrown finally arrived with four girls, each around Level 5.


    These girls were tall, with fair skin, beautiful faces, and figures that were¡­ very distracting. Even though Orson knew these were likely just avatars, for all he knew, they might be way less appealing in real life.


    Still, the sight of four gorgeous girls surrounding ShatteredCrown was a little¡­ hard to swallow.


    Orson''s expression grew serious as jealousy burned inside him.


    Rich people have it all, don''t they? Most guys are lucky to have even one girl to game with, but this dude brings four? Four! That''s just unfair!


    Orson couldn''t take it anymore and gave ShatteredCrown an ultimatum: "The slot fee is now 500,000 yuan with a 12% discount. That''s 440 gold, payable upfront!"


    "Money''s no issue, Master," ShatteredCrown replied confidently. Seeing Orson''sposed andmanding aura, he instantly felt that Orson seemed even more impressive.


    **UltimateSweetheart**, a knight, yawned and muttered, "A gaming expert? Where? I don''t see anyone special."


    **BigBaby:** "Yeah, like this guy could really carry us? Brace yourself, he''ll probably need saving."


    **YoungMaster''sckStockings:** "Young Master¡­ why didn''t you eat the breakfast I made for you? I''m so heartbroken!"


    The little girl avatar, **LittleBaby**, eyed Orson warily and said, "North Prince, this is another scam, isn''t it? Last time, someone told you they were the God of Magic''s personal disciple, and you ended up paying five million in training fees."


    ShatteredCrown countered, "He really is strong, I''m telling you! Super strong!"


    "North Prince?" Orson froze, then looked more closely at their IDs and cautiously asked, "Wait¡­ Is your real name Kong Beijun by any chance?"


    **ShatteredCrown:** "Whoa, Master, you''ve heard of me?"


    Orson was stunned, suddenly recalling the infamouswsuit he''d heard about years ago while ying *Sword and Conquest*. Thewsuit alleged that he''d scammed a certain **North Prince of The King Family** out of five million...


    "This is wild. He''s *Peacock King* himself!"


    Orson took a sharp breath. This ''big fish'' was actually one of New York''s four wealthiest young heirs, the crown prince of The King Family!


    Kong Beijun, blessed with both immense wealth and good fortune in romance, was one of the legendary figures on the national leaderboard.


    And, ironically, he was also the first idiot hardcore-mode wizard to die at the hands of a subus.


    The guy had only been 21 when he''d died, but he had the kind of romantic life most basement-dwelling gamers could only dream of.


    "Ahem. I may have read about you on a forum post or two." Orson coughed, a bit embarrassed.


    "Haha, online rumors are just urban legends about me," ShatteredCrownughed proudly. "But I see you admire the God of Magic too! Only a true fan would use the same ID as my master, Orgod."


    Please.


    Orson rolled his eyes. Like he''d ever taken on a disciple like this!


    In his past life, this "Peacock King" had only be powerful thanks to the near-limitless resources of The King Family. Otherwise, what kind of high-level wizard would die to a subus?


    **UltimateSweetheart** chuckled and teased, "You really think he''s worth paying for? Are you sure this isn''t your 38th time being conned?"


    "No way! I swear this time''s different!" ShatteredCrown straightened up, showing off hisvish young-master attitude. Orson looked at his foolishly confident face and couldn''t help thinking how great it must be to be rich.


    With a jingle, 440 goldnded in his ount.


    Orson breathed a sigh of relief. With the money he''d earned from selling his equipment, he could finally cover his sister''s surgery fees in one go!


    **LittleBaby** raised an eyebrow and muttered, "A solo carry for five? Sure..."


    "Just hush and let the Master work," ShatteredCrown replied confidently.


    "Oh, I''m the one who talks too much? Maybe if you weren''t so clueless, I wouldn''t have to."


    ShatteredCrown red at her but didn''t hold up for more than two seconds before she scolded him into silence.


    Even the top yers around Level 10 could only carry at most a four-person party for leveling; any more, and even they might struggle. Plus, their team didn''t have a single healer. No matter how many potions they packed, a frail mage wouldn''t be able to tank all that monster damage.


    Orson quickly sent a message to the area chat: "Reserving the farming spot for an hour, thanks for your cooperation."


    **Skysher:** "Screw you! Get lost!"


    Orson just smirked andunched a triple fireball directly into Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s farming area.


    **Boom!**


    A fiery explosion lit up the mist as Skysher and his team were stunned. Three fireballs detonated right beside them, instantly wiping out a pack of six Spectral Wolves.


    **"You have in [Spectral Wolf]. EXP +20."**


    ...


    **UltimateSweetheart**''s mocking smile froze as she looked at Orson in shock. "He killed Level 8 monsters in one hit?"


    **BigBaby:** "And with AoE damage, no less. This¡­ is terrifying."


    **UltimateSweetheart:** "Oh my god, what''s his range? It''s way beyond other mages!"


    Orson chuckled inwardly. Just a few times the range? At one kilometer, he had the entire *Mist Forest* area locked down, leaving only a sliver of space for other yers. As for Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s farming spots, those were going to be his prime targets.


    **ElderEsctor:** "Who the hell has a death wish? We were minding our business¡ªwho''s ambushing us?!"


    **Skysher:** "Damn it! I''m freaking haunted¡­"


    Orson''s relentless long-range bombardment kept hitting them, with each anguished scream from their side only helping him fine-tune his aim.


    Yes, the more urately he hit, the more furious the Dragon''s Kiss Guild members became in the area chat.


    *Infinite Dimensions* was hyper-realistic, and the area chat allowed nearby yers not only to see text messages but also to hear each other''s voices if close enough.


    For a true veteran like Orson, locating enemies by sound alone was a skill ingrained through years of experience.


    Except for **YoungMaster''sckStockings**, who kept whining about breakfast, ShatteredCrown''s three otherpanions were left speechless.


    They''d spent eight hours grinding in the newbie vige just to hit Level 5. Now, sitting back and doing nothing, they''d already reached Level 6 in ten minutes.


    But the scariest part was Orson. He hadn''t moved an inch, casting spells the whole time, and nobody even knew where his fireballs werending.


    They only saw shes of light in the mist as hordes of Spectral Wolves were obliterated.


    **ShatteredCrown** smirked and called out, "So? Tell me my buddy isn''t awesome! Worth every bit of that forty grand, right?"


    As background music yed, ShatteredCrown danced like he was at a concert, showing off shamelessly to the four girls.


    Orson cast a side-eye at the **Peacock King**, reveling in his harem. Damn it! He wanted to punt this guy off a cliff.


    After another half hour, they''d ughtered over 800 Spectral Wolves.


    Orson''s MP was about to break through 11,000, with his Level 8 **zing Burn** now dealing 880 damage per tick.


    Despite the split experience points from carrying five yers, ShatteredCrown leveled up to 5, and the girls reached Level 7. Monster experience was starting to drop off.


    Since he was casting spells continuously, his MP was draining quickly, so Orson paused to meditate and recover.


    At that moment, a loud voice rang out: **"I swear to God, where is this ''Orgod''? Get over here!"**


    From the mist, a knight d in green armor appeared, apanied by a female sword fighter.


    Dozens of elite guild yers emerged from the shadows, ring menacingly at Orson''s party. Although they hadn''t sustained any actual damage, their faces were covered in ash from Orson''s fireballs.

 Chapter 9 9: A Walking Treasure Chest

    "I''m here. Got a problem with that?" Orson looked up with a fearless expression.


    His calm tone made Skysher and his group frown. With thirty or forty people here, did this kid seriously not understand the situation?


    "So, you''re the one stealing our kills and slowing down our leveling progress? How do you n topensate us?" Skysher sneered.


    Orson smirked and responded with a single word: "Leave."


    ShatteredCrown and his friends were stunned, exchanging nces. "Wait¡­ Master really just told off Dragon''s Kiss Guild without a second thought?"


    "Oh, I like this guy''s attitude." **UltimateSweetheart** smiled with a hint of admiration in her eyes as she watched Orson.


    **ElderEsctor:** "Oh, you''re a tough one, huh? Fine, everyone get ready to go red and clear the field!"


    ShatteredCrown groaned at this, mumbling, "Sometimes it''s better to live to fight another day. Master, let''s fall back for now. I can rally a few hundred people, and then we cane back to deal with them."


    Orson cast ShatteredCrown a sideways nce. "Are you scared?"


    ShatteredCrown: "Scared of them? Please! It''s just that I''m still low-level, so fighting is a bit inconvenient. And, well¡­ I may be carrying a bit too much ammo. Dying now could be¡­ bad."


    The *Mist Forest* was outside the safety zone of the newbie vige, so attacking other yers would incur a **Notoriety Value** and turn one''s name red.


    Once a yer''s Notoriety Value reached a certain limit, NPCs would refuse to provide services, forcing the yer to buy expensive items from the ck market. They''d also be hunted by imperial guards.


    But being a red-name yer also had a perk¡ªif they killed other yers, they''d have an increased chance to drop the victim''s items, including a percentage of their gold. One death could cost a yer 5-10% of their carried gold.


    Many skilled but ruthless yers chose the red-name route to hunt wealthy solo yers for a quick fortune. However, the risk for red-names was also high, as they would lose three times as much when killed in return.


    Orson paused and asked in a private message, "How much gold did you deposit?"


    ShatteredCrown hesitated before replying sheepishly, "I just dropped twenty thousand gold..."


    "Twenty¡­ million yuan?!"


    Orson broke into a cold sweat as ShatteredCrown nodded. This guy really was rich and clueless!


    With twenty thousand gold, a single death could result in a loss of up to two thousand gold, or a whopping two million yuan! Orson almost wanted to bow down¡ªno wonder this "Peacock King" was destined to die at the hands of a subus. Right now, he was practically a mobile goldmine. Kill him once, and yers across the server would pay their respects and thank him for the blessing!


    Skysher grinned maliciously. "If youpensate us with, say, 200 gold, we''ll call it even."


    **ElderEsctor:** "Or you could try running back to the safe zone and wait us out. We can be here all day."


    Orson scoffed. "Eat dirt."


    Skysher sneered, "Wow, got a real mouth on you, kid."


    Did they seriously think he''d cough up 200 gold? That''s 200,000 yuan! Did they think he owned a bank?


    "Either pay up, or prepare to get killed out of this game. Our L&H Guild doesn''t let things go."


    **ElderEsctor** sneered, stepping into the area just outside the safe zone, where her name turned red.


    "You all leave the party," Orson said, turning to ShatteredCrown and his friends.


    "How can I let you fight alone? I''ll be your tank, and you handle the damage¡­" **UltimateSweetheart**, a knight, readied her wooden shield and moved to stand in front of Orson.


    But before anyone could react, Orson promptly kicked each of them from the party.


    ShatteredCrown was stunned. "Whoa, man! What about loyalty? How am I supposed to show my face after this?"


    Hispanions stared at Orson, bewildered. Orson shrugged. "This is a job for the hired muscle. The clients don''t need to get involved."


    Meanwhile, the yers from Dragon''s Kiss Guild and L&H Guild went red and circled around to cut off Orson''s escape. If he managed to retreat to the safe zone, they''d be left empty-handed.


    **Skysher:** "Leave the mage to Dragon''s Kiss Guild. You guys take care of the girls!"


    **ElderEsctor:** "Fine by me."


    "The girls?" ShatteredCrown''s sense of masculinity was under attack, and he shouted, "I''m a man, dammit! Do you even have eyes?"


    **ElderEsctor:** "Oh, so you''re the one who outbid my wife for that hero-tier staffst night?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ShatteredCrown retorted, "Back off, you tomboy!"


    ElderEsctor eyed ShatteredCrown''s weapon greedily, stepping closer. At Level 5 and without armor, ShatteredCrown was easy prey for her as a Level 9 sword fighter in green-tier gear.


    "Great, I''m about to get robbed," ShatteredCrownmented. Losing some gold was one thing, but the disgrace of a New York elite being humiliated like this was worse.


    Orson pointed his staff at ElderEsctor and fired a weak basic attack.


    -12


    ElderEsctor blinked, then burst intoughter. "That''s it? That''s your big move?"


    -795!


    A blood-red damage number exploded over her head, and she staggered, her body engulfed in mes as **zing Burn** rapidly drained her health.


    "This can''t be happening!!" ElderEsctor panicked. Even with her green-tier equipment providing decent magic resistance and HP, she only survived one burn tick before a second hit turned her to ash.


    ShatteredCrown cheered, "My brother is unstoppable!"


    UltimateSweetheart gasped. "What a monster¡ªhe just one-shotted a sword fighter with basic attacks."


    "Over a thousand HP, wiped out in one hit?"


    The L&H Guild members were dumbstruck, staring at Orson in fear of his insane damage output.


    "Next," Orson said calmly, picking up a blue-tier greatsword that had dropped from ElderEsctor and passing it to ShatteredCrown for safekeeping.


    Skysher''s eyes widened, though rather than fear, he looked excited. Just as he''d guessed¡ªthis mage must be packing some incredible equipment!


    **Skysher:** "All of you, charge! Kill him¡ªhe''s got epic gear!"


    To one-shot a Level 9 sword fighter as a Level 8 mage? That gear must be extraordinary.


    Everyone''s eyes burned with greed. In *Infinite Dimensions*, big spenders were everywhere, and if they could snag Orson''s gear and put it on the auction house¡­


    Mansions, women, luxury cars¡ªanything they wanted would be theirs.


    The entire group surged toward Orson.


    Orsonughed. If grinding monsters was too slow, why not just farm these red-names bringing him their gear?


    Surging with fire magic, his six-pointed star totem shone brightly in the mist.


    **Boom! Boom! Boom!**


    Triple fireballs exploded, wiping out an entire party, leaving behind a heap of loot.


    Skysher broke into a cold sweat. This terrifying long-range firepower was something else; calling Orson a human boss wouldn''t be an exaggeration.


    But as core yers of Dragon''s Kiss Guild, they knew mages had weaknesses, and Orson''s HP was only 230. If they could get close, any one of them could cut him down with two hits.


    Orson chuckled, seeing through their strategy. They wanted to get close, exploiting his low HP to overpower him.


    But with the mist as cover, it would be hard for their ranged attacks to target him urately.


    "Come on then, let''s see what you''ve got," he taunted, slipping into the fog.


    "Well, I guess we don''t really have a role to y now," said LittleBaby with a pout, watching Orson disappear.


    **BigBaby**, a cool-headed woman, sighed. "We should move. If he gets surrounded, his damage won''t save him from melee."


    ShatteredCrown furrowed his brow, torn. Then, an unassuming girl in their group, **DivineChef**, spoke up, "The conglomerate behind Dragon''s Kiss Guild has ties with The King Family. It''s best not to get involved in this mess, young master."


    "Shut up! They want to mess with my brother? I don''t care who they are¡ªI''m not backing down!" ShatteredCrown gritted his teeth, clutching his starter staff and charging into the mist after Orson.


    UltimateSweetheart rolled her eyes. "Idiot."


    With ShatteredCrown stubbornly rushing in to support Orson, they had no choice but to follow him into the fog.

 Chapter 10 10: Come at Me with Your Skills!

    "Mages have low agility; he can''t get far! After him!" Skysher yelled as he chased Orson into the mist, immediately ordering his team to spread out and surround him.


    "Skysher... watch out!" a teammate shouted.


    With a loud crash, a massive tree toppled down in front of Skysher, nearly taking him out.


    In *Infinite Dimensions*, the game''s physics were almost as realistic as real life, with objects capable of being destroyed and environmental hazards that could deal devastating damage to yers, especially during the early stages of the game.


    Skysherughed scornfully, "Is that all you''ve got? You think you can take down Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s future top tank with this? Pathetic!"


    "You''re overthinking it," Orson''s voice echoed from the mist, mocking him. One by one, he knocked down severalrge trees, forcing Skysher and his team to dodge and scatter.


    Everyone knew that mages were vulnerable in closebat; getting into melee range was usually fatal for them. But Orson had a clear strategy, manipting the terrain to create obstacles that gave him optimal attack angles.


    The fallen trees formed barriers ahead of Skysher and his group, while Orson slipped around like a ghost, hurling attacks from a distance. As one of the sword fighters tried to leap over the fallen trees, Orson hit him with a st, killing him in seconds. His body vanished in a sh of white light.


    "Damn it! What kind of gear gives him that kind of damage?" Skysher was rmed, ordering his ranged teammates to cover him as he and his melee fighters charged at full speed.


    Arrows and fireballs flew towards Orson, who calmly took a few steps back, letting all the attacks explode harmlessly in front of him. Unscathed, he taunted them with a smirk, "Your team''s range is just as short as yours, bro."


    The melee fighters gritted their teeth. In *Infinite Dimensions*, knights had the highest defense but were limited to about two meters of attack range, which made them simr to rogues in their short reach.


    "The bastard''s keeping us just out of range¡­ but how is he hitting us from beyond normal mage distance?" one of Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s ranged yers muttered in disbelief.


    Everyone knew that some sses gained extra range when they advanced, but Orson was just a Level 8 mage!


    Skysher pressed on, refusing to let up. Orson, however, kept a steady 21-meter gap, keeping them perpetually out of reach. Taunting them further, heunched another volley of fireballs, the scorching heat washing over his pursuers.


    Skysher''s tank, WarTyrant, was anxious. He remembered all too well how the L&H Guild''s vice president had died horrifically to this mage''s fireballs. And as tough as he was, even he wasn''t sure he could survive it.


    "Skysher, I''ll cover you. Just grab the loot," shouted one of his teammates, a sword fighter, who charged forward to take the brunt of the attack. Unsurprisingly, he was immediately burned to ashes.


    As he watched his teammate go down, Skysher roared in fury, "If I don''t kill you until you rage-quit, I swear I''ll eat dirt!"


    Orson''s gaze sharpened. It was no wonder Dragon''s Kiss Guild had be the top guild in the U.S. in his previous life. Their members had a level of trust and coordination that far surpassed most other guilds.


    After all, it took serious dedication for someone to willingly sacrifice themselves and lose experience points this early in the game just to cover a teammate.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Impressive. You''ve earned a bit of my respect¡­" Orson said with a twisted smile. "So, I''ll make sure you die quicker."


    "You cocky bastard! You''re dead!!" Skysher snarled, his eyes burning with hatred. Suddenly, Orson sensed a killing intent behind him¡ªthree dark shadows had slipped up, silent and deadly. They were rogues!


    But Orson was no ordinary yer. In the brutal hardcore mode, he''d survived for two years in nothing but scrap gear. His instincts were far beyond those of typical yers.


    In *Infinite Dimensions*, rogues had a stealth skill from Level 1 that allowed them to sneak up on targets for 10 seconds. If theynded a hit on vital areas like the head or heart, the attack had a high chance of dealing critical damage. However, due to their high equipment and skill requirements, as well as the sneaky nature of their ystyle, rogues were one of the least popr sses.


    Still, encountering three rogues at once was unexpected, even for Orson.


    One rogue closed in, his dagger gleaming coldly, so close Orson could feel the icy edge at his back.


    Just as the dagger sliced through the air, the rogue realized something was wrong¡ªthe strike missed!


    "Looking for someone?" Orson''s voice came from above. The rogue looked up in shock to see Orson, his ck hair flowing, floating midair with his staff aimed directly at him. A six-pointed star glowed on the rogue''s forehead.


    *Bang!*


    -40


    -950!


    Headshot.


    "A mid-air attack¡­ What kind of move is that?!" Dragon''s Kiss Guild members'' jaws dropped.


    ShatteredCrown arrived just in time to see the move, shouting, "Damn! Airborne kill!"


    The girls in his party were equally stunned. The game had only been live for two days, and most yers were still fumbling around with basic attacks. Yet here was Orson, dealing boss-level damage and outying the rogues, the mage''s supposed worst enemies.


    Most shocking of all was that Orson could multitask so seamlessly, even attacking mid-air. In a full-dive game like *Infinite Dimensions*, yers'' neuralworks were directly linked to the game. Casting spells and aiming required concentration, or else they''d face magical bacsh, failed attacks, or other penalties.


    For Orson to pull off such stunts was beyond normalprehension.


    While top yers from the SSR Guild could pull off impressive multitasking moves in other games, there was only one mage in *Sword and Conquest* who had taken it to this level: **Orgod**.


    Two years ago, in the world finals, Orgod, the world''s most powerful mage, had nearly single-handedly turned the tide with his ultimate forbidden spell, *Infernal Purgatory*, summoning eight elemental clones tounch a desperate attack that almost defeated the world champions.


    "I feel like I''m seeing my master''s shadow¡­" ShatteredCrown whispered, captivated. He''d watched that final match hundreds of times, memorizing every one of Orgod''s moves. The second Orson had jumped, his movements had ovepped with those of his idol.


    *Sighing*, Orson murmured, "Rogues and archers¡­ my least favorite sses."


    The two remaining rogues moved quickly to nk him, aiming to pin him down. Their synchronization and positioning were too well-executed to be amateurs.


    Orson shook his head. "Guess I''ll have to use my signature move: American Football Dodge."


    Unable to dodge conventionally, Orson unleashed a series of fireballs at the ground beside him. The explosion propelled him sideways, putting a good ten meters between him and the rogues.


    "Dude, is he a ghost or something?" ShatteredCrown muttered in shock.


    "What the heck? He''s using skills for movement¡­" Skysher''s face went pale, his mind reeling at Orson''s bizarre maneuver.


    Orson couldn''t help but chuckle at these newbies. The *Infinite Dimensions*bat system allowed for extreme flexibility, and using attack skills for movement was standard in hardcore mode.


    Whether it was magic, weapon skills, shield techniques, or assassination moves¡ªno matter how strong your stats were, if you couldn''t adapt inbat, you were doomed.


    Two fireballster, the two rogues fell, dropping nothing but a handful of copper coins.


    "Come on! Show me your moves. Let''s see how many teammates you''ve got left to take the hits." Orson pointed at Skysher, who went pale. The damage, the agility, the control¡ªthis guy was leagues ahead of them.


    Keeping a precise 21-meter distance, Orson continued to weave in and out, turning the hunt into an endless buffet at his convenience.

 Chapter 11 11: Its Orson?

    "Kid, you better watch yourself¡­ You''re on Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s hit list now!" Skysher growled before turning to flee. More than half of the guild''s thirty-odd membersy dead, and he could see the fight was hopeless.


    "Run?" Orson couldn''t help butugh, his voice dripping with disdain. "Send as many from Dragon''s Kiss Guild as you want¡ªI''ll kill everyst one. Revive a thousand times, and I''ll kill you a thousand times."


    These fools went red-name and actually thought they could escape, showing their backs to him... They clearly had no clue just how far his range extended.


    "A ughter¡ªaplete and utter ughter! So satisfying!" ShatteredCrown cheered excitedly.


    Each time Orson swung his staff, fireballs turned into scythes of death, sending over a dozen souls back to the newbie vige.


    Skysher was blown off his feet by a barrage of fireballs, and he red at Orson from the ground. "Usher will deal with you. You''re dead!"


    Orson''s expression darkened. "The guild leader of Dragon''s Kiss Guild, huh? Don''t worry; I''ll kill him before he even gets a chance."


    In his past life, Orson had died at Usher''s hands, but this time, he was determined to strike first.


    "This guy''s tough," Orson muttered, slightly surprised. Skysher had over 2,200 HP and had survived three rounds of **zing Burn** before finally burning to death¡ªa testament to his tanky build.


    *Ding-dong¡ª*


    A pair of knight''s shoulder guards dropped from Skysher''s corpse.


    "Purple gear?" Orson raised an eyebrow and picked it up to check its stats.


    **[Savage Shoulder Guards]**


    Quality: Hero


    Level: 5


    ss: Knight


    Physical Defense: 30


    Magic Resistance: 30n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Effect: Regenerates 10 HP per second inbat.


    3-piece set bonus: +300 HP


    6-piece set bonus: +500 HP


    "Not bad. Too bad it''s only Level 5 gear."


    Orson nodded; it was a decent find. A Level 5 hero-grade piece like this could easily fetch four or five thousand dors.


    Just as he was about to list it on the Empire Auction House, he noticed **UltimateSweetheart** pouting at him, her eyes filled with longing.


    Orson instinctively took a step back, a bit wary that this bold woman might try to tackle him right there.


    **UltimateSweetheart**: "Ten thousand! Sell it to me! I love the look of those shoulder guards. So sexy!"


    **BigBaby**: "Ten thousand isn''t a bad deal. They''d go for about five thousand on the auction house."


    **LittleBaby** red at ShatteredCrown and huffed, "Well? Pay up!"


    The shoulder guards were adorned with two beastly horns, giving them a wild, primal look.


    ShatteredCrown mumbled, "Hey, I didn''t say anything! I just thought¡­ maybe the orc style is a bit¡­ barbaric?"


    **LittleBaby** shot him a deadly re, threatening to drill a hole in his head if he didn''t keep quiet.


    "How about 100 gold, brother?" ShatteredCrown asked Orson with a hopeful expression.


    Orson found the whole scene confusing. He couldn''t quite figure out the dynamics between these people, but ShatteredCrown certainly seemed like a punching bag. Maybe rich kids had a thing for getting bossed around?


    Seeing the price was reasonable, Orson epted the deal.


    With a jingle, 100 goldnded in his ount.


    Orson continued gathering loot from the battlefield. In addition to Skysher''s purple gear, he''dted five green items, two blue items, and eight gold from wiping out the Dragon''s Kiss and L&H guild members.


    Not a bad haul at all!


    If going red didn''t restrict him frompleting certain quests in the early game, he''d have considered farming Dragon''s Kiss Guild for gear nonstop.


    For now, he went back to farming **Spectral Wolves** with his VIP clients, nning to finish ShatteredCrown''s task first.


    Meanwhile, chaos was erupting on the world chat.


    **yer A:** "Damn, I''m shook. Look at the world chat! Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s third battalion just got farmed like wild monsters."


    **yer B:** "Knew it! Some guilds were bound to get wrecked eventually. Now they''ve even lost purple gear!"


    **yer F:** "6666, I''ve heard of this guy. He''s the one farming goblins like a beast. Skysher, why so quiet all of a sudden?"


    ---


    **Dragon''s Kiss Guild Club Headquarters**


    "Report. What exactly happened out there?" A cold-faced man in a ck suit opened a video call.


    "It''s not our fault, boss! We did everything we could, but this guy has a passive that does over 1,000 DPS! No one canst two seconds against him!" A middle-aged man on the screen looked dejected, his imposing demeanor as a guild officer nowhere to be seen.


    "Oh please, my Level 13 water mage barely does 300 DPS," scoffed an aloof, attractive woman with her legs crossed. "And you''re telling me some random mage can hit over 1,000? Who are you trying to fool?"


    She continued icily, "Losing tens of thousands in equipment is one thing, but you''ve also dragged the guild''s reputation down. Can you take responsibility for that?"


    "Yes, I admit I underestimated the opponent," Skysher conceded, red-faced.


    Had Orson been here, he would''ve immediately recognized the woman. She was **Ivy**, Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s lead mage and a professional yer.


    Back in *Sword and Conquest*, Orson had faced her in the national quarterfinals. Despite her ss advantage, she''d been ruthlessly crushed by him.


    Usher furrowed his brow. "1,000 DPS? That''s high for this stage, but didn''t any of your six squads use tactics?"


    Skysher gave a bitterugh. "We tried, but this guy''s moves aren''t what you''d expect from a casual yer."


    With that, Skysher yed the recording of the fight, showing Orson leaping mid-air to kill the rogue, then using his skill to forcefully dodge.


    "See the issue here, Ivy?" Usher asked, eyes narrowing as he paused the video.


    Ivy was captivated by Orson''s moves, her eyes filled with amazement. After taking a deep breath, she admitted, "That''s professional-grade skill. There''s no doubt."


    She reyed the video several times, studying every detail. The fluidity of his movement, his impable control over attack range¡ªthis was master-level gamey!


    Even with her years in professional esports and experience facing top yers, Ivy found herself covered in goosebumps from watching him.


    "At minimum, that''s Tier 1, possibly even Tier 0 level y."


    Ivy''s face grew pale. Even through the screen, she could feel the immense pressure this yer exuded¡ªa confidence in his skill that allowed him to dominate his opponents with ease.


    Usher smirked, his expression calcting. "You''re missing the point."


    "Huh? I am?" Ivy was taken aback, worried that she''d embarrassed herself in front of her boss, potentially harming her standing within Dragon''s Kiss Guild.


    "Pause," Ushermanded, freezing the frame on the Level 8 mage''s face.


    "The key is here¡ªhis appearance," Usher said, a sly smile ying at his lips.


    "His appearance? He looks charismatic, but nothing extraordinary," Skysher and Ivy said, clearly confused by Usher''s focus.


    Usher chuckled, his eyes gleaming. "What, you don''t recognize him from a different game? He''s the only yer who never enhances his character''s looks. He must be gearing up for aeback."


    "No way! He was banned from all U.S. esports leagues!" Ivy''s voice shook as memories of that infamous yer''s silhouette flooded back.


    "That exins why he calls himself ''Orgod''," Skysher murmured. He''d dismissed it as a fanboy quirk but now realized he''d been facing the real deal.


    "*Infinite Dimensions* isn''t regted by the esports association. From what I understand, not even the government has the power to interfere with the game''s progression," Usher remarked.


    His skill was astonishing, hisposure unbreakable, and his consistency almost machine-like. This was the nightmare that haunted every pro yer''s dreams¡ªthe insurmountable figure that had crushed countless opponents.


    With a trembling voice, Ivy whispered, "He''s¡­ Orson!"


    Usher sipped his coffee, a smile dancing on his lips. "If I can''t recruit him to Dragon''s Kiss Guild¡­ then we''ll destroy him."

 Chapter 12 12:The Abandoned Riverbed

    To maximize their monster-farming efficiency, Orson led the team out of the Mist Forest.


    Quitting Smoking for Infinite Dimensions: "Guys, log out for a bit¡ªthe bastard mage is here taking over our spawn points again."


    Supernova Red: "Damn, this guy''s like a leech! I heard he''s a game admin helping people level up¡ªwhy isn''t thepany doing something about it?"


    In every new area, Orson called out to borrow monster spawn points. Nearby yers would grumble and curse, but their actions spoke louder¡ªthey all got out of his way. After all, if this guy had wiped out Dragon''s Kiss Guild, small guilds knew better than to pick a fight.


    Orson''s methods were definitely bold, but he kept his word: he only farmed at each spawn point for an hour, then moved on to the next.


    With Orson ensuring a consistent three-level difference from the monsters, ShatteredCrown''s experience intake was maxed out. Soon, Orson reached Level 10.


    [Centaur Warrior: Level 12]


    HP: 1500/1500


    Attack Power: 60


    Skill: Savage Chargen/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    In an abandoned riverbed, four Level 10 monsters emerged.


    Orson nced around, thinking, "There''s a decent quest here¡­ I''lle back for itter."


    "These guys seem aggressive, so watch out," ShatteredCrown warned.


    They had entered the Abandoned Riverbed, an area within the main city''s jurisdiction, where monsters were stronger than in previous zones. With no more newbie protections, these monsters would actively attack any yer entering their territory, raising the danger level considerably.


    UltimateSweetheart raised her newly acquired greatsword with a smirk, charging into the monsters'' attack range. "Come on, let''s see what you''ve got!"


    The centaurs moved swiftly, leaping at her and shing down.


    -110!


    -110!


    ¡­


    The centaurs lost only about 300 HP under her relentless shes, but UltimateSweetheart stood her ground despite their counterattacks, taunting them into staying close as she tanked the damage.


    Determined, LittleBaby readied her bow. "These things have a lot of health¡­ Let me help!"


    The two other girls joined in the fight as ShatteredCrown muttered, "If I could only use my hero staff, I''d clear these guys in seconds."


    Watching from the sidelines, Orson shook his head, feeling like a rich kid was dragging him out hunting in the wild, but he was patient, letting them experience the thrill of the hunt.


    After a tough battle, they took down one centaur warrior, only to have three more charge out from the bushes. The "noblewomen" with limitedbat experience were quickly overwhelmed.


    "Alright, enough ying around." Orson sighed.


    With a flick of his staff, three fireballs zed through the air, exploding in sparks.


    -1100!


    -1100!


    ¡­


    "You have killed Centaur Warrior. EXP +40"


    The fireballs'' impact,bined with burn damage, effortlessly wiped out the six centaur warriors.


    UltimateSweetheart huffed, ring at Orson. "Ugh, you''re no fun. Can''t you have a little sense of adventure?"


    BigBaby nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Isn''t the point of ying to go through tough fights and experience the joy of growth?"


    Orson was momentarily speechless. Since when was killing monsters quickly a bad thing?


    He chuckled to himself, realizing just how naive the wealthy could be. To them, it was only a game; reasoning with them was pointless.


    In his past life, after the Peacock King was seduced and killed by a subus, The King Family fell from grace. The women around him met tragic fates; some were even captured by rival guilds and sacrificed to demon gods.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Orson turned to ShatteredCrown and said meaningfully, "If these girls mean something to you, then you''d better get strong, fast."


    ShatteredCrown frowned, looking at Orson with the nk, clueless look of a college kid. He didn''t understand why Orson was being so serious about a game, but he kept his thoughts to himself.


    As he watched Orson rapidly fire off his chain-fireballs, his unspoken question gnawed at him: Was this guy really the person he admired so much?


    After three hours, they emerged from the Abandoned Riverbed with the main city of Pondenor looming ahead.


    Orson had reached Level 12, while ShatteredCrown, the lowest-leveled among them, had hit Level 10,pleting the power-leveling task on time.


    "Whoa¡­ so this is Pondenor, the nearest city to the newbie vige? It''s massive!" The group gazed at the majestic city on the horizon.


    "Hehe, I finally hit Level 11! Thanks, handsome!" UltimateSweetheart grinned, thanking him.


    "No problem. A job''s a job, and I appreciate the business." Orson smiled. Along the way, he''d picked up six decent Level 5 blue items, which he sold to ShatteredCrown''s group for a bundle price of 20 gold.


    ShatteredCrown: "Don''t mention it, man. Next time I need help with a tough dungeon, I''m calling you."


    Orson nodded. Despite ShatteredCrown''s cluelessness, the guy had a steady stream of girls by his side¡ªa connection worth keeping.


    Calcting his coins and his bank bnce, Orson realized he now had enough to cover his sister Sienna''s surgery, with a bit left over. He nned to log offter that night and pay the hospital fee, so Sienna wouldn''t have to worry about money anymore.


    His Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye had reached 14,000 proficiency points, and zing Burn was maxed out at 10% MP burn damage, allowing him to melt Level 10 monsters in a second.


    [Normal Boss: White-Scaled Giant Python: Level 10]


    HP: 18,000/18,000


    Attack Power: 150


    Skills: Frenzied Strike, Poison Spread


    Seven suspension bridges led to the main city, each guarded by a giant python boss¡ªa major barrier for yers trying to leave the newbie area.


    ThatOneNight: "C''mon, one more try! We''ve gotta kill this scaly beast!"


    DanceLover: "Please, no more. This is impossible. My teammates get poisoned faster than I can heal."


    ¡­


    Hundreds of yers were stuck at the bridge. Many were already over Level 10, yet the White-Scaled Python had been blocking their path for hours.


    "Heal me! Come on, what''s the third healer doing?" someone yelled.


    "Shut up, man, I''m healing as fast as I can!"


    Orson watched, dumbfounded at the yers'' tactics.


    The python''s Poison Spread skill was lethal, so one team had assembled a setup of three healers, one tank, and two ranged DPS to try to grind down the boss''s 18,000 HP.


    However, the python emitted a debuff aura that reduced yers'' healing received by 50%. The longer the fight dragged on, the more ineffective their heals would be. With a three-healer team, their damage output was nearly nonexistent.


    This boss was clearly designed to test yers''bat skills and damage output.


    As one healer after another fell, Orson couldn''t help butment, "Didn''t anyone read the skill descriptions? You won''t beat it like this."


    "You think you''re so smart? If you can do better, prove it!" shouted thest-standing tank, who was paralyzed by poison, only his mouth still working.


    ShatteredCrown chuckled. "You''re gonna make me dieughing! Do you know who you''re talking to? My guy could solo this boss without breaking a sweat."


    "Solo? Pffft¡­ delusional."


    "Solo a White-Scaled Python? Even the best yers from SSR Guild wouldn''t stand a chance!"


    "Get real, man. Total noob vibes."


    Hearing ShatteredCrown''s words, the nearby yers all scoffed, openly mocking Orson.


    Orson just sighed, turning to ShatteredCrown. "Want me to weaken the boss for you? I''ll leave once it''s low on health."


    "Aren''t you heading to the main city?" ShatteredCrown asked, surprised.


    "I still have some unfinished quests in the newbie vige." Orson nced at the Abandoned Riverbed marked on his map, deep in thought.


    There was a special Level 10 dungeon activation point there with a unique activation condition. If he crossed the bridge into the main city without doing it, the hidden rewards would disappear. Many top yers in his past life had missed this quest and regretted it deeply.


    "You sure you don''t want me to help with the boss? Impressive." Orson was a bit surprised.


    Finally reaching Level 10, ShatteredCrown had equipped his hero staff and seemed a bit more confident, even refusing Orson''s offer to weaken the boss for him.


    "Stop teasing me! If I hadn''t seen your skills, I''d still think this game was just about spending money to win."


    ShatteredCrown grinned, ncing at his four "beautiful wives." "A man''s gotta be rich and strong, right? Watch me take down this little boss!"


    Orson gave a slight smile, exited the party, and headed toward the Abandoned Riverbed to continue his next mission.

 Chapter 13 13: Divine Poison Truffle

    **[Regional Announcement: yer Ballerina haspleted the Prologue of the Main Quest, receiving 30 free attribute points and 1000 prestige!]**


    **[Regional Announcement: yer¡­]**


    **DefyingHeaven2001:** "30 attribute points?! That''s like six levels'' worth of stats just handed to him! This is so unbnced!"


    **Don''tDropTheSoap:** "Is bnce even a thing here? Those big guild yers are way faster than us solo yers!"


    **BuriedInSnow:** "Haha, I hate to tell you guys, but I got 15 attribute points just for fishing with an NPC. They even gave me a crafting skill."


    While yers on the world chatined about how overpowered the rewards were, Orson wasn''t surprised.


    One of the biggest draws of *Infinite Dimensions* was the sheer number of side quests and hidden tasks, many of which rewarded attribute points, skills, or rare items. Leveling up and gearing up throughbat alone wasn''t the only way to be a top yer; immersive exploration and hidden quest triggers were equally important.


    Returning to the *Abandoned Riverbed*, Orson picked up a mushroom growing from a rotting tree trunk. It looked suspiciously poisonous¡ªthe kind that would knock you t with one bite.


    **[Divine Poison Truffle]**


    Quality: Common


    Effect: A rare mountain delicacy, it melts in your mouth with a delicious, sweet vor.


    Divine Review: A must-have for any gods'' party.


    Orson hesitated, staring at the item description.


    He still couldn''t fathom what had possessed those yers in his past life to actually cook and eat this thing, nearly leading to a full party wipe.


    In *Infinite Dimensions*, yers didn''t need a formal **Cooking** skill to prepare meals; ingredients could be thrown together freely, and the taste was almost indistinguishable from real food, though it didn''t actually fill you up. However, adding rare spices or monster meat created buff effects, making things more interesting.


    Some yers, especially those who were chefs in real life, made a fortune in-game by selling dishes and recipes. Large guilds even employed dedicated chefs, with the best ones able to boost members'' stats to the next level.


    To unlock the *Abandoned Riverbed*''s elite dungeon, though, Orson needed to eat the poisonous mushroom and fall unconscious. Reluctantly, he grabbed the mushroom and bit into it raw.


    As he bit through the stem, juice burst onto his tongue, filling his mouth with an odd fragrance. He grimaced as the bitter, waxy texture spread across his taste buds.


    **"You have eaten the Divine Poison Truffle."**


    **"Your willpower is being eroded¡­"**


    **"Three."**


    **"Two."**


    **"One."**


    **"You are now in a hallucination¡­"**


    The system messages appeared one after another, but Orson stayed calm, leaning back against a rock and letting sleep overtake him.


    When he opened his eyes, everything was hazy. He squinted, struggling to focus.


    His surroundings were painted in soft pinks, and a photo of him with a sweet-looking girl hung on the wall. Lying on a bed nearby was a familiar face, peacefully asleep with a gentle smile.


    She was as beautiful and delicate as he remembered, her bare shoulder glowing healthily in the soft light.


    Long ck hair framed her angelic features, stirring something deep within him.


    A feeling of relief washed over him, and he murmured, "So¡­ it was all a dream. *Infinite Dimensions*, Sienna''s illness¡­ just a nightmare."


    Unable to contain his excitement, Orson reached out to hold his sister''s hand. But as he took a step forward, the image before him began to shake violently.


    Suddenly, Sienna''s eyes snapped open, and she grabbed Orson''s arm tightly. "Brother¡­ I don''t want to die¡­ I''m so scared, Brother¡­"


    A chill shot through Orson. The girl''s face twisted, filled with anger and bitterness, bing something frighteningly unfamiliar.


    He tried to pull his hand away, but her grip was unbreakable, her beautiful face now grotesque and hateful. In a sh, the room transformed into a hospital ward.


    "This isn''t real! It can''t be!"


    The smell of disinfectant filled the air, and Orson''s heart raced as his worst fears resurfaced.


    The scene shifted once more.


    "Orson! Run, I''ll cover you!"


    Standing on crumbling ruins, a silver-haired man clutched Orson''s shoulder, his bloodshot eyes zing with desperation. "Stop hesitating! Take my hopes with you and live¡­"


    "Bradley?"


    Orson''s heart pounded as he watched a terrifying dragon-scale python clear a path in the distance, a horde of powerful warriors following close behind.


    Sitting upon the twin-headed chimera, on a golden throne, was a majestic figure whose eyes shone with godlike authority¡ªthe leader of Dragon''s Kiss Guild, Usher.


    "Oh, and Orson," Bradley''s voice wavered with emotion as he pushed Orson forward, holy light glowing around him. "If you see my wife¡­ tell her I''m sorry."


    Orson watched in horror as Bradley charged at Usher, his body radiating holy magic. Usher, with a cold expression, pointed a finger. "Kill."


    Fiery dragon''s breath and blinding spells lit up the apocalyptic wastnd, and Orson could only stare as Bradley''s form disintegrated, utterly annihted.


    "No¡­"


    Orson jerked awake, back in *Infinite Dimensions*.


    The night sky twinkled above him, the trees casting shifting shadows, and he realized it was now nighttime.


    "Damn¡­" he gasped, drenched in sweat, feeling worse than ever.


    He tried to wipe the sweat from his forehead, but his arms wouldn''t move. When he managed to turn his head, he was stunned.


    He was bound and slung over the back of a centaur warrior, which was carrying him deeper into the riverbed.


    The stench from the monster was overwhelming. Even knowing *Infinite Dimensions* wasn''t a hardcore mode game, Orson couldn''t help but mutter, "It''s not even survival mode, why go this hard on the realism?"


    **"You have entered the Beast Tribe Encampment."**


    **"You have unlocked Level 10 Elite Dungeon: Night of Terror."**


    Everything was going ording to n. In his previous life, a team of yers had eaten the poison mushroom and been kidnapped, only to wake up in the *Deste Riverbed* dungeon.


    After a few minutes, Orson was dropped as a food supply in a rough beast tribe camp and tossed into a cer.


    **Night of Terror Dungeon**


    **Objective 1: Escape the Cer.**


    **Objective 2: Defeat all Elite Centaur and Minotaur Warriors.**


    **Objective 3: Defeat the Beastman Chieftain.**


    Seeing his objectives, Orson nodded. Completing the dungeon first would yield additional rewards.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    However, the real prize awaited after defeating the dungeon boss.


    **MP -1**


    **MP -2**


    ¡­


    A fireball lit up in Orson''s hand, illuminating the cer around him. He grimaced. Bones and chunks of rotting flesh littered the floor, mostly human remains.


    No wonder this ce was called *Abandoned Riverbed*. The remains here were from kidnapped vigers, now just discarded remnants.


    The cer walls were rough, marked with climbable indentations. But just as he began to move, something heavy dropped from above,nding with a thud.


    Orson instinctively pressed against the wall, listening to a pained groan.


    Shining his fireball closer, he found a woman lying on the floor.


    "Wait¡­ what?" Orson was bewildered. "This dungeon''s been run hundreds of times¡ªno one''s ever mentioned a woman here!"


    He was alone, without a party, so there shouldn''t be another yer with him.


    The woman had a graceful figure and porcin skin. Her beauty struck Orson as familiar, stirring an unexpected sense of recognition.


    "Hazel?" he whispered hesitantly.


    "Hmm?"


    Hearing her name, the woman drowsily opened herrge, doe-like eyes.


    "Have you seen my Silverlight Holy Chaos Robe?" she asked, groggily. "And my Apprentice Hat, Holy Life Staff, Silver Dragon Rhinoceros Shoulder Guards, boots, and gloves?"


    She sighed dramatically, "If I''ve lost them, my teacher will scold me to death¡­"


    Her voice trembled as she began to sniffle, nearly on the verge of tears. Orson bit his lip, struggling to suppress hisughter.


    Last time, she''d only lost her hat. Now, she''d managed to lose an entire set of gear. In a world full of intelligent NPCs, her absent-mindedness was truly a unique trait.


    **"Hidden Quest Activated: Anxious Hazel, Part II ¨C Hungry Hazel."**


    Divine Review: Hazel''s be even smarter after tasting the Divine Poison Truffle with an adventurer!

 Chapter 14 14: The Shield Mage

    "Were you¡­ following me?"


    Orson was taken aback, genuinely surprised. Although *Infinite Dimensions* had highly intelligent NPCs, yer interactions with them in the early stages were usually basic and functional. For example, interacting with a cksmith simply allowed options like "buy" or "sell," and only certain side quests activated NPC intelligence.


    Yet here was Hazel, who had somehow managed to follow him from the newbie vige and even mimicked his actions by eating a poisonous mushroom. That was unexpected.


    "Uh-huh." Hazel nodded innocently, looking adorably clueless.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Why? Any particr reason?" Orson''s curiosity was piqued.


    "Well, I''ve never met an adventurer as ordinary and¡­ weak as you," she replied, her cheeks flushing a little as she spoke. "I figured you''d run into trouble, so¡­"


    She nced over Orson''s beginner''s gear with a look of pity that was anything but subtle.


    Three ck lines appeared on Orson''s forehead. What kind of reasoning was that?


    If anyone was in danger here, it was him nearly getting crushed by this clueless girl.


    A prompt appeared: **"Hazel''s Quest Sequence, Part II: Help Hazel retrieve her lost gear and escort her back to Pondenor afterpleting the elite dungeon."**


    "Hazel thinks you''re too weak and has decided to teach you magic. Do you ept?"??|


    Orson''s face twitched. A ditzy girl had just dered him weak, but free magic was free magic, so he epted it without hesitation. Who cares if she thought he was weak?


    Two magic books appeared in front of him.


    Curious, Orson picked one up to examine it and couldn''t help but feel he''d hit the jackpot.


    **C-Rank Fire Magic: Blood Detonation**


    Effect: After injuring a target, expend 100 MP to detonate their blood, dealing at least 250+ spell power in damage. Cooldown: 8 seconds.


    The higher the rank, the more powerful the spell. Magic skill ranks ranged from E (lowest) to S (highest), with the rare forbidden curses only obtainable through special quests.


    In his previous life, The King Family had poured its entire fortune into turning ShatteredCrown into a super mage with three forbidden curses, each capable of leveling a city. If it weren''t for his tragic and untimely death, The King Family might have rivaled Dragon''s Kiss Guild, even in hardcore mode.


    Right now, even D-rank spellbooks started at 50 gold coins on the Empire Auction House, while C-rank spells sold for 200+ gold, often with no sellers at all.


    **Blood Detonation** was undoubtedly a high-damage spell, delivering strong burst damage and scaling with the yer''s attack power. With an 8-second cooldown, it was practically a top-tier C-rank spell.


    Orson was tempted but opened the second magic book out of curiosity.


    **D-Rank Fire Magic: Sacred Sun Shield**


    Created by one of Pondenor''s three Grand Mages, mebound.


    Effect: Expends 400 MP to create a magical shield, up to nineyers of shields in total.


    Each shield absorbs 700 physical or magical damage and consumes 100 MP per minute when active.


    After reading the spell''s description, Orson barely blinked before choosing the D-rank **Sacred Sun Shield** without hesitation.


    Excited, Orson''s hands were practically trembling. The spell was useless for a typical mage due to its insane mana cost¡ªjust casting a single shield would drain a Level 10 mage, let alone maintaining it over time.


    Except Orson wasn''t a typical mage.


    With his massive 14,400 MP pool, this spell was practically tailor-made for him!


    Consuming 3,600 MP could instantly generate nine shields capable of absorbing a whopping 6,300 points of damage.


    With that kind of protection, who could touch him?


    Rogues? Even a mob of them would be pointless!


    "You''re right; I really am small and weak. Good call." Orson grinned, giving Hazel a mischievous peck on her porcin cheek. "You''re the best, Hazel!"


    Hazel stared at him, her cheeks flushing pink. "Oh¡­ I am?"


    Orsonughed, his grin downright mischievous under the moonlight. "Don''t worry. I''lle back to rescue you."


    Following the marked path, he scaled the cer walls and climbed out with ease.


    A few campfires flickered nearby, where a group of beast tribe soldiers feasted on some unidentified beast meat,pletely unaware of the maniac creeping toward them.


    **[Elite Centaur Archer: Level 13]**


    **HP:** 3500/3500


    **Attack Power:** 120


    **Skill:** Leaping Shot


    Elite monsters had significantly higher health and attack power than ordinary ones. Any non-elite yer under Level 20 would struggle to even take on a single monster in the *Deste Riverbed* dungeon.


    *Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh¡­*


    Three fireballs arced through the night sky as Orson opened fire from 100 meters away.


    -125


    -1350


    -1350


    ¡­


    The four centaur elites were ttened, and three seconds of burning damage barely finished them off.


    **"You have killed an Elite Centaur. EXP +300."**


    **"You have killed¡­"**


    Orson''s eyes lit up¡ªthe experience gained from elites was over three times that of regr monsters, well worth the dungeon''s increased difficulty.


    A deep warhorn sounded as ten massive centaurs retaliated, firing a rain of arrows in his direction.


    Remaining calm, Orson summoned fiery shields with his beginner staff, two red shields floating before and above him. The arrows pinged harmlessly off them, failing to do any damage.


    "This is incredible! The dream of bing a human artillery cannon is within reach!" Orsonughed,unching rapid fireballs that incinerated the charging centaurs.


    *Boom!*


    A thunderous impact struck from behind¡ªa surprise attack from a group of enraged minotaur warriors, each boasting 5,000 HP and armed with massive totem poles.


    As the massive creatures thundered across the field, kicking up dust, Orson didn''t even turn around. The six-point star symbol lit up, generating a shield behind him. Four shields encased himpletely, blocking every blow without losing a single point of health. Only the damage numbers above him indicated his shield was taking hits.


    The mes of his fire magic surrounded the elites, their agonized cries echoing through the night as hooves and giant axes hammered his shields.


    When one shield finally cracked, Orson casually added another.


    **Sacred Sun Shield** was perfect for hiszy ystyle.


    After a full day of monster hunting, he was done dodging; why waste effort when his 14,400 MP could handle it? Timing his **zing Burn** cooldowns, he chipped away at the minotaurs'' health with basic attacks and passive skills.


    By the time he reached the far end of the beast camp, the ground was littered with dropped equipment and silver coins.


    One great thing about elite dungeons was the increased drop rate. While the monsters were tough, they provided far more loot.


    Especially from elite minotaur warriors¡ªten of them had already dropped one blue item, which was pure profit for Orson.


    **[Minotaur Leg Guards]**


    Quality: Fine


    Level: 10


    ss: Warrior


    Physical Defense: 32


    Magic Resistance: 32


    +1 Agility


    +1 Evasion


    **[Minotaur Helm]**


    Quality: Fine


    ¡­


    The *Deste Riverbed* was basically a warrior''s gear paradise, with almost all loot being warrior-ss armor. Since *Infinite Dimensions* had so many warrior yers, Level 10 blue gear was in high demand, fetching over 5,000 per piece.


    These pieces were no mere standard gear, either; while they didn''t carry set bonuses like hero equipment, they often had valuable bonus stats, making them the best-value armor for any warrior.


    Orson kited the monsters around, killing them from the herb garden to the literature pavilion, finally leading them to the boss area.


    Two hundred elitester, he settled down beside a hidden altar to **Meditate** and restore his MP.


    "Even with over 10,000 MP, it''s still not enough. Running shields drains it dry in less than 30 minutes." Orson sighed, his thirst for higher MP seemingly unquenchable.


    If other mages heard hisints, they''d probably be tempted to kill him.


    "Strange¡­ none of Hazel''s lost gear has dropped." Orson frowned, ncing at the altar. "Could it all be on the boss?"


    Nearby, a desated minotaur shaman chanted in a low voice, waving its arms around the altar.


    Suddenly, a sinister blue light shot into the sky, and a portal opened, as if the fabric of space itself had been torn.


    **[Minotaur Lich: Level 15]**


    **HP:** 80,000/80,000


    **Attack Power:** ???


    **Skills:** ???


    **"This boss is a lord-tier enemy. You may not be able to handle it. Would you like to summon allies?"**


    "Decline."


    Orson shook his head. Defeating the minotaur lich would be difficult, but with knowledge of its skills and attack patterns, and the **Sacred Sun Shield** protecting him, it was within his reach.


    Besides, he''d be missing out on the real prize of the *Deste Riverbed* dungeon¡ªthe hidden boss


    .


    The Dark Elf Queen.

 Chapter 15 15: When the Unstoppable Meets the Impossible

    **"Interrupt the Minotaur Lich''s sacrificial ritual within one minute, or catastrophic consequences may follow."**


    Hearing the system prompt, Orson remained unmoved. He knew the key to triggering the hidden boss fight was to do¡­ absolutely nothing. All he needed was to let the Minotaur Lichplete the ritual, which would summon the Dark Elf Queen.


    In the *Night of Terror* dungeon, if yers entered at Level 20 or higher, the Minotaur Chieftain wouldn''t respawn, making the hidden boss encounter impossible. Many yers in the past had missed this secret, and Orson had been no exception.


    Most yers hadn''t noticed it because they were used to following system prompts, which often meant overlooking quest subtleties.


    Sure enough, after a minute, a blue glow nketed the altar. Like tiny fireflies, luminous bugs emerged from the spatial rift.


    [Dark Pixie: Level 15]


    HP: 300/300


    Attack Power: 50


    Skills: Dark sh, Ascend, Mutation


    Each of these small, graceful creatures was no bigger than a hand, with transparent wings. Despite their delicate appearance, they were deceptively dangerous.


    "These little pests are tricky." Orson frowned, eyeing the Dark Pixies, which only had 300 HP each. They looked weak, but their abilities were insane.


    Aside from their offensive *Dark sh* skill, the *Ascend* skill meant they would explode upon taking lethal damage, releasing a st powerful enough to wipe out an entire party within its range. And once the pixies'' numbers dropped, they would trigger *Mutation*, making them faster, stronger, and overwhelmingly aggressive.


    Although Orson was wary of the pixies'' *Ascend* explosions, dozens of them detonating together would be impossible to withstand, even with nine shields up.


    Sensing an intruder, the Dark Pixies shrieked and swarmed toward Orson, their glowing bodies shing light and dark as they attacked. With a quick move, he raised two Sacred Sun Shields to absorb the first wave of light attacks.


    In seconds, the first shield shattered, and the second was already splintering. Although the pixies weren''t powerful individually, theirbined attacks packed a punch.


    "Think you can oust my MP?" Orson stepped back calmly,yering on two more Sacred Sun Shields to block the pixies'' concentrated fire.


    A six-pointed star lit up before him as heunched consecutive fireballs into the densest part of the pixie swarm, quickly bringing many of their HP to zero. The tiny bodies instantly swelled as they triggered *Ascend*.


    *BOOM!*


    The explosion''s shockwave nearly knocked Orson off his feet, forcing him to steady himself with his staff.


    "Jeez¡­ these things are like mini-nukes," Orson muttered, staring at the mushroom cloud rising before him.


    No wonder so few people had ever cleared the *Deste Riverbed* hidden quest¡ªmost yers didn''t even make it to the boss because of the pixies'' massive explosions.


    Thankful for his long-range advantage, Orson pulled back further,unching fireballs from a safe distance to thin the swarm.


    "You have in a Dark Pixie. EXP +1"


    "You have¡­"


    Orson scoffed. These creatures might have been Level 15, but they only gave 1 EXP point each, despite their deadly nature.


    Even worse, killing them didn''t increase his *Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye* proficiency. These creatures weren''t ssified as monsters¡ªperhaps not even as living beings. He dismissed the idea of grinding on them and instead focused on clearing them strategically.


    Explosions erupted all around as the pixies continued to swarm, their numbers somehow increasing instead of dwindling.


    With his MP dangerously low, Orson realized he''d be defenseless once he could no longer cast shields. Staying calm, he led the pixies toward the Minotaur boss, guiding the swarm closer to the altar.


    Nine sacrificed NPC maidens appeared on the altar, bound as offerings for the Dark Elf Queen.


    As their souls screamed and left their bodies, being drawn into the spatial rift, a powerful aura began to awaken, apanied by intricate magic runes illuminating the sky.


    "It''s time."


    Orson''s eyes hardened, and he unleashed a barrage of fireballs directly onto the Minotaur Lich. Hundreds of Dark Pixies converged on the target, their tiny bodies turning into pulsing energy.


    Caught in the st, the lich was consumed by a fiery explosion.


    -8000!


    -16000!


    -30000!


    The Lich, which boasted 80,000 HP, was nearly killed in the resulting inferno!


    The Minotaur Lich let out an enraged roar, its body crackling with mana as a sickly green light spread from its staff, draining the life of everything in its path.


    Orson raised his staff, summoning five Sacred Sun Shields. The green wave shattered two of them immediately, causing Orson to gasp¡ªeach shield absorbed 700 damage, meaning the Lich''s attack had hit for over 1400!


    In ast-ditch attempt, the Lich opened another portal, summoning elite beast soldiers. Orson smirked, sending three more fireballs toward the group, triggering another series of pixie explosions.


    -6000!


    -12000!


    ¡­


    Many of the beast soldiers perished instantly, leaving behind loot and materials unique to the dungeon.


    **"You have in an Elite Minotaur Guard. EXP +400."**


    ¡­


    Caught in the pixie sts, the Minotaur Lich''s desated form copsed to the ground.


    "You have in the Elite Boss Minotaur Lich. EXP +30,000!"


    "Level Up! You have reached Level 13!"


    "Level Up! You have reached Level 14!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Orson was ecstatic, leveling up twice in an instant andnding himself among the game''s top yers.


    "Hero-grade gear, and three pieces at once!"


    His eyes lit up. The boss had dropped two pieces of armor and a weapon, all glowing with the purple hue of hero-grade items.


    The strategy guides had been correct: the Dark Pixies'' self-destruct ability could be both a nightmare and a golden opportunity. For most yers, a six-yer party with at least four DPS could spread the pixies out, then trigger explosions to kill the boss without directbat.


    **"You are the first yer toplete the *Night of Terror* dungeon. Would you like your name to be disyed in the regional announcement?"**


    Orson gave a faint smile, his gaze steady. Most yers chose anonymity to avoid drawing unwanted attention and avoid bing targets before they were strong enough to defend themselves.


    But Orson understood all too well that the challenges he would face in this game went far beyond keeping a low profile. If he wanted to reim his former glory, there was no room for timidity.


    He was here to remind the world of *Infinite Dimensions* that the three-time champion was back to take what was his.


    A king''s return requires no secrecy.


    **"Regional Announcement: Congrattions to yer Orgod for bing the first yer to solo-clear the elite dungeon *Night of Terror*!**


    **Rewards: 50 attribute points, 10 skill points, 5000 prestige points, and 50 gold!"**


    The announcement stunned the world chat into silence for a solid ten seconds, as every yer stopped grinding or questing, faces frozen in disbelief.


    A solo clear of an elite dungeon, and on the second day after the serverunch?! Was this even possible?


    **KingOfTheExpedition:** "Damn, Orson, you''re unreal!"


    **ShatteredCrown:** "I knew it! You''re insane! If only I could be half as overpowered as you!"


    **SweetHeartedFury:** "I knew I''d picked the right guy! Only Orson could be crazy enough to solo an elite dungeon while we''re looking the other way."


    Orson''s inbox flooded with private messages. Bradley and ShatteredCrown congratted him, while SweetHeartedFury joked about setting him up with a partner.


    Orson rolled his eyes at their pliments." Blowing things up, being called a freak¡­ was this how you''re supposed topliment someone as good-looking as him?


    Blocked. All of them blocked.


    ---


    Momentster, at Rank Studios¡­


    A beautiful woman with wless makeup woke from her gaming pod and stormed over to Charles, dragging him out of the game.


    "I told you to take good care of him, and you forced him to quit! You''ve ruined everything!" She threw Orson''s resignation letter in Charles''s face.


    "This¡­ this is all a misunderstanding. I''ll make it right with Orgod, I swear." Facing her fury, Charles, normally cocky and arrogant, stood there sheepishly.


    Her name was Lauren, owner of Rank Studios and a major shareholder in several streaming and esportspanies. She''d heard about Orson''s cklisting and had personally arranged for Charles to bring him into Rank.


    Taking a few deep breaths, Lauren calmed herself. As an *Infinite Dimensions* yer, she knew how incredibly difficult it was to solo an elite dungeon, especially at such a low level. She didn''t know how Orson had pulled it off, but she was certain of one thing: if she wanted Rank Studios to thrive in *Infinite Dimensions*, she couldn''t afford to lose Orson.


    She opened her designer bag, took out a card, and said, "Transfer him three million and ask him to


    reconsidering back. And I''ll personally visit his sister at City Hospital No. 1."

 Chapter 16 16: I Just Want to Grab the NPCs Gear

    "You have acquired quest items: Holy Life Staff, Silver Dragon Rhino Pauldrons¡­"


    Hazel''s lost equipment automatically flew into Orson''s inventory, and with a quick nce, he couldn''t help but blurt out, "Whoa!"


    [Staff of Divine Light]


    Quality: Legendary


    Level Requirement: 50


    ss: Mage


    Magic Attack Power: 1200


    Attack Speed: 1.30


    Critical Rate: 30%


    Effect 1: Restores 5% HP per second


    Effect 2: Increases max HP by 30%


    Awakening Skill for Full Set: Hymn of Life


    Effect: Increases all allies'' max HP by 50% within 100 meters. Lasts 30 minutes, 2-hour cooldown.


    Orson stared at the rows of orange text detailing the staff''s attributes, practically drooling. Every piece of Hazel''s equipment was a legendary, top-tier item¡ªeach one a masterpiece. Only her apprentice hat seemed oddly out of ce with its basic stats.


    "If only I could swipe the NPC''s gear and log out," Orson thought, his eyes gleaming with desire. Who wouldn''t be tempted by such loot?


    "This item is Hazel''s exclusive weapon. It cannot be used, dropped, or destroyed."


    Orson gave a bitter chuckle. Of course, it was too good to be true. Infinite Dimensions didn''t deal in free lunches¡ªHazel''s equipment was bound to her alone. No one else could use or even pick up these items.


    He turned back to grab the three hero-grade items dropped by the boss, but before he reached them, a seductive, whispering voice echoed from the dimensional rift, sending chills down his spine.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The voice was hypnotic¡ªexactly his type. No wonder so many male yers in his past life had gone wild over the Dark Elf Queen. That sultry voice was enough to make any man''s knees weak.


    From the portal stepped one perfectly shaped, porcin-white leg, a sight so stunning it felt like an arrow to the heart. Another leg followed, and Orson''s mouth went dry as mes of excitement shot through him.


    Then¡­ a third leg appeared.


    And then¡­ a fourth.


    "Are you kidding me?"


    Orson''s expression shifted from infatuation to disbelief, then from disbelief to horror.


    All eight legs, each two or three meters long, gathered together in a spider-like formation. Above them, a massive head crowned with a ck diadem and six enormous wings slowly unfurled.


    The Dark Elf Queen''s face was as beautiful as a wless sculpture, yet cold and lifeless, radiating an aura of death and decay.


    "Oh, hell no¡­"


    Cold sweat beaded on Orson''s forehead as both his arachnophobia and fear of giant creatures hit him all at once.


    "Whoever wrote that guide¡­e out here so I can kill you!" he muttered in disbelief. No wonder the previous guides had detailed every single step of the Night of Terror quest, except for the most crucial part.


    No one who had unlocked this hidden dungeon ever mentioned what the Queen looked like.


    This wasn''t a regal elf queen; this was a gigantic, terrifying spider.


    [Dark Elf Queen: Level 15]


    [Boss Tier]


    HP: 500,000/500,000


    Attack Power: 680


    Skills: Mastery of Dark Mage Techniques


    A notification popped up, and Orson felt a twinge of anxiety. This creature had 500,000 HP¡ªand it was only a projection of the Queen, with around 3% of her actual power. He couldn''t even fathom how strong her true form must be. She was likely ate-game world boss.


    Though only one skill was listed, Orson knew what that meant. In Infinite Dimensions, mages could only reach the "Dark Mage" rank by mastering ten or more C-level or higher spells, all leveled to 10. This boss, then, had at least ten dark magic spells.


    As the Queen began to stir, Orson nced at the hero-grade loot on the ground and the still-motionless pixies. For now, he''d have to give up on the loot; he wasn''t about to risk waking the boss prematurely.


    He turned and dashed, creating as much distance as possible between himself and the eight-legged queen.


    When neither the boss nor the minions followed, Orson retreated 800 meters into the underground passage, keeping himself within attack range.


    "Half my range will have to do," he muttered, steadying himself.


    He threw Hazel''s equipment into the cer,pleting that part of the quest in case he got killed and lost everything.


    "You have returned Hazel''s lost equipment."


    "Please escort Hazel to the city of Pandanolin."


    "Got it, got it¡­" Orson sighed.


    He''d briefly considered luring the Queen toward Hazel, hoping that Hazel would fight the Queen while he watched, collecting the spoils when it was over. But each time he''d approached the cer to "kindly invite" Hazel out to help, she had a response that instantly shut him down.


    "Waaah¡­ I can''t put on my own equipment without my servant. Won''t you give me a hand, my ordinary and oh-so-vulnerable adventurer?"


    "Reliable as ever, disgrace of the mage world¡­" Orson muttered. Dealing with Hazel was like dealing with a storm ofplications.


    If he didn''t know she could kill him a hundred times over, he might have tossed a fireball her way just to blow off steam.


    In the distance, the injured pixies began to transform, merging into ck cocoons that broke apart to reveal a formidable new form.


    [Queen''s Elite Guard: Level 15]


    HP: 20,000/20,000


    Attack Power: 230


    Skills: Blink Strike, Dark Energy Burst, Blood Frenzy


    Twelve of them emerged, d in dark grey armor and wielding spears¡ªthe Queen''s Royal Guard, each with power equivalent to a Level 10 boss. The guards spread out, searching the area for Orson.


    Taking a deep breath, Orson prepared to follow the first rule of dungeon-clearing: always kill the minions before the boss.


    In Infinite Dimensions, the minions weren''t your standard MMO fodder. Under hardcore conditions, even the strongest yers could get careless and wind up dead.


    Summoning his six-pointed star, Orson unleashed a volley of fireballs at the closest groups of enemies.


    Using the experience he''d gained sniping the Goblin Emperor, he aimed with deadly uracy, igniting the guards with his zing Burn passive.


    -1554!


    -1554!


    ¡­


    His attacksnded just outside the enemies'' detection range, confusing the minions. But the Dark Elf Queen wasn''t like the Goblin Emperor. Highly intelligent, she split her guards into three teams and ordered a search.


    With quick repositioning and relentless fireballs, Orson managed to kill three of the guards. The remaining guards went berserk, activating their Blood Frenzy, which boosted their speed but drained their HP over time.


    "You have in the Queen''s Elite Guard. EXP +900."


    ¡­


    He repositioned himself and began the traditional mage''s dance¡ªkiting the mobs. But each of these minions had massive HP, and even with 1500+ burn damage, it took him nearly a minute to whittle down each one.


    The guards didn''t reach him until four remained. With practiced calm, he raised a Sacred Sun Shield to block their Blink Strike, preserving his mana. Dodging precisely, he sidestepped Dark Energy Burst and countered with fireballs.


    To anyone else, it would have looked like magic: a mage effortlessly dodging attacks while casting spells with pinpoint uracy.


    After a grueling struggle, he finally killed thest of the elite guards. As he looked up, a colossal shadow descended over him.


    The Dark Elf Queen hovered above, her gigantic wings stirring up powerful gusts of wind as she looked down on him, her chilling gaze piercing into him like a god looking at an insect.

 Chapter 17 17: Basic Moves

    Honestly, Orson didn''t expect the Dark Elf Queen to move this fast. But what really caught him off guard was how hideous she looked up close. At a distance, the Queen seemed like a divine figure descending to Earth. Up close, though, she was more like a horror show. The sight of her bristling, needle-like leg hair almost triggered an "electronic dysfunction" in him. Thank goodness for the patches of dark armor covering her "vital areas"¡ªwithout them, he might''ve lost his sanity.


    "Whoever wrote the strategy guide for this boss¡­ you really tricked a lot of clueless guys into certain death," Orson muttered. As a man, he felt betrayed!


    The Queen seemed to sense the sheer disdain in Orson''s gaze. With her eight legs raised, sheunched a relentless stomping attack. Orson had anticipated this, swiftly moving to evade her brutal physical strikes. But the Queen was fast, quickly blocking his escape path with her outstretched legs. Suddenly, three dark streaks shed toward him from her hand.


    Orson smirked, summoning a Sunfire Shield underfoot and deftly leaping into the air to evade the attack from an unnatural angle.


    No matter the life he was in, few could match Orson''s mastery ofbat tactics and spell techniques. Facing a boss with limited attack patterns¡ªonly a fraction of her true power at that¡ªOrson found it surprisingly easy to handle.


    As hended, he quickly fired off three consecutive fireballs, all aimed precisely at the boss''s armored chest.


    -1


    -1N?v(el)B\\jnn


    -1


    The rapid-fire barrage barely left a scratch on her chest armor, causing no real damage, but Orson hadn''t expected much.


    In Infinite Dimensions, attacks could either hit unarmored areas for full damage or be partially or entirely absorbed by high-tier armor. This fell into thetter category.


    -1355


    -1355


    ¡­


    With a few anguished roars, wisps of me began spreading across the Queen''s chest. Although his attacks hadn''t broken her defenses, his fire mage passive was still triggering.


    With that sess, Orson retreated again. Enraged, the Queen increased her assault, a spear of dark magic manifesting behind her and hurling itself directly at Orson with a deadly hiss.


    Orson narrowed his eyes, watching the space around the spear ripple as it approached. The st radius had to be at least three meters. With his measly 300 HP, even a slight graze would be fatal.


    "Shield, shield¡­ shield and more shields!"


    He generated four Sunfire Shields in quick session.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    "The magic attack on this thing is insane!"


    A cold sweat trickled down Orson''s back as the spear smashed through three of his shields, the fourth barely managing to absorb the final blow.


    Each Sunfire Shield could absorb 700 damage, meaning the Queen''s attack packed over 2,000 damage in a single hit¡ªmore than enough to kill him several times over.


    Realizing the danger, Orson abandoned any yful mindset he''d had about this boss fight. Focusing his mana, he followed up with another set of fireballs, all targeted at her armored chest.


    -2


    -2


    ¡­


    Despite being fully absorbed, each hit now did a bit more damage than before.


    Noting the effect, Orson retreated again, conjuring another Sunfire Shield to absorb the Queen''s relentless attacks, while the surroundings took a beating, as though an earthquake was ripping through the beastman camp. His zing Burn passive was doing its job, but the Queen''s 500,000 HP was staggering. If he didn''t find a way to drain it faster, he''d run out of mana long before she went down.


    "I''ll probably need another few dozen fireballs just to break her defenses," he calcted grimly, then resumed his rapid-fire assault on the Queen''s chest.


    He wasn''t aiming there for any unsavory reason; the chest area was a strategic weak point in Infinite Dimensions.


    While armor here didn''t have a "durability" value, sustained attacks could destroy it, allowing yers to deal critical hits to unprotected weak points like the heart or head. Such an opening not only increased critical hit rates but also asionally inflicted stun, knockback, or even floating effects.


    Ten minutes in, the armor around the Queen''s chest was beginning to crack, revealing slivers of pale skin underneath. Any hint of beauty was utterly lost on Orson; he wanted only to finish off this screeching monster.


    At 20% HP, the Queen paused, stopping her chase.


    "She''s changing her attack stance," Orson thought, immediately recognizing the pattern.


    The more powerful the boss, the more attack modes it would have as yers depleted its HP. This was the core challenge of boss fights in Infinite Dimensions.


    A massive dark hexagram suddenly appeared behind the Queen, blotting out the sky. From the hexagram, a blood-red magic sigil descended, bypassing Orson''s Sunfire Shield and striking him directly.


    ncing at the new sigils etched on his skin, Orson muttered, "An A-level curse spell¡­ Death Sigil."


    [A-Rank Dark Spell: Death Sigil]


    Effect: Reduces all targets'' HP within range to 10%,sting 1 minute, with effects decreasing based on magic resistance. 30-minute cooldown.


    This curse spell was absurdly powerful. Without a light mage present to counter it, even the best-equipped yers would be gutted by such a debuff. The Death Sigil had brought down entire guilds in Orson''s previous life, leaving top yers defenseless before even weaker opponents.


    But on Orson, this spell was overkill.


    "That''s it? That''s all you''ve got?" Orson scoffed, unimpressed.


    Against a regr yer, this move would have been devastating. But Orson hadmitted to a no-hit run; he was fine as long as he had his shields up. With 35 HP remaining, he wasn''t nervous at all. With his mana reserve, his nine Sunfire Shields functioned like an extra health bar.


    The Queen let out a smug, mocking shriek as she watched her prey struggle under the curse. With a flick of her six enormous wings, she conjured three swords of dark magic that flew toward Orson.


    Orson calmly responded by summoning six Sunfire Shields, deflecting two swords with each shield. He nced at his mana pool¡ªonly about 1,000 points left.


    With barely any mana remaining, Orson kept up his assault on the Queen''s chest, chipping away at her cracked armor.


    -20


    -20


    ¡­


    Every hit struck with pinpoint uracy, and Orson felt like he was born to do this. His precision was terrifying, even to himself.


    With his mana nearing zero and the Queen''s chest armor breaking apart, Orson seized the opportunity. Raising his starter staff, he dered, "You''re going down!"


    With a crack, the armor shattered, and Orson activated his inner "sage mode" to ignore the Queen''s exposed chest.


    Critical Hit! -230


    Critical Hit! -230


    ¡­


    The Queen''s towering form reeled backward, screeching in pain, as Orson''s fireballs continued to strike her exposed heart, suspending her in mid-air with sessive knockbacks.


    In a masterful disy of attack timing, each of Orson''s basic attacks chained together perfectly, keeping the Queen suspended, defenseless. It was a feat few could aplish with a starter staff''s 0.5 attack speed. Even a fraction-of-a-second error would have broken thebo.


    On top of that, Orson effortlessly activated his game''s recording function to capture this insane disy of skill.


    One minute passed, and the "Combo x33" message appeared over the Queen''s head.


    Ten minutes in, the counter climbed to 352.


    Thirty minutester, thebo count reached an unbelievable 900, and the Queen''s HP hit rock bottom.


    Had any Sword and Conquest veterans been watching, they would have shouted, "That''s just Orson in action! Basic moves, no big deal!"

 Chapter 18 18: No One Can Outdo Me

    **Server Announcement:** *yer Usher has led his team to clear the elite dungeon [Dark Abyss]!*


    *Team reward: 30 free attribute points, 3 skill points, 1000 fame, and 15 gold coins.*


    yers flooded the server with reactions:


    **Pizza No Jpe?o:** *"Way to go, Usher! Flowers for the Dragon''s Kiss Guild boss!"*


    **Infinite Dimensions Pro Liu Qiang:** *"Dragon''s Kiss Guild is unstoppable! Usher was born to be a god-tier archer. It''s only a matter of time before he conquers Infinite Dimensions!"*


    **Sad but Shallow:** *"Compared to Orgod? Nah, not single-handed, so what''s the big deal about this announcement? Not much skill in that."*


    The Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s victory over [Dark Abyss] made waves across Infinite Dimensions, though reactions were mixed. Team aplishments were no match for the jaw-dropping impact of Orgod''s solo run through [Night of Terror]. Nheless, Usher had his fair share of loyal supporters eager to shower him with praise.


    Usher wasted no time buying a 10,000-credit megaphone to announce: *"This victory wouldn''t be possible without my team. A huge thanks to everyone who contributed! Here''s to seeing more of you in Dragon''s Kiss Guild!"*


    Bradley, hacking away at monsters in the wilderness, scoffed at the announcement. *"Oh, now he''s all humble? Just yesterday they were snatching our bosses and hogging hunting grounds."*


    **System Alert:** *yer Dragon''s Kiss Guild has sent out a gift to all yers! Amount: 1,000 gold coins. Quantity: 999 packets!*


    Bradley froze. *"A million-credit bonus???"* He muttered hisints, but his fingers were a blur as he grabbed a gift pack thatnded him a fat 5 gold. Five thousand credits richer, heughed out loud.


    **Hatchet Street King:** *"Man of the people, our big bro Usher! Somebody prop me up; I''m ready to pledge my loyalty to Dragon''s Kiss Guild!"*


    **Tears and Woonds:** *"Orgod who? Usher''s the real deal, the only guild that matters!"*


    **TequMockingbird:** *"Real talk, Usher is now the undisputed king of Infinite Dimensions."*


    The million-credit drop sent shockwaves through the server, cementing Usher''s reputation. With many yers already dreaming of joining Dragon''s Kiss Guild, it wasn''t hard to see why they held Usher in such high regard.


    *"Same old story,"* Orson muttered, standing over the dissolving remains of the Dark Elf Queen. Watching Usher''s fanfare on the world channel reminded him of events from his past life. *"The Guild''s no-expenses-spared image was already spreading among the yer base."*n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Orson acknowledged that while Dragon''s Kiss Guild wasn''t the wealthiest group around, Usher''s willingness to spend big from the start had catapulted them to sess. The million-credit gesture may have looked like a celebration, but it was, in reality, an ad campaign, strategically crafted to set them apart.


    *"Sorry, but I can''t let you have the limelight."* Orson''s smirk broadened as he issued his own announcement.


    **Server Announcement:** *"Congrattions to yer Orgod, whose skill and perseverance have single-handedly defeated the hidden boss [Lord-ss: Dark Elf Queen]!*


    *Reward: 70 free attribute points, 20 skill points, 10,000 fame, and 80 gold coins!"*


    **yer Reactions:**


    **Pizza No Jpe?o:** *"Whoa¡ªwait, what? A lord-ss boss?"*


    **Badger Lung:** *"Holy hell, he soloed a lord boss?! Orgod''s on another level. He''s practically a boss himself!"*


    **TequMockingbird:** *"Ahem, Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s boss might have to settle for the #2 spot."*


    **Riches Traveler:** *"Hell yes! This dude doesn''t just y by the book; he''s a legend!"*


    Meanwhile, Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s Ivy looked uneasy in her water-elemental robe. *"Should we even bother with the gifts now?"* she asked hesitantly.


    ThunderStrike was fuming. *"No way! He''s gotta be abusing a bug or something. No regr yer can solo a lord-ss boss. He''s full of it!"*


    Usher, however, kept his cool. *"Even if it''s a bug or exploit, being able to solo a lord boss still takes skill. My judgment wasn''t wrong."*


    Turning to his team, Usher gave a confident smile. *"I''ve secured the blueprint for a 15-level legendary bow. I''d appreciate everyone''s support to make it happen."*


    ThunderStrike immediately volunteered. *"We''re on it, boss! Our group can handle the 500 alligator hides."*


    Ivy nodded. *"No problem! I''ll get the materials from crafting specialists, so we can get the 3000 magic crystals."*


    With another two-million credit investment, Usher filled the team chat with gift packages. Laughter and camaraderie quickly reced the tension in the air.


    Back at the [Night of Terror], a burst of silvery light erupted from the remains of the Dark Elf Queen, revealing a half-sized, slightly damaged statue and arge sapphire. Orson''s eyes lit up as he picked up the items and checked their descriptions.


    **[Statue of the Elven Queen]**


    *Quality: Damaged Relic*


    *Details: A legendary relic from the Elven race, weakened by the Dark Elf Queen''s corruption, reducing its power by 99%.*


    *Pack it to gain a special skill.*


    *Skill:*


    *Ethereal Body: Enter an invulnerable state for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 12 hours.*


    "Three seconds of invulnerability!" Orson couldn''t contain his excitement. This relic alone justified everything. In his previous life, countless high-level yers missed out on this chance by leveling past 20, forever losing out on this ''three seconds of godhood'' relic.


    Though three seconds sounded brief, it was a powerful ace card, particrly for dealing with high-damage thieves who''d find it impossible to bypass his shield.


    Orson''s eyes then fell on the sapphire. Was this an extra drop? As far as he knew, the Dark Elf Queen''s projection only dropped a few coins and the relic. He picked it up.


    **[Elven Gemstone]**


    *Quality: Perfect Relic*


    *Requirement: Level 20*


    *Effect: Reduces all skill cooldowns by 30%. Can duplicate certain basic attacks and skills up to two times, depending on weapon quality.*


    *Description: An essentialponent in crafting legendary-tier weapons.*


    The few lines nearly made Orson''s jaw drop. A 30% cooldown reduction alone was enough to make anyone salivate, but the ability to duplicate attacks or spells? Casting a skill like Triple Fireball would rain down nine orbs. Orson felt his hands go numb as he reread the details.


    *"Did¡­ did I just score an immacte relic?"* He froze, realizing the gem''s rarity. The statue, for instance, was only a damaged relic. But here he was holding a wless relic in his hands!


    Rechecking thebat log, Orson finally understood his luck:


    **Congrattions! Bonus drop rate of 1% activated!**

 Chapter 19 19: Employee of the Year Award

    Clearing the entire *Night of Terror* dungeon solo had Orson absolutely raking it in. Two relics, three level-15 hero items for warriors, and a hefty payout of gold coins for being the first toplete it all contributed to his spoils. Most importantly, the reward of 30 skill points and a full 120 attribute points was enough to solidify Orson''s early-game advantage.


    The attribute points alone would make a major difference, amplifying his starting stats, and skill points would let him level up his spells faster¡ªespecially crucial at level 20 when ss advancements demand high skill levels and plenty of gold. Still, Orson knew his edge wasn''t unbeatable. Plenty of challenging side quests, hidden missions, and achievements granted skill and attribute points, and in this game, no one could outgrind the hardcore yers. With high-end game pods that included nutrient solutions, some yers practically lived in the game.


    He nced over the gear he''d looted, feeling a hint of regret. *"Shame these three pieces are just level-15 gear, or I''d pass them to Bradley."*


    The items¡ªa weapon and two pieces of armor¡ªformed a rare warrior set called **Bone Crusher**, adding a whopping 150 attack power when worn together. That bonus was no small advantage early on, though level 15 gear quickly became obsolete as yers advanced to 20 and experienced the steep leveling curve after their ss awakening.


    He tossed the three pieces into the auction house, setting a buyout price of 1000 gold coins, figuring that the big spenders wouldn''t blink at the hefty tag. Checking the time, he saw it was already 3:30 PMte afternoon in the real world. If he waited too long, the hospital would close, so he converted his 700 gold into cash and logged out, nning to pay Sienna''s surgery fees immediately.


    Meanwhile, yers stalking the auction house went wild when the **Bone Crusher** set hit the market.


    *"Bone Crusher set! Orgod''s selling it¡ªwhat the heck, 100,000 credits for three items? Who''s dropping that?"*


    *"He must''ve gotten this from the dungeon he just soloed. This game pays better than my delivery job!"*


    All eyes in the auction house zeroed in on the purple glow of Orson''s set. Though none of the items made the top-10 gear lists individually, their set bonus was incredible for the early game. Some guild leaders hesitated, weighing the pros and cons of spending such a fortune.


    One guild leader decided to take the plunge, but just as hepleted his top-up, the set had already been snapped up. Before he could rage about missing it, **Bone Crusher** reappeared in the auction house¡ªthis time for 1200 gold, and listed anonymously.


    *"Oh, they just want to flip it for a little profit? Fine, I''ll y along."* But thirty secondster, it was gone again. When it reappeared, the price had climbed to 1500 gold.


    **Empire Divine Warrior:** *"Orgod, you scammer! Why put a buyout price if you''re gonna keep relisting? Just sell it!"*


    **Empire Divine Healer:** *"Friend, be honest. That''s not how you do business!"*


    **ThunderStrike:** *"ssic broke loser behavior."*


    After being passed through several scalpers, the set''s price ballooned to 1800 gold, finally snapped up by the Empire Guild leader himself. He bought it with a tear in his eye, knowing he''d just be the auction house''s biggest sucker.


    While this chaos unfolded, Orson sat in his living room, blissfully unaware, slurping instant noodles. Had he known the set had climbed to 180,000 credits, he would''ve kicked himself for underestimating the marketce. But as it was, he just got up, changed clothes, and hailed a cab to the hospital.


    As he neared the hospital and thought about finally seeing Sienna, Orson''s heart raced with excitement. She''d been gone from his life for five long years in that other world. Standing outside the building, he gripped a bouquet of carnations, hands trembling.


    *"What do I say?"* he wondered. *"Your awesome brother''s back with cash in hand? You miss me? Couldn''t sleep without your bro around?"* His thoughts spun in a wild jumble until he noticed the line at the payment counter had shortened. He took a deep breath and headed inside.


    "Orson? What a surprise!" a voice called out. He turned to see a fashionably dressed woman waving at him¡ªLauren, the head of Rank Studios, standing beside none other than Charles.


    It took Orson a few seconds to recognize her, and he nodded with a polite smile. *"Lauren? What brings you to the hospital¡ªare you okay?"*


    Lauren, looking wless as ever, smiled and replied, *"What, I can''t visit an employee''s family?"*


    *"Employee''s family?"* Orson repeated, raising an eyebrow.


    Lauren nodded, her smile unwavering. *"There must''ve been some misunderstanding. I didn''t approve any resignation letter."*


    Orson frowned. *"Lauren, I handed that in to Vance yesterday, and he gave it to Charles here."*


    Charles forced an awkward grin, stammering, *"Orson,e on, let''s not take things too seriously. It was just a little misunderstanding, right? A real misunderstanding!"*


    *"Right, well, we''ll have to straighten it outter. I need to get to the payment window."* Orson turned to head to the counter, but Lauren stopped him.


    *"Actually, no,"* she said, smiling warmly. Orson raised his brows, confused.


    *"Excuse me?"*N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lauren, voice teasing, replied, *"You see, you submitted that letter, but I never approved it. So technically, it doesn''t count."*


    Stunned, Orson just gaped. *Is she¡­ refusing my resignation?*


    Before he could respond, Lauren''s expression turned serious. She nced at Charles. *"Well? Have you taken care of everything? What did the hospital say?"*


    Charles nodded obsequiously. *"Of course, Lauren. Miss Sienna''s surgery has been paid for, and Zion, the head surgeon, will personally oversee her case."*


    Orson blinked, baffled. He had no idea what was happening, but Lauren seemed dead serious. Why was she, the head of a gaming studio, arranging top-level medical care for his sister?


    Lauren continued, *"Here, take this."* She extended a tinum card. *"It''s only three million, but it''s yours."*


    Orson looked at her, utterly at a loss. *"Only three million¡­ and what''s that for?"*


    Lauren, flustered under Orson''s scrutinizing stare, coughed and replied, *"Ahem. Congrattions, Orson. You''ve just won our annual Employee of the Year award. The prize is three million credits!"*

 Chapter 20 20: I Really Messed Up!

    Three million as an "Outstanding Employee Award"?


    If this had happened just yesterday, Orson wouldn''t have cared if it was a joke or not; he would''ve snatched that card without a second thought and shoved it in his pocket. But now? A measly three million was nothing more than a joke.


    "Oh, Lauren, you''re just too much."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Orson chuckled, watching Lauren''s stiff, ufortable smile. He''d practically read her intentions at a nce. This supposed "bonus" wasn''t a reward; it was an investment¡ªa down payment for Orson''s continued allegiance.


    She thought her sly moves and pretty little waist could keep him tied down? Please.


    Lauren obviously had kept an eye on Orson''s dominant showing in *Infinite Dimensions*, and it was clear she wanted to keep him in Rank Studios, under her thumb.


    "Business not looking so good for the other games these days, huh, Lauren?" Orson asked with a half-smile.


    Lauren''s smile faltered, but she forced herself to keep calm. "It''s alright, I guess."


    Lauren had been doing well as an heiress, buildingpetitive teams and making decent money from pay-to-y studios in games like *Sword and Conquest*. But ever since *Infinite Dimensions* hadunched, other games had been losing yers fast. The investments she''d poured into *Sword and Conquest* were tanking daily. She had no choice but to throw all her resources into *Infinite Dimensions*, expanding her studio into arger guild in the hopes that the game''s massive yer base would finally pay off.


    Orson, with his undefeated "three-crown" reputation and current meteoric rise in the game, had clearly be Lauren''s prime target.


    Orson looked her over, unable to hide a smirk. "Gotta hand it to you, Lauren¡ªyou''re pretty sharp."


    "You tter me, Orson." She forced a smile, though his piercing stare made her uneasy.


    In just the first 30 hours sinceunch, the name Orgod had dominated the leaderboards, even surpassing *Dragon''s Kiss Guild* and its leader Usher. If Orson agreed to rejoin Rank Studios and helpedunch their guild, the buzz alone would skyrocket *Bright Gxy* into the spotlight.


    It was the perfect business y¡ªtextbook Lauren.


    In the previous timeline, *Bright Gxy* had indeed been a top-tier guild in the early days, and Orson himself had even led one of its 100-man farming teams. Back then, there wasn''t much difference between yers'' skill levels, and *Bright Gxy* had risen fast, clearing tough instances with Orson and several retired pros. Things were looking good¡ªuntil the first contested Guild Outpost event came around.


    But Lauren, satisfied with her initial gains, made a massive miscalction. She didn''t think the guild had enough power to take an outpost and refused to pay the 5 million for a spot in the guild wars. *Bright Gxy*''s top yers got poached, and in just a few short months, the guild was no longer in the running.


    Lauren gritted her teeth, then softened her voice. "Think about it. I could even give you full control of the guild."


    Orson couldn''t help butugh. "Oh, Lauren, stop joking around. There''s no way I could handle that responsibility."


    She might''ve yed it cool, but if he was still ving away as her "guild manager," would Lauren be standing here, looking desperate and asking him to ept a bonus? This woman, with here-hither looks and charming demeanor, was nothing more than a shark in business attire.


    In his two years of grinding under Rank Studios, Orson had earned the city''s minimum wage, ving away twelve hours a day. But he knew Lauren was just as much to me as Charles, the manager who did her dirty work with such glee.


    "Orson, please think it over," Charles started pleading, shing a fawning smile. "I''ve got a big mouth; I shouldn''t have snapped at you¡ªhere, you can smack me if it''ll make you feel better." He even raised his hand, as if ready to p himself for good measure.


    Orson cringed. "No need for that routine. Yesterday, you couldn''t have been happier to see Bradley and me fired."


    He shook his head as he turned away. "This isn''t the ce to discuss it. As for the surgery fees and this ''bonus,'' I won''t be epting them." Lauren''s heart dropped, but before she could protest, Orson added, "That said, I do owe you one for arranging for the chief surgeon."


    Lauren''s face brightened slightly, sensing an opening. But Orson shut it down immediately with a calm smile. "I won''t be joining your guild. The only thing I might do is help you secure an outpost¡ªbut I have one condition."


    "Lauren, don''t listen to his nonsense. Taking an outpost is no joke!" Charles muttered, lowering his voice to address Lauren directly. "Even if he''s good, he''s just one guy. The sign-up sheet already has over fifty guilds, and it''s expected to reach at least a hundred contenders. And there are only twelve avable guild outposts!"


    Lauren''s face tensed, but she turned back to Orson, who was as calm as if they were discussing the weather. "Alright, what''s your condition?" she asked, trying to hide the desperation in her voice.


    For her, this was an all-or-nothing gamble. With *Infinite Dimensions* exploding in poprity, sessfully iming an outpost could be her ticket to serious profits.


    Orson''s own thoughts turned as he nced at Charles. When he''d hit rock bottom after being fired from Celestial, Lauren had been the only one willing to take him in. She''d been stingy, yes, but she''d still taken him on. In a way, he did owe her for that.


    Orson took out his phone and dialed Bradley.


    "Yo, Orson! What''s up? Just about to start a dungeon."


    "Hold on. There''s someone here who wants to say hi."


    "Really?" Bradley perked up. "Is it a cute girl or something?"


    A loud smack and a scolding from his girlfriend were heard on the other end: "Girl my ass¡ªget lost, you pig!"


    Orson chuckled. "Don''t worry, my ears are ''closed.''" He turned on speaker and handed the phone to a visibly uneasy Charles.


    Lauren shot him a death re, but Charles stammered out a reluctant, "D-dad¡­ I''m sorry."


    Bradley''s gleeful voice crackled through the phone. "What? Signal''s spotty¡ªI didn''t quite catch that. Louder!"


    Charles turned beet red and nearly shouted, "DAD! I messed up, okay?!"


    Satisfied, Orson hung up, sending Bradley off in high spirits and leaving Lauren and Charles both speechless.


    After brushing them off, he took the bouquet of flowers and went to the door of hospital room 414. Orson took a deep breath, standing just outside, his hand shaking slightly as he clutched the flowers.


    "I don''t care how many times I''d have to do this over again¡­ I swear I''ll make sure nothing goes wrong this time."


    Orson braced himself, taking a few moments to gather his courage, telling himself it was just to be the brother she deserved. Finally, he peeked through the window.


    There, under a beam of gentle sunlight, was a young girl with chestnut hair sitting on the hospital bed. She looked so delicate, her pale skin almost translucent. Her long hair lifted softly in the breeze as she swiped through a tablet, the faintest smile on her lips.


    In that instant, Orson felt his heart shatter and mend all at once, his vision blurring as tears slipped down his cheeks.


    It was real¡ªhis nightmares had been vanquished, his dreame true.


    He opened the door and, ignoring the nces from the other patients, strode over to her and wrapped her tightly in his arms. He gently brushed a hand over her hair and murmured in her ear, "I''m back for real this time. I''m really back."


    "¡­Brother, aren''t you supposed to be at work?" The girl looked up at him in surprise, a soft blush coloring her cheeks, her innocent face beaming in the sunlight.

 Chapter 21 21: Biggest Fan Ever

    "Wow, you''re so embarrassing! Who''s the real crybaby here?" Sienna muttered in exasperation, eyeing her brother, who was bawling like a child. He''d buried his face into her shoulder, streaking her freshly changed hospital gown with tears. Blushing furiously, she tugged on his ear. "Alright, alright! We''ve only been apart two days, there''s no need to get so sentimental."


    Only then did Orson notice the ncesing from behind. The nurse nearby gave him a disapproving look, prompting him to step aside. "You don''t get it, kid," he scoffed, trying to save face. "It''s called ''a gentle man''s heart.''"


    "A gentle man? You can''t even do twenty push-ups, weakling."


    Sienna didn''t hold back,ughing at him mercilessly, and Orson fell silent, a bit embarrassed. This body wasn''t quite in top form, to say the least.


    Sienna cocked an eyebrow mischievously. "Sooo¡­ does this mean you''re taking me home? I can pack my stuff in under a minute!"


    Orson knew what she meant¡ªSienna was worried about wasting money on medical bills. It made his heart ache.


    "What, so you can go home and cause trouble?" he teased, feigning annoyance. "I''ve already arranged for a VIP room. Your brother''s officially loaded again!"


    "Wait¡­ what?"


    "Paid your surgery fees, too," he said proudly. "Zion himself will be operating next month."


    Sienna''s eyes widened in disbelief, but after a moment, she looked skeptical. "Wait, you didn''t go and take out some insane loan, did you? Because if you did, and you don''t return it immediately, I''ll jump out of this window!"


    Orson knew Sienna wasn''t joking, either. Sighing, he quickly exined how he''d earned the money by dominating *Infinite Dimensions*.


    "So that''s you!" she burst intoughter. "I thought there was something suspiciously familiar about that guy everyone''s calling a ''scammer'' and ''official nt'' on the forums!"


    She handed Orson her tablet, still giggling. He nced at it and froze, his face immediately falling. The screen showed the top post on the *Infinite Dimensions* official forum: **"Remember This Scammer! This yer''s an Official nt Here to Make Us Spend!"**


    He clicked into it and saw his in-game alias, "Orgod," stered in the first post,plete with a screenshot. The replies were filled with angryments:


    **Ace of Spades**: "I have never seen someone so shameless! It''s obvious this ''Orgod'' is a test yer hired to bait us into spending money!"


    **RyeAndShine**: "Something was fishy from the start. He even admitted to being a test yer! Why isn''t he banned?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    **DancerFan89**: "This game is ruined by greedy scammers like Orgod! I''ll quit for real if this keeps up."


    Within just an hour of being posted, the thread had racked up thousands of angry replies, making it the forum''s top post.


    "Wait¡­ someone actually paid a million for a set of transitional gear?" Orson scratched his head, still in disbelief. He had been prepared to sell the gear to ShatteredCrown at a lower price if it didn''t sell.


    Sienna shook her head, grinning yfully. "I always knew you''d be the best, no matter what game. I''ll always be your number one fan, Triple-Crown Champ!"


    Orson nodded, putting on a serious face. "Of course." He couldn''t help but smile. Seeing Sienna''s good spirits lifted his mood, too.


    In the past, whenever hepeted, Sienna was always there, front row, cheering him on. Protecting this girl wasn''t just a duty; she was his rock, his true inspiration. To him, it always felt like he needed her more than she needed him.


    "Listen to the nurses and don''t throw any tantrums," he gently reminded her, watching as the nurse approached to rece her IV drip. Sienna, looking like a well-behaved kitten, nodded obediently, pouting slightly.


    "Hey¡­ brother?" she called as he started to leave.


    Orson turned back. "Yeah?"


    Sienna''s cheeks reddened, and she looked up at him with a sweet smile. "When I''m all better, can I y with you? I''ll be a healer and support you in-game, okay?"


    A warmth spread through Orson, and he nodded, smiling. "Deal. I''ll be waiting."


    ---


    Back at his ce, Orson called Bradley.


    "Dude, you have no idea how much I''mughing right now. The whole office group chat is blowing up with people apologizing to me," Bradley wheezed. Charles had practically ordered every colleague who had insulted him to grovel, and Bradley was reveling in it.


    "Alright, alright, calm down. I need to talk to you about something serious. Remember we talked about starting a guild?" Orson said, his tone serious.


    "Of course I remember! You''re serious about it?"


    Orson thought it over, then replied, "Yeah, with the guild outpost battlesing up, we can''t miss this chance to secure a position. It''ll be a lot harderter."


    "Only problem is¡­ well, damn, five million in registration fees. That''s crazy expensive," Bradley hesitated. For them, that amount might as well have been a mountain.


    "No rush. We still have a week, and we''ll figure out the money. Even if we have to borrow it, we''ll make it work," Orson said resolutely.


    Guild outposts were game-changers, especially in *Infinite Dimensions*. The stronger the guild, the morepetitive they would be in clearing dungeons, fighting bosses, and gaining an edge in the uing yer-versus-yer battles. With reputation points in the game geared heavily towards guild achievements, the outposts were worth any cost.


    "True. And hey, you made a killing with those items you sold. You''re practically rich now!"


    "Eh, just a hundred or so," Orson replied casually.


    "A hundred? Try a hundred and eighty! Get real, man!" Bradley sounded almost offended.


    Orson blinked. "What¡­ one hundred and eighty?"


    Bradley exined how traders had flipped his items, and Orson felt like his heart had been split open. He wanted to scream. Those scumbags had raked in eight hundred more gold than he had, practically for free! Did he risk life and limb for a boss fight just so they could profit off him? This game was a joke!


    Calming himself, he arranged to meet Bradley in-game.


    ---


    When Orson entered *Infinite Dimensions*, he found himself back at the decrepit riverbed. He barely had time to adjust before he noticed Hazel peeking at him from behind arge rock.


    "Oh, brave but humble adventurer," Hazel mumbled, cheeks flushed. "Would you¡­ assist me with my attire?"


    Orson''s eyes gleamed with excitement. Could there be a better start to the day? Here was Hazel, standing there in nothing but her thin undergarments. The warmth in his heart, the trembling in his hands¡ªhe could hardly contain himself.


    As a reclusive gamer, he had to say this was one thing he truly appreciated about *Infinite Dimensions*. No overly modest filters blocking the view, and no "family-friendly" pixtions to ruin the immersion. Not surprisingly, though, this part of the game had outraged plenty of parents and moral watchdogs. But as far as the gods in the game world were concerned, the objections didn''t matter one bit.


    "You''ve gained +10 friendliness points with Hazel (10/100)."


    Assisting the slightly deranged but beautiful NPC instantly bumped up their friendliness score. Orson muttered, "They say with a 100-point friendliness score with NPCs, you can¡­ get married and have kids?"


    In hisst ythrough, Orson had been too preupied with hardcore mode and farming for ie to bother exploring NPC rtionships. But he knew that once the *Infinite Dimensions* world and reality began to converge, NPCs would take on real significance. They wouldn''t be any different from real people.


    He was a serious guy, after all. But he''d heard rumors of rare quests and unique sses that required high friendliness scores to unlock.


    Orson knew that raising friendliness was tough, with very few chances to get points. If he hadn''t returned Hazel''s items after clearing the *Night of Terror* dungeon, he would never have gained these 10 points.


    "Definitely worth investing some time here," he mused, bringing Hazel along to the suspension bridge leading to the city of Pandnorlin.


    "That¡­ that''s Orgod!"


    "Wait, and he has a female NPC with him? Dang, she''s¡­ wow! Is that how pros do it?"


    The yers nearby couldn''t help but stare at Orson, talking in hushed voices.


    "Oh my gosh! Look at that warrior! So handsome!"


    "You can tell he''s a looker in real life, just by his stance!"


    But soon, all eyes turned to another figure, a warrior with a gray cloak and a glinting silver sword, who stood stylishly against the side of the bridge. He swept back his hood, triggering a wave of cheers from the surrounding female yers.


    He had a chiseled, impossibly handsome face, diamond-bright silver hair, and a frame that was both tall and perfectly toned. His golden eyes locked onto Orson with a fierce intensity as he spoke in a deep, maic voice: "Tell me, stranger¡­


    which direction does your de point?"

 Chapter 22 22: Go Fight Him

    Of course, the dashing silver-haired warrior was none other than Bradley himself. Orson could barely keep a straight face at how absurdly good-looking he had made his character. If Bradley hadn''t ended up as a pro in grinding games, he could''ve made a fortune just creating avatars for people online. With looks like that, he''d be rich by now.


    Seeing Bradley''s over-the-top posturing, Orson held back a cringe and, red-faced, raised his staff skyward. "I aim my sword north to the Red-Light District and my heart southward to the biggest strip club in town!"


    Bradley strode up with a grin, bumping fists with Orson. A flurry of overly borate gestures followed, like a secret handshake between two kids who watched one too many action movies. The yers nearby just stared, utterly dumbfounded.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Aw, yeah, my man!" Bradley cheered, jumping up for a chest bump.


    "Next time, we keep the meet-up subtle," Orson muttered, his face flushed with embarrassment. This American-style boyhood ritual was too much even for him. Reluctantly, he epted the team invite Bradley sent.


    Bradley turned toward the massive albino snake boss watching them from its perch on the bridge and dered, "Alright, I''ll tank it. You just blow it to pieces."


    Orson nced at Bradley''s stats¡ªlevel 14, with 2150 HP and equipped in a decent blue gear set. His stats were impressive for a non-whale yer. Though Bradley hadn''t been a pro gamer before, his years with Orson had honed his skill far beyond that of a casual yer.


    "No need to trouble yourself. This little boss will go down in a few hits anyway," Orson said. "Besides, I''ve got to escort this NPC mage to her guild in the city."


    Bradley raised an eyebrow, just now noticing Hazel hiding behind Orson. His eyes lit up. "Hold up, why is my waifu with you? Hand her over!"


    Orson sighed. "You''ve got a death wish, Bradley. If your real-life waifu catches you simping for an NPC, she''ll have your skin."


    "Tch, she''d never dare disrespect the head of the household," Bradley sneered, shrugging it off. Orson just rolled his eyes, amused. Bradley''s exaggerated bravado hadn''t changed one bit.


    "Two yers taking on the White Serpent without a healer? And that mage''s still using a Level 1 staff. Are they here forughs or what?" Nearby yers muttered, ncing skeptically at them. The bridge still had a queue of yers waiting to challenge the boss. They''d been here sinceunch, watching every group that came and went.


    Strolling confidently onto the bridge, Bradley changed the subject. "So about forming a guild, how are we gonna pull this off? Even if we scrape together the money, we''ll still need decent people to help us manage. Can''t just grab some random scrubs, right?"


    "No worries, I''ve got a few folks in mind. Just need to introduce myself properly first." Orson chuckled.


    Bradley''s eyes lit up. "Alright, bro, I''ll trust you on this one."


    Just then, the massive serpent hissed and lunged at Bradley.


    ng! Bradley''s silver sword shed as he leapt forward, intercepting the creature''s fangs with a fierce block. He twisted his de and jabbed straight into its eye.


    **CRITICAL HIT! -570!**


    The serpent roared, spewing a jet of green poison at him. Bradley smoothly tossed his cloak up, blocking the venom as he charged forward, sword raised high,nding yet another critical hit.


    "Whoa! Blocking the poison with your cloak? That''s sick!" a yer watching murmured.


    "That guy''s a beast," another added. "I saw him yesterday¡ªhis whole team wiped, but he soloed the boss down to thest hit on barely any health."


    Bradley grinned at the praise, clearly showing off for Orson. Meanwhile, Orson just smirked. With a quick movement, he flicked out a basic fireball from his Level 1 staff.


    **-223**


    Bradley''s eyes went wide. "No way, Orson! You''re hitting 200 damage with that noob stick?"


    Orson stayed silent, smiling as the next wave of damage numbers appeared.


    **1560!**


    **1560!**


    **¡­**


    In seconds, the boss''s health plummeted by nearly 5,000 points.


    "Holy crap! That''s insane! There''s no way this is legit," Bradley gaped, almost at a loss for words.


    Nearby, the onlookers were equally dumbfounded.


    "Seriously? How''s this guy doing 5k in like, three seconds? Is this even real?"


    "Okay, I''m re-rolling as a mage!"


    Orson chuckled as Bradley shot him a look of disbelief. "Fine, fine. Guess I''m the clown for trying too hard, huh?" Bradley sighed in mock despair. He''de to show off, but Orson''s DPS hadpletely stolen the show.


    With barely any effort, they took down the boss in seconds. Only a few silver coins and junk items dropped, which wasn''t surprising¡ªthis serpent was just a story quest boss, nothing like the elite dungeon bosses.


    "Hey, are you using cheats? Tell me where to get some if you are," Bradley messaged him, still incredulous.


    "Keep dreaming," Orson replied with a chuckle. If anyone here was a cheat, it was him, the guy with memories from a previous life.


    "Bah, I don''t believe it. Fine, I''ll admit I''m trash, happy now?"


    Orson shook his head, amused. "When we hit the city, I''ll show you the ropes."


    "Bro, I''ll take you out for foot massages tomorrow!" Bradley eximed, ted.


    Orson: "..."


    In his previous life, Bradley had managed to unlock the hidden ss of Dark Knight on his first awakening, whichbined magic with sword skills. The ss was solid, ranked B-tier, but still a few tiers below the S-tier sses that truly dominated. Orson was nning to help him get a stronger start this time around.


    "Oh, and I''ve got a little video file to send you. Download it when you can." Orson mentioned.


    Bradley raised an eyebrow, grinning. "A video, eh? Thoughtful as ever, my man!"


    "Get lost! It''s a gamey vid," Orson said,ughing. He sent him the video of his solo fight against the Dark Elf Queen and told him to upload it to the *Infinite Dimensions* forum when the time was right.


    Chatting casually, the two strolled into the bustling city of Pandnorlin, escorting Hazel. Now that the top yers had mostly left the beginner vige, the city was packed, but thankfully spacious enough that there was no crowding.


    "Why''re we stopping at a bounty hunter tavern?" Bradley asked, frowning. "I already checked this ce out; the quests here are trash, and it costs ten gold just to be a bounty hunter."


    "Here, take some coins and sign up," Orson replied, sending him a trade request. Bradley epted, confused, but grinned as soon as he saw the 100 gold in the trade window.


    "Getting bankrolled feels great, bro!" Bradleyughed, epting the trade immediately.


    Orson grinned, thinking back to all the years they''d spent in the grind together. He trusted Bradley like a brother. This life, he wouldn''t let him down.


    In *Infinite Dimensions*, bounty hunters had a unique role. They could take on demon-hunting missions for rewards and even team up with NPC hunters. Bradley paid the fee and obtained his official hunter badge, looking expectantly at Orson.


    "Now what?"


    Orson pointed to a ragged, filthy man slumped in the tavern''s corner, his face and clothes coated in dirt. "See that homeless guy in the corner?"


    Bradley nodded, totally confused.


    "Go punch him. I''ll wait for you by the respawn point," Orson said with a smirk.


    "Wait, why the respawn point?" Bradley asked, bewildered.


    "Trust me! Just hit him¡ªit''ll trigger a special quest," Orson said, feigning seriousness. "Do it, man! Go get him!"


    Bradley was skeptical but too curious to resist. "Fine, if this helps us, I''ll do it." With a determined look, he marched over to the homeless man, wrinkling his nose at the smell. The NPC reeked so badly that even the other NPCs kept their distance.


    "Alright, I''m going for it!" Bradley muttered, building up his resolve. "This might be wrong, but it''s for the sake of hidden quests!"


    He braced himself, then kicked the homeless man square in the face.


    The man didn''t flinch, as if made of stone. He slowly turned his head, revealing tangled golden hair and piercing silver eyes that seemed to swirl with dark power.


    "Adventurer," the homeless man said, his voice cold. "Would you care for a thousand rounds of honorablebat with me?"


    **MoneyMan**: "I¡­ I''m out of here!"


    Bradley nced around for Orson, only to find he was long gone. Panicking, he opened up the NPC''s status window:


    **[Vagrant: Level 80]**


    **[HP: 70,000,000]**


    **[Attack: ???]**


    **[Skills: ???]**


    "Holy crap, he''s level 80! Seventy million HP!


    Who the hell is this guy!?"

 Chapter 23 23: Touch of the Fire Serpent

    "You''re a brave one, adventurer!" The vagrant rose to his full height, towering over two meters, his presencemanding and formidable.


    Bradley gulped, craning his neck up at the man, a surge of panic rising in his chest.


    "You''ve challenged the Holy Swordmaster! Your duel is about to begin!"


    The system prompt alone made Bradley break into a cold sweat. Holy Swordmaster? Even the name sounded terrifying.


    "Oh, hell no! I made a mistake!" Bradley yelped.


    But the vagrant reached out with a single massive hand, hoisting Bradley up like a helpless chick. Ignoring Bradley''s desperate pleas, the vagrant kicked the doors of the Bounty Hunter''s Guild open, sending them flying and taking out four unlucky yers in the process.


    With an intense gleam in his eyes, the vagrant gripped Bradley by the cor, leapt high into the air, andnded meters away on arge training field. His movements were like that of a mountaine to life, exuding a fearsome battle aura.


    Bradley''s eyes went wide in shock, his mind racing. The vagrant raised his left hand, dark mes swirling around it, while his right hand glowed with a blinding holy light.


    "Dual-wielding magic swords!?" Bradley thought, overwhelmed. For a moment, the man before him seemed less like a person and more like a godly weapon forged for destruction.


    His stance¡­ It was dual-de style! Bradley''s astonishment deepened. This technique wasn''t just dual-wielding¡ªit was swordsmanship so advanced that the user''s entire body acted as the hilt.


    "It''s time, young man," the vagrant''s silver eyes zed as he took a step forward.


    **System Notification: You have triggered the S-Rank hidden ss quest¡ª''Forged in Fire''.**


    **Quest Objective: Survive and strike a hit on the Holy Swordmaster within 1,000 attempts. Each death will reduce your experience points until you seed. Failing to strike the Swordmaster will result in quest failure.**


    Bradley''s heart plummeted. Eighty levels ahead of him, and he was supposed to get a hit in? This had to be a joke! Was he about to get pummeled a thousand times?


    Before he could react¡ª


    **-2250!**


    One strike, and Bradley was out, his body flying backward. He barely registered what had happened before finding himself back at the nearest respawn point.


    An older yer pped a hand on his shoulder, grinning widely. "So, how was it? Feel good?"


    Bradley just stared at Orson, swallowing hard before replying, "Pretty smooth death, not gonna lie¡­ and that guy''s insane! An S-Rank hidden quest? I''m all in, I''m gonna take him down!"


    "Take your time and think before you charge in again," Orson chuckled. While Bradley often put on an exaggerated tough front, Orson knew he''d never back down from a real challenge. He was a ssic, hard-headed tank through and through.


    That vagrant was no ordinary NPC¡ªhe was none other than cier, the Sword Saint, the leader of the seven swordmasters of the Holy Dragon Empire. Despite being a magic swordsman, cier was unique in his mastery of both light and dark magic, a contrast that had led to his ostracization by the holy order.


    While many yers in Orson''s previous life had heard of the "Forged in Fire" quest, very few had actually passed its tests. The challenge was brutal: high skill requirements, experience deductions on death, and the grueling prospect of potentially dropping to level one in the process.


    But Orson was confident Bradley could handle it. Even back then, Bradley had been one of the strongest Dark Knights around¡ªhe just needed the right gear and soulprints to match his potential.


    As Bradley headed off to take another shot at cier, Orson took Hazel to the Mage''s Guild.


    "Hazel."


    An elderly, white-haired mage approached them, his eyes stern as they rested on Hazel.


    Hazel pouted, rushing up to hug the old man''s arm. "I''m back, Master!"


    "So that''s mebound," Orson mused. This was the mage who had created the D-Rank spell *Sacred Sun Shield*. Though only D-Rank, the spell''s defensive power was incredible as long as one''s mana pool could keep up. It rivaled, or even exceeded, many C- and B-Rank defensive spells, a testament to mebound''s mastery.


    Hazel looked embarrassed, giving Orson a shy smile. "I got lost¡­ It was this brave adventurer who escorted me back safely, Master."


    The old mage nodded sternly, sighing. "Go and prepare for the banquet the Lord Mayor is hosting. You don''t want to shame your noble heritage, do you?"


    "Noble heritage?" Orson muttered in surprise. "Guess I shouldn''t be so shocked."


    **System Notification: You havepleted Hazel''s Hidden Quest Sequence 2.**


    **Reward: mebound offers you 50 silver coins. You may choose to ept or decline.**


    Orson raised an eyebrow. That was it? After all he''d done, especially the borderline dangerous task of outfitting a yandere mage, 50 silver felt like an insult.


    "No, thank you," Orson replied with a polite shake of his head.


    "Hold on, adventurer," the old mage called after him. "Destroying demons is no easy task. Here, I have a spell more suited to your abilities."


    Orson turned back, a smile spreading across his face. Sometimes, holding back paid off twice over.


    **System Notification: You have received the C-Rank Fire Magic spell ''Touch of the Fire Serpent''.**


    **Description: Created by the Mage mebound, this spell consumes 500 MP to summon a fiery serpent that deals 200 + Magic Attack as AoE damage and inflicts 300 burn damage over time. Cooldown: 1 minute.**


    The spell had a powerful AoE effect and impressive damage, but the high mana cost and cooldown were a bit much. Still, with his immense range and the *Elven Gem* artifact, Orson could reduce the cooldown and possibly even cast multiple fire serpents at once. At over a kilometer away, three serpents unleashed simultaneously would be devastating.


    Even more intriguing was that leveling *Touch of the Fire Serpent* would unlock a special effect at max level¡ªan unusual trait for a C-Rank spell. Typically, only B-Rank or higher spells had such abilities.


    "Alright, time to level this up." Orson headed to the guild shop to enhance his new spell.


    **System Notification: You have spent 1 skill point and 40 silver. ''Touch of the Fire Serpent'' is now Level 2.**


    **You have spent 2 skill points and 90 silver. ''Touch of the Fire Serpent'' is now Level 3.**


    **You have spent 4 skill points and 1.9 gold. ''Touch of the Fire Serpent'' is now Level 4.**


    ¡­N?v(el)B\\jnn


    After pouring all 30 skill points into the spell, he''d managed to raise it to level eight, but it had cost over 50 gold¡ªmore than five thousand real-world dors! This was why mage sses were notorious for their cost.


    "Still, that''s some impressive stat scaling," he muttered, examining the updated spell. At level eight, it now dealt 350 + Magic Attack as base damage, with a burn effect of 470 damage over time, and the cooldown had been reduced to 52 seconds.


    Orson nced at his skill point count, frowning. He needed at least 20 more skill points to max out the spell, but the Dragon''s Kiss Guild had already imed the first clear reward for the elite *Dungeon of Shadows*, so another run wouldn''t yield nearly as much.


    Suddenly, he received a message.


    **You have received an invitation from the Lord Mayor.**


    **Mail Message: The Lord Mayor cordially invites the top 100 yers on the leaderboards to attend a banquet at the Lord''s Manor to discuss strategies for eradicating demons.**


    **System Notification: Your level currently ranks 27th. You have qualified for the Side Quest ''Night Banquet''.**


    **Quest Description: Participate in the banquet to earnrge rewards of EXP, skill points, and attribute points. Warning: Quest difficulty may be high.**


    Orson raised an eyebrow, feeling a slight unease. "This¡­ banquet quest¡­ I''ve got a bad feeling about this."

 Chapter 24 24: Arch-Enemies

    "Two-Guns:" "Haha, bro, I made it in at rank 100! Right on the cutoff!"


    "LovesT-Swift:" "Give it up, noob. This quest''s for the top 100, so you''re probably just cannon fodder for the real yers."


    "Two-Guns:" "Shows what you know! Usher and the big shots will clear the way, so I can just sit back and soak up the rewards."


    ¡­


    On the world channel, yers who didn''t make the cutoff were full of regret. That''s whates with leveling fast¡ªevery advantage snowballs!


    "This quest is trouble," Orson thought, knowing this event would be a test from the gods, a trap set just for top-tier yers. Checking the leaderboard, he noted the names.


    10th ce: Madman (Lv. 16, 22%)


    9th ce: Dragon''s Kiss Guild Prince (Lv. 16, 45%)


    8th ce: EmberKnight (Lv. 16, 77%)


    ¡­


    3rd ce: Usher (Lv. 17, 13%)


    2nd ce: Empress of the Moon (Lv. 17, 35%)


    1st ce: nk (Lv. 19, 55%)


    "Madman at tenth, huh? That guy''s as crazy as ever," Orson grinned, recognizing a familiar name. In his past life, Madman had been part of his fixed team, along with Bradley and three others, going through countless battles together.


    And the "Empress"¡ªshe was as fierce as ever. This top female yer had surged to second ce and even surpassed Usher. She led the all-female Moonlight Guild, known for being a powerhouse with both healer and tank capabilities, and she''d soon awaken a Double A-Rank ss, the Holy Pdin. Practically indestructible, she dominated the early dungeons, but her guild, made up mostly of casual female yers, was small. When Dragon''s Kiss Guild came calling, they eventually swept her guild aside.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Then there was "nk," the top yer on the board. No one had ever actually seen his face, but his reputation as a deadly assassin was unmatched. He''d not only held his own but had even taken Usher down solo on multiple asions. He didn''t belong to any guild, yet rumors hinted he possessed at least two god-tier soul imprints, marking him as one of the gods'' chosen. He was Usher''s sworn nemesis and the reason the Golden Throne was no secure seat for Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s leader.


    "A mysterious prodigy," Orson murmured. Wealth and luck both seemed to favor him, yet nk''s identity remained an enigma.


    Although Orson knew this "Feast at the Gate" quest was a trap, he was intrigued to see what this top assassin actually looked like.


    Bradley (Private Message): "This is brutal! Got killed eight times and dropped out of the top 100!"


    Orson: "Don''t sweat it. I''ve studied this quest; barely anyone will clear it. The penalties are severe."


    Bradley: "Oh, alright, I feel better¡­ I''m getting back to grinding on this old bastard!"


    Orson chuckled. Even if Bradley dropped down to level one, he could power-level him back up to the top ranks in a day. That minor experience loss was well worth the chance to obtain an S-Rank ss.


    Approaching the Lord''s Mansion, Orson noticed yers parting to avoid him, as if he was a gue.


    "Hey, kid."


    A towering knight stepped up to him.


    "About before¡­ Sorry," the knight muttered.


    Orson raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"


    The knight looked taken aback but gritted his teeth. "I''m Skysher, the one who ambushed you yesterday."


    "Oh, Dragon''s Kiss Guild? Impressive." Orson''s voice dripped with sarcasm.


    "Easy there. Besides our little misunderstanding, has Dragon''s Kiss Guild somehow wronged you?" A woman in a blue hero-tier robe approached¡ªher name was Ivy, and she held a level 10 hero staff, making her stand out in the crowd.


    "Nothing much. I just don''t like you people." Orson shed a harmless, friendly smile that made her freeze, gripping her staff.


    "It''s you!" Ivy''s face went pale, and she stumbled back a few steps.


    Orson''s eyes narrowed. "I remember now. You''re that water mage¡­ not a good one at that."


    Her face flushed with anger, but Skysher quickly shot her a look, warning her to hold her tongue.


    "Look, our leader Usher wants you in Dragon''s Kiss Guild. He said you could even name your own sry." Skysher tried to keep his tone friendly, sidling up to Orson.


    Amused, Orson leaned in and whispered, "Get out of my face before I kill you."


    Skysher''s face twisted with anger, but he forced a smile. "Not sure you realize what an offer this is, pal."


    Orson looked around at the other yers and spoke clearly, "I''ll join Dragon''s Kiss Guild, but only if Usher brings me his head as an offering."


    A hush fell over the crowd as everyone absorbed his words.


    "Top Lane Triple Kill:" "Whoa¡­ this guy''s got guts! Turning down Dragon''s Kiss Guild like it''s nothing. Respect."


    "InTooDeep:" "Who cares about Dragon''s Kiss? They''re just a bunch of rich kids anyway."


    Usher''s voice cut through the crowd just then, smooth and untroubled. "Let''s not make this difficult, Orson."


    The voice sent a chill through Orson. He turned to see the guild leader himself making his way over, the yers parting to let him through.


    With his easygoing smile, Usher stepped forward, his elegant hero-tier armor shimmering. His presence was maic, his poise suggesting he held the entire city within his grasp.


    "Orson, the Three-Time Champion, I presume?" Usher''s voice was filled with mild amusement.


    Orson stood still, jaw clenched, as memories shed through his mind¡ªyears of rivalry, triumph, betrayal. This man had gone from teammate to bitter foe. He took a deep breath and gave a sly smile.


    "Yes, that''s me. So, you want to ''cooperate?''" Orson muttered, still seething with the weight of their shared history.


    Usher chuckled softly, then gestured to his head, "If you really want my head,e take it."


    Orson raised his staff slightly, hesitating only a moment before smiling to himself. "Very well. I''ll grant your request."


    The crowd went silent, Usher''s confident smile fading.


    Orson''s staff glowed as a massive hexagram formed in the air before him. Dark mes spiraled up, forming into a giant ming serpent that hissed with deadly intent.

 Chapter 25 25: The Empress

    A terrifying crimson monster erupted forth, tearing through everything indiscriminately.


    "What on earth is that skill? The range is insane¡­"


    The yers standing too close to Usher were caught in the attack, and Orson wasn''t about to show them any mercy. The surrounding crowd got hit as coteral damage, instantly knocked out.


    "Boss!" Skysher''s face went pale as he rushed to shield Usher, hoping to absorb some of the damage. But Orson''s eyes turned cold. "Might as well all die together. Keep it nice and neat."


    Under Orson''s control, the ming serpent raged through the crowd, engulfing everything within a 20-meter radius. No one could escape its path.


    "Is this area damage for real? How is it this strong?"


    -780!


    Over a dozen damage numbers from [Serpent''s Touch] shed above the yers'' heads, dropping their HP by half in an instant. But the worst was yet toe. The fiery serpent''s burn effect triggered his [zing Burn] talent, applying continuous, brutal damage.


    -1530!


    Skysher and Ivy disintegrated in shes of white light as they were killed outright. Usher, though, with his formidable presence, stood his ground amid the mes, unfazed by the danger. His health held up due to the Heroic armor set, but even that wasn''t enough to hold him up for long.


    "So, is this what you wanted?" Usher''s voice was cold.


    -1530!


    ¡­


    The burn damage kept ticking, and even with his gear, Usher''s health was rapidly dropping to zero. Orson''s name had turned a deep crimson, the universal mark of a killer.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "You can interpret it that way. So let''s end this, here and now." Orson''s expression was steely and resolute. The self-proimed king standing before him had no idea that, in three years, an invasion of nightmarish monsters¡ªand the Dragon''s Kiss Guild traitors alongside them¡ªwould bring untold catastrophe to the realm.


    "I ept your challenge, Orson." Usher''s gaze narrowed, steeling himself just as the mes enveloped him.


    "What¡­ Usher just got taken down? Just like that? What kind of insane damage are we dealing with here? Is he using one of those legendary Soul Seals?"


    "A red name! I can''t believe he dared to go full PvP in the city like this. Isn''t he worried about losing his gear?"


    As yers scattered to avoid getting caught up, whispers began spreading through the crowd.


    In the early stages, this level of firepower was impossible without rare and powerful items¡ªeither some Legendary gear or a high-grade Soul Seal, the kind only true elites would possess.


    Endless Abyss: "If it''s a Soul Seal, it wouldn''t drop on death. But this guy made a killing from selling that Bone Crusher set¡­"


    EmberKnight: "True. As loathsome as Dragon''s Kiss Guild is, red-named yers need to pay the price."


    The eighth-ranked yer, EmberKnight, stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Orson. "What are we waiting for? I''m dying to see what this guy¡ªsome so-called champion¡ªhas got."


    "Yeah, let''s take him down! Red names deserve to die!"


    "Right! Who does he think he is, killing people in the city?"


    With EmberKnight rallying support, ten or so yers joined in, closing in on Orson, eager to capitalize on his red name.


    "Anyone helping Dragon''s Kiss Guild, I''ll kill as well," Orson replied coolly, with a smirk that made it clear he was dead serious. They might talk about justice, but all they really wanted was to score loot from his red name.


    EmberKnight sneered. "He can''t be all that if we force him into closebat. Let''s see him squirm!"


    At his signal, the yers closed in, aiming to trap Orson in melee range¡ªthe one weakness of most mages. Orson, however, simply grinned. They didn''t understand the sheer might of his Ninefold Sun Shield. If it could withstand direct hits from the Dark Elf Queen, they didn''t stand a chance.


    As he raised his staff to summon his shield, Orson suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He turned quickly, only to freeze in shock.


    "Gotcha! Backstab iing!"


    A dark-d rogue phased in and out of the shadows, appearing right behind him with a wicked smile. It was none other than Madman, an old friend from his previous life. The idiot was actually gunning for him. Orson hadn''t seen thising at all.


    Caught off guard, Orson hesitated just long enough for Madman''s swift, lethal strike to slip through his half-formed shield.


    The rogue''s knife arced straight for Orson''s heart in a blow that would''ve killed him instantly¡ªif not for a sudden sh of silver.


    A tall, striking female knight appeared between them, her movements swift as lightning. "Unstoppable¡ªShield Wall!" she called.


    With a resounding crash, the knight''s shield struck the ground, the impact rippling outward and sending the yers around Orson staggering back. It was a forced knockback effectbined with stun.


    "Hold up, Sadist," Madman whined, stunned. "This is at least worth thousands in gold. Trying to take it all for yourself?"


    "You talk too much, Madman." Her words were as cold as her gaze.


    "Focus fire on him!" she ordered, and three archers let loose, making quick work of Madman before he knew what hit him.


    "Karma¡ªpoetic justice, atst!" Orson burst outughing. To see the notorious Madman¡ªthe second-best rogue after nk¡ªfinally get what wasing to him was priceless.


    The Empress gave Orson an odd look, surprised to see himughing after almost dying. Stepping forward with her shield raised, she faced down the crowd. "You want this red name? You''ll have to go through me first. Who''s first?"


    A priest among the yers spoke up, "Empress, are you even aware of what you''re doing? That guy just killed Usher! Do you want Moonlight Guild wiped out too?"


    "Dragon''s Kiss Guild can kill at will, but they''re terrified of being killed themselves?" she replied disdainfully, casting a nce at Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s deputy, Prince.


    "With the Empress protecting him, who''d dare mess with the biggest tank here? She''s got nearly 5000 HP!"


    Orson raised an eyebrow. This was a fortress of a knight. Her HP was practically double that of any other tank, and he could tell she was outfitted with at least three pieces of Heroic-grade gear. With a shield in hand and her tanking skills, even if dozens of elites charged her, they wouldn''t stand a chance.


    Prince: "Just wait until the guild war, and we''ll turn Moonlight Guild into a pincushion!"


    The Empress remained unmoved, about to order her team to charge when Orson stepped in first, unleashing a volley of fireballs that sent Prince flying backward.


    Engulfed in mes, Prince frantically healed himself, casting everything he had¡ªsingle heals, group heals, healing aura¡­


    +360!


    +420!


    -1600!


    Gulping down mana potions, Prince threw five or six skills at himself, yet his health continued to plummet.


    "This fire damage¡­ it''s totally insane!"


    Three secondster, still in disbelief, Prince went up in mes, leaving behind only a charred corpse.


    "This mage ss is busted, no way! That damage output doesn''t add up," a member of Moonlight Guild gasped.


    The Empress, unfazed, looked at Orson and asked coolly, "That''s the power of a God-tier Soul Seal, isn''t it?"


    Orson didn''t answer her directly. Smiling, he met her gaze and got straight to the point: "Alright, you helped me out. Now tell me, what''s in it for you?"

 Chapter 26 26: Collusion with Monsters?

    The Empress looked a bit surprised at Orson''s directness but replied simply, "I don''t like to see people ganging up on one person."


    Orson''s face remained impassive. After everything he''d been through, he didn''t trust in random acts of kindness¡ªespecially not from a yer as formidable as the Empress.


    She maintained her cool demeanor and added, "Just remember, you owe me a favor."


    "Understood."


    Without further words, Orson headed into the lord''s banquet hall. Lord Cain sat on his throne at the far end, surrounded byvish tables brimming with rare delicacies and lively entertainers meant to wee the yers.


    One by one, the top-ranked yers entered the hall, and Orson scanned the crowd, searching for any trace of nk, the elusive assassin. Disappointingly, however, about half of the yers had chosen to hide their names, and with rogues famously inclined toward secrecy, identifying nk by appearance alone was nearly impossible.


    "Orson, you better get ready to start over from level zero! You''re about to be the biggest joke in Infinite Dimensions!"


    "You killed us. Don''t think you''re safe just because you''re hiding in the safe zone."


    The yers Orson had previously killed were arriving from the respawn point, with Usher and his furious guildmates at the forefront. But since they were within the dungeon, where yer killing was disabled, they could only re and curse at him.


    "Count your blessings that you hid under that S-tier shield. Next time, I''ll strip everyst piece of gear off you," taunted Madman, slinging an arm around Orson and the Empress with a sly grin.


    "Get lost," the Empress snapped, unceremoniously tossing Madman aside with a swift motion that left no room for argument. He twisted mid-air,nding gracefully despite her forceful dismissal.


    "Don''t get cocky, Empress. As soon as I awaken my ss, your armor is the first thing I''m tearing off," Madman retorted, his smile a mixture of confidence and mischief.


    Orson chuckled, "You''d better watch out, Empress¡ªhe means it."


    "Buzz off, you pest!" shouted a warrior at the Empress''s side, ring daggers at Madman.


    "Ooh, looks like the Empress''s little bootlicker''s got some fire in him," Madman mocked before snatching food off the banquet table and digging in.


    Ignoring Madman''s antics, the Empress turned to Orson and spoke quietly. "What do you make of this dungeon? Just a banquet doesn''t seem enough to warrant a high-difficulty rating."


    "Look around at the NPCs," Orson said, nodding toward the edges of the banquet hall, where four robed figures were inscribing peculiar symbols on the walls. "Those robed figures are temple mages."


    The Empress frowned, her respect for Orson''s keen perception growing. "Temple mages? But they wouldn''t normally attack yers¡­"


    "Exactly. Let''s see what happens," Orson replied, his gazending on the young girl seated beside the lord¡ªHazel, the very NPC he''d recently escorted back to the city.


    As the banquet began, Lord Cain delivered a stirring speech, praising the arrival of the brave adventurers. Orson settled into his seat, grabbing an apple and taking a bite. The food in Infinite Dimensions was astonishingly realistic; it couldn''t truly satisfy hunger, but it was convincing enough for a yer''s senses.


    Feeling a hostile gaze, Orson nced up, his eyes meeting Usher''s across the room. Usher visibly flinched, taken aback by the sheer animosity in Orson''s expression, wondering what he could''ve possibly done to earn such hatred.


    "Have we met in real life?" Usher messaged.


    Orson hesitated briefly before replying, "No."


    "Then what do you gain from this hostility? Tell me."


    "No gain at all," Orson replied, adding a dark smile. "But given the chance, I''ll still kill everyst one of you."


    Usher''s face darkened. Though he considered himself tolerant and ambitious enough to conquer Infinite Dimensions, Orson''s disregard for any consequences challenged his self-control.


    "An ignorant fool!" Usher seethed, his anger stirring at Orson''s tant defiance.


    Usher took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I look forward to meeting you in the real world, Orson," he messaged coolly.


    Orson''s expression froze, his eyes hardening. Unlike in the game, Usher''s real-world resources were vast, and removing a mere nuisance like Orson would be simple. But he had no idea that taking down a veteran of apocalypse trials would demand a far higher price than he expected.


    Just then, Lord Cain''s booming voice cut through his thoughts. "The protective barrier around Pontnolyn City has weakened, and it''s possible demons have slipped through. I ask all of you to lend your strength to avert this crisis!"


    The tension in the hall mounted as a sense of foreboding spread.


    Prince from Dragon''s Kiss Guild spoke up. "And how exactly do you want us to ''help'' with that?"


    "I''ve got a bad feeling about this," muttered Madman, shifting uneasily. The top yers immediately sensed something amiss as the air grew heavy and ominous.


    Orson nced toward the back of the hall, realizing the four temple mages had vanished without a trace.


    "Night Banquet Quest Part 1: Survive at all costs."


    A system notification appeared, and a chill ran through the hall as the yers realized the safe zone had been disabled.


    "Valiant adventurers, this will be your hour of glory!" Lord Cain''sughter echoed chillingly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Usher reacted first, standing up and drawing his Heroic-grade longbow, aiming it squarely at the lord.


    Swish!


    In a matter of seconds, three arrows flew in a straight line, aimed at the lord''s forehead.


    "Is that a Ranger skill? No¡­ That''s just insanely fast manual attacks."


    Orson''s eyebrow lifted in admiration. Without ss awakening, Rangers had a maximum attack speed of 1.5, yet Usher''s was at least double that. Even at this early stage, Usher''s attack rate and precision set him apart, earning him his reputation.


    Lord Cain remained unfazed. Hazel stepped forward, raising a Sun Shield to block Usher''s arrows with ease. Orson''s brows furrowed as he noted the conflicted expression on her face¡ªshe was clearly reluctant to be part of this ambush.


    "Enjoy yourselves, my honored guests!" Lord Cain sneered, hisughter ringing ominously.


    Suddenly, a dozen figures shrouded in blood-red mist appeared in the banquet hall, their faces eerily beautiful, eyes gleaming with an insatiable hunger.


    [Vampire Minion: Level 20]


    HP: 50,000/50,000


    Attack: 380


    Skills: Soul Bind, Blood Feast, Basic Blood Magic


    "What the hell? The city lord''s colluding with vampires? This plot twist is ridiculous!"


    "These creatures are stronger than Level 10 Elite Bosses! How are we supposed to fight when there are so many?"


    Some yers, realizing the danger, attempted to forfeit the quest and make a run for the door. But when they reached the exit, they found it sealed with a powerful magic lock.


    "Screw it, we''ll fight our way out!" shouted a Level 15 warrior, rallying his party members.


    In an instant, a red shadow flickered before him. A vampire''s w shredded his armor effortlessly, and its fangs sank into his neck, draining his life. His face paled, his body petrified, and, momentster, he was transformed into a stone statue, his final expression frozen in terror.


    [Soul Bound: Target''s soul is bound. Resurrection possible in 48 hours.]


    yers gasped in horror as a countdown appeared above the statue. A bite from a vampire meant a two-day lockdown, a devastating setback during this crucial early phase of leveling.


    "This exins why so many first-wave yers disappeared from the rankings after the banquet quest in the previous game." Orson''s mind reeled as everything clicked into ce.


    For first-tier yers, even a two-day dy could set them leagues behind in levels and gear. The fear and despair in the hall were palpable as twenty more yers were reduced to lifeless stone.


    "I''m pleased with this feast, Lord Cain," a woman in a red robe announced as she emerged from the bloody mist, her gaze delighted at the massacre before her.


    [Keril the Butcher: Level 20]


    HP: 1,200,000/1,200,000


    Attack: 770


    Skills: Mass Bind, Blood Dragon''s Roar, Super Armor, Blood Sacrifice Enhancement

 Chapter 27 27: Law Enforcement Trap

    "All ranged DPS, position behind me! Shield walls, tanks up front! Healers, cast Light Barrier on the frontline!"manded the Empress with a steady tone. She took the lead, positioning herself at the forefront while other yers quickly organized into formation.


    A few shields, capable of absorbing 400 points of damage, appeared over the frontliners. The Empress barked, "Push forward! Tanks, use Taunt to gather up the minions¡ªfocus them down first!"


    "Hey, what are you standing there for? Get behind me!" a warrior called out, trying to yank Orson back into formation. Orson simply sidestepped him.


    "Orgod?" The Empress raised an eyebrow, noticing his inaction.


    Orson shook his head. "This isn''t going to work. Those shields won''t hold up. Get killed here, and you''ll be petrified."


    "So what do we do¡ªstand around waiting for death?" Madman snapped.


    "Hold off for now. There''s something off about this setup," Orson replied, remaining unshaken.


    As brutal as the difficulty settings in Infinite Dimensions could be, Orson knew the game wasn''t designed to be outright unwinnable. There had to be some way forward. Yet with the doors sealed and so many vampiric enemies as strong as elite bosses flooding the hall, it was impossible to hold back the tide indefinitely.


    In short, they had no choice but to wait.


    A message shed: "The Lord of the City has betrayed you. Survive as best you can."


    yers exchanged uneasy nces as the notification appeared. All around them, yers were seized and torn apart by vampires, their bodies rapidly petrifying. In minutes, the floor was littered with stone statues where yers had once stood.


    "Forget it! I''m going in!" shouted Skysher from Dragon''s Kiss Guild, charging with a few other guild members in a final frenzy. They threw themselves forward, determined to take down as many vampires as possible.


    Usher, their leader, waited for just the right moment, drawing back his bow and firing a zing Arrow that scattered the vampire attackers. Then, with one smooth motion, he leaped back to the safer rear lines where Orson''s group held position.


    Unfortunately, his maneuver led the pursuing vampires straight toward Orson''s party.


    Seeing this, the tanks at the front attempted to intercept by drawing the vampires'' attention. Unfortunately, they ended up taking on Usher''s aggro, as well, and were overrun.


    "Damn him! He''s trying to get us killed!" Madman cursed, his face twisting in frustration.


    Usher merely smirked, sending a private message to Orson: "Getting a taste of your own medicine now?"


    Orson remained silent, though he had to acknowledge Usher''s move was clever. He didn''t need to use their group as a shield, after all¡ªUsher had other contingencies. Orson knew this firsthand, as Usher was one of the few to survive this very banquet in the past.


    "Hold your ground!" the Empressmanded, mming her shield into the floor with a powerful thud. A surge of force rippled outward, pulling the vampires within range.


    "A C-rank skill¡ªBrutal Strike!" Orson observed, recognizing the skill''s iconic taunt ability. This move alone had made Brutal Strike one of the most coveted tanking skills, often fetching 200 gold coins on the auction house.


    With a roar, the Empress brought her sword down on the vampires, stunning and debuffing their attack power. Still, she was barely holding on, her health jumping between 300 and 1200 as her healers struggled to keep up.


    Seeing this, Orson made his move. Raising his staff, he summoned a raging serpent of me.


    -830!


    -830!


    -1600!


    The mes spread, incinerating the vampires and eliciting shrieks of agony. Watching the spectacle, Ivy, another mage, paled. "Just as ridiculous as ever¡­"


    Even Usher was visibly shaken, muttering to himself, "Insanely strong. But if he won''t fight for me, he''ll have to die."


    "Don''t just stand there! Keep the DPSing!" Orson snapped, giving Usher an impatient re. Usher, visibly annoyed, reluctantly nodded and resumed attacking.


    With everyone forced into cooperation, the vampires fell quickly. Once thest of them was down, the Empress checked the battle statistics and inhaled sharply. Usher, fully equipped with hero-grade gear, had contributed 15% of the damage. Orson alone had dealt an astonishing 70%, while the rest had managed a mere 15%bined.


    "Holy hell, this guy is seriously a cheat code!" Madman gawked, looking at Orson as though he were some rare artifact.


    "You''ve in a Vampire Minion. Exp +2000!"


    "You''ve in¡­"


    As the vampires fell, the floor was littered with skill books and equipment. Madman, unable to resist, reached to scoop up some of the loot.


    Orson, however, was faster. With a casual wave of his hand, the loot vanished into his inventory.


    "Two skill books, four blue-grade items¡ªnot bad." Orson chuckled, ignoring the grumbling from the others.


    The immediate danger passed, but more vampires poured into the hall as blood-red fog continued to spread.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Crap, there''s no end to this!" Madman grumbled.


    "Something''s wrong!" the Empress called out, realizing they were at their limit.


    Orson, though, was watching something else entirely. He''d been keeping an eye on Keril the Butcher, the real boss, who still had yet to join the fight.


    Now, however, the lord of the city finally made his move. With a satisfied gleam in his eye, he signaled Hazel, who was at his side. Hazel''s face tightened as she raised her staff, channeling an intense wave of magic.


    Orson was startled as the symbols etched into the hall''s walls suddenly glowed, projecting a series of beams that formed a giant cage around Keril.


    The vampire lord''s face twisted in fury. He threw himself against the barrier, howling, "Liar! Liar! You tricked me!"


    "You desecrated my city and attacked my people," the lord sneered, looking to Hazel. "Do it."


    Hazel lifted her staff, her face set in grim determination. "Holy Magic: Angel''s Judgment."


    A colossal spectral angel appeared, six wings spread wide. Glowing spears rained down, skewering not only Keril but also the surrounding vampires.


    -99999!


    -99999!


    Scores of vampires disintegrated. The glowing spears, however, continued to fall indiscriminately across the hall, even taking out several yers who happened to be within range.


    "What the¡ª! We''re within her attack range?" Madman yelped.


    "Of course," the Empress replied with a wry smile. "We were just bait. The lord nned to wipe us out, too."


    Orson could onlyugh in disbelief. The lord was ruthless, using them as mere bait to lure the vampire lord into the open. No NPC in Infinite Dimensions could be trusted, it seemed.


    "Warning: Angel''s Judgment is an S-rank skill. All yer deaths will result in a 5-level penalty."


    Orson grimaced. He knew Hazel wouldn''t willingly target yers, so this must be part of the skill''s mechanics. Still, he wasn''t eager to use his invincibility just yet. It woulde down to luck.


    Casting a sidelong nce at Usher, Orson had an idea. Wouldn''t it be poetic justice to have Dragon''s Kiss Guild tank some of the spears for him?


    But Usher, catching his eye, scowled and quickly moved to a different corner, dragging Ivy with him.


    "How dull. Why are you so afraid of me?" Orson muttered as Usher ignored him.


    yers were steadily struck down, and as the vampire lord neared defeat, something unexpected happened.


    Keril, suddenly morphing into a swarm of bats, escaped through a gap in the cage, shattering part of the wall and vanishing into the night.


    "Night Banquet progress updated," a message shed.


    "Task 1: Complete."


    "Surviving yers receive 12,000 EXP, 5 skill points, and 10 free attribute points."


    "Task 2: Assist the lord''s guards in retrieving the missing warding stone and eliminate the severely wounded Keril the Butcher."

 Chapter 28 28: A Bold Idea

    Orson was just debating whether to chase after the boss when he felt a chill race down his spine. A shadow shed past him at incredible speed.


    "Madman? No¡­ I haven''t seen this rogue before," Orson thought, startled. They were on the third floor of the lord''s mansion¡ªat least twenty meters above ground. Yet this rogue had leapt out of the opening that the boss had smashed through without a second thought.


    "Wow¡­ giving up life for loot?" Madman eximed, peering out to see if the thief had survived. To his surprise, the roguended, tucked into a smooth roll, and disappeared into the night.


    "A stealthy rogue with such a low presence¡­ could it be him?" Orson wondered.


    Turning to the Empress, Orson gave a slight smile and said, "Consider the favor returned. Let''s catch upter." With that, he leapt through the broken opening.


    "Damn! What are you guys made of?" Madman shouted as he watched them jump one after another.


    While airborne, Orson summoned a Sunshield as a makeshift tform, using it to break his fall andnd gracefully.


    The other yers stared, astonished. It was one thing for a rogue to leap down like that, but a mage? They could hardly believe what they''d just seen.


    "Move out! Meet at the boss spawn!" Usher barked, following Orson''s lead with a leap. Dragon''s Kiss Guild wasn''t going to miss this chance to im the kill now that the boss was critically wounded. All they had to do was follow the city guards and swoop in for thest hit.


    But what Usher and his team didn''t know was just how treacherous the battlefield could be.


    "Mind holding onto some loot for me?" Orson messaged the Empress.


    "Loot? I thought you''d already nabbed it all?" she replied, bewildered.


    "I mean what''sing next," Orson said with a smirk.


    Instead of heading for the boss, Orson waited outside the lord''s mansion, watching as Usher gathered a six-man team.


    "Thinking of snagging the final blow, are we?" Orson muttered, releasing a precise Touch of the me Serpent spell that exploded right over Usher and his team.


    The st scattered them, each yer scrambling to escape.


    -780!


    -1550!


    Blinding shes of light signaled instant kills. All of Usher''s teammates, except himself, were sent straight to the respawn point, leaving a pile of gold and gear behind. Even Ivy''s prized hero-level staff was among the spoils.


    The Empress, witnessing this, couldn''t help but feel a chill. She finally understood Orson''s earlier message¡ªthis guy was ying on a different level.


    "So he does have a way to save himself," Orson noted, watching as Usher''s "corpse" morphed into a charred mannequin, while the real Usher reappeared a few meters away.


    "A dummy talisman¡­ takes one fatal blow in the user''s ce," Orson muttered. This item, a rare treasure from special bosses, allowed the owner to avoid death once every 24 hours, though it came with a hefty cooldown.


    "Orson, you''d better hope you never fall into my hands!" Usher growled. Helplessly watching his team''s demise, he vowed vengeance, his frustration boiling over.


    Seeing that Usher didn''t dare pursue, Orson chuckled to himself and resumed his path toward the boss''s location.


    As Orson left the city, a group of elite NPC guards caught up to him, ready to assist with the boss fight.


    "Brave adventurer, we are here to help you defeat the cursed Butcher!" the leader of the guard squad announced.


    [Armored Swordsman: Luka] ¡ª Level 20


    HP: ???


    Attack Power: ???


    Skills: ???


    [Earth Mage: Longtao] ¡ª Level 20


    HP: ???


    Attack Power: ???


    Skills: ???


    The group consisted of two melee fighters, a mage, and a healer¡ªbut Hazel was nowhere in sight.


    After a brief pause, Orson nodded and epted their aid. "You go on ahead, I''ll catch up shortly."


    The armored swordsman nodded and led the squad forward with their torches lighting the way.


    As they moved on, a sudden sh of steel streaked out from the bushes nearby.


    Orson''s expression hardened¡ªhe''d expected this. Summoning his Sunshield, he blocked the iing dagger strike, but the impact was powerful enough to shatter the shield, which could absorb up to 700 damage points.


    Instantly, Orson sensed a deadly presence behind him and unleashed a volley of fireballs without looking back.


    The rogue, anticipating his reaction, deftly flipped out of the fire''s range with a series of agile backflips.


    Orson narrowed his eyes, and in the fire''s flickering light, he finally caught a glimpse of his assant.


    The rogue wore a snake-patterned mask and a dark cloak, with purple hair peeking out, and her gaze was icy cold.


    "First a feint with throwing knives, then a backstab to go for a critical hit. ssic rogue tactics," Orson said, shaking his head with a hint of mockery. "So, do all rogues enjoy staring at a mage''s back?"


    Though Orson looked calm and collected, he was busyyering himself in as many shields as he could cast.


    If this was indeed nk, he couldn''t afford any slip-ups. Despite his Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye¡ªa Super God-tier soul seal¡ªthis rogue''s agility and damage were proof that she was packing at least one Divine-tier soul seal of her own.


    The rogue seemed frustrated; her dark attack had shattered only one of his shields, yet the mage was now encased in nine moreyers, looking practically imprable.


    "You''re strong," she said, her cold voice muffled by the mask.


    "A¡­ girl?" Orson blinked in surprise. The legendary nk, a ruthless killer? A woman?


    "I can still kill you," she replied evenly, widening the gap between them to remain out of his casting range.


    "Mind telling me why you''re so bent on this?" Orson asked with a smile.


    "Red name, boss loot, and I could use the skill points," she answered bluntly.


    "Oh? Then by all means, go ahead and try." Orson gestured dismissively.


    But nk didn''t rush in. She smiled behind her mask and replied, "Keeping those shields up must be draining your mana, no? I''ll just stay at a safe distance and wait you out."


    Orson pped mockingly, giving her a thumbs-up. "You''re clever, little sister."


    "You know, I think I enjoy your feigned bravado more," nk retorted, cheeks flushed behind her mask.


    Though Orson said nothing, he could tell nk was far from her peak form as a God-tier assassin. Her tactics, even her thought process, were still too raw.


    With her keeping a "safe distance" of around 20 meters, Orson saw no reason to rush. Instead, he stretched out on the ground and began watching the stars. "Alright, let''s see who gives in first."


    "You¡­" nk stammered, ncing anxiously toward the boss''s spawn point. Time was slipping away.


    "What''s his mana pool? How is he maintaining all those shields?" she wondered.


    "You''re wasting your time," Orson said, reading her mind. With a mana pool nearing 17,000, he had plenty to spare for shield upkeep.


    "A few hours, huh¡­" nk mumbled, realizing he wasn''t bluffing.


    An idea forming in his mind, Orson looked over at her. "How about a partnership? Split the loot fifty-fifty. You seem like you''re after skill points too."


    nk hesitated, then replied, "Alright, what''s your idea?"


    Orson''s eyes gleamed mischievously. "Don''t you feel like we owe the lord a little payback for using us as bait? I don''t know about you, but I''m not just going to let that go."


    nk raised an eyebrow. "And what do you propose?"


    "Not just revenge," Orson replied, dusting himself off as he stood. "They say killing NPCs has some decent rewards too."


    "You''re not suggesting¡­" nk''s eyes widened.


    "First the NPCs, then the boss. It doesn''t conflict with our mission objectives, so what do you say?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

 Chapter 29 29: A Meteor? No, Thats Big Daddy!

    "You think I''d trust you just because you say NPCs drop loot?" nk shot back, clearly skeptical.


    Orson paused, momentarily stumped. She had a point. Sure, some yers had tried attacking NPCs out of curiosity, but it usually ended with them getting insta-killed. Take Hazel, for example: she might look like a frail, sickly young girl, but with a full set of legendary gear and an S-tier "Heavenly Judgment" spell at her disposal, she was no one to mess with.


    But this was still the early days of the game. Soon enough, yers would discover that certain NPCs could be defeated, and that the loot they dropped was often more rewarding than what you''d get from elite bosses. In fact, somerge guilds wouldter form alliances specifically to ambush high-level NPCs.


    "Because I understand this game''s mechanics better than you do¡ªhow''s that for an answer?" Orson replied smoothly.


    nk hesitated. She knew Orson was a former pro, and his confidence suggested he knew what he was talking about.


    "If it weren''t for the healer NPC constantly patching up her teammates, I wouldn''t need your help at all," Orson added, drawing nk into his party.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Seeing him so confident, nk decided to set her doubts aside and dashed toward the NPCs'' position. At the end of the mist-shrouded path outside the city, an eerie castle loomed¡ªthe Butcher''sir.


    nk asked, "Got a n? Those NPCs seem to be waiting for us to make the first move."


    Orson grimaced. "Yeah, that''s the tricky part. I was hoping they''d be useful in taking down the boss so we could just swoop in at the end."


    The four NPCs eyed nk suspiciously, clearly expecting her to lead the charge.


    This was no ordinary MMO. In Infinite Dimensions, NPCs were practically indistinguishable from real people. They had distinct personalities, behaviors, and levels of intelligence that made them feel like genuine characters, not mindless automatons.


    "Let''s go for it," Orson said. "I''ll take the two warriors; you handle the healer and the mage. We don''t need to kill them, just keep them upied."


    "What if we take too long? Someone else might swoop in and grab the boss," nk countered.


    "Let them try. They won''t oust me," Orson replied with a grin.


    nk was convinced. Without a word, she darted forward and, with a swift motion, drove her dagger into the healer''s side.


    Critical Hit -736!


    Bleed -120!


    Bleed -120!


    ¡­


    "True damage bleed?"


    Orson''s eyes widened as he watched nk''s dagger hit an artery, causing the healer NPC to bleed profusely, with not one but four instances of true damage ticking away.


    The earth mage beside the healer retaliated with a stone spike, but nk sidestepped andnded another sh across the healer''s throat. True damage bleed was a rare rogue passive that typically required a critical strike on a vital point to trigger.


    More impressively, nk''s bleed effect appeared to scale, increasing with each sessive hit. There was no question in Orson''s mind now: she must have a Divine-tier soul seal enhancing her damage over time.


    Orson could already envision how a rogue like nk could dominate one-on-one duels. With a bit of prep time, she could stack enough bleed effects on a training dummy to make any opponent drop dead in seconds during a PvP match.


    "What are you waiting for? Attack!" nk snarled.


    Snapping out of it, Orson forced a chuckle. "Sorry, your moves were mesmerizing. I was¡­ distracted."


    He said it as he turned tail and sprinted in the opposite direction.


    "You jerk! Trying to leave me here and take the boss for yourself?" nk cursed.


    "Patience, dear. I''m, uh¡­ getting into position!" Orson replied, realizing how his words sounded only after he''d said them.


    "Position? Three hundred meters away? Who are you kidding?" nk shouted back, realizing she had no choice but to handle the NPCs herself.


    With the four NPCs now gged as hostile, their health bars were visible. The heavily armored Luka had an imposing 300,000 HP, while even the frailest mage had 100,000 HP.


    "Betrayers of the lord will perish!" Luka roared, charging forward with his sword drawn.


    nk sprang into the air, her movement as precise as a dancer''s,nding a pinpoint strike at Luka''s nape. Another critical hit¡ªher damage was off the charts!


    "What in the world¡­ Is this even rogue gamey?" Orson thought, watching in awe. nk wasn''t using any special skills, yet she was pulling off moves that would be impossible for most yers. It could only mean one thing: she could perform these moves in real life too.


    Infinite Dimensions synchronized the yer''s physical abilities and skills with their neural input, which meant that yers were limited by their real-world capabilities as well. A yer who couldn''t swim in real life, for instance, would also need a skill to swim in the game.


    "Could she be¡­ a martial artist?" Orson wondered, recalling the ancient martial artists who had fought on the front lines during the apocalypse in his previous life. Many of these masters came from influential ns, possessing fighting techniques that ordinary people couldn''t even dream of. Without their resistance on the US front lines, guilds like Dragon''s Kiss wouldn''t have been able to unt their strength in the rear.


    But even for nk, four against one was a losing battle. The two warrior NPCs were especially problematic; with high attack and defense, they were a rogue''s worst nightmare. Without a clean hit on a weak spot, they could counter her attacks easily.


    With a dull thud, one of the warriors struck her with the t of his de, sending her flying and leaving her at critical HP.


    As she stumbled back, rage red in nk''s eyes as she red in Orson''s direction, vowing to hunt him down and kill him a hundred¡ªno, a thousand times for this betrayal!


    But before she could voice her frustration, nk looked up, stunned. A brilliant light streaked across the night sky.


    "A¡­ meteor?" she whispered in disbelief.


    No, it was something much more terrifying.


    Big Daddy had arrived.


    With a thunderous roar, an enormous fiery serpent descended from above, weaving through the air before crashing directly into the NPCs.


    -830!


    -830!


    -1600!


    The Touch of the me Serpent scorched everything in its path. The NPCs, shocked by the sudden assault, scattered, each one set aze.


    "Orson, what the¡ªhow did you¡ª?!" nk stammered.


    "Never underestimate the power of distance," Orson called out, stepping from the shadows. His face was a picture of smug satisfaction.


    Orson continued casting, the mes raging wildly as he let out oneugh after another.

 Chapter 30 30: The Indecisive Blank

    Standing atop the hillside, Orson swung his starter staff, unleashing a brutal high-ground assault! He chained together a rapid three-shot fireballbo, weaving in basic attacks to cancel out the sluggish start-up of his Touch of the me Serpent spell. The sequence flowed seamlessly, almost like a single, unbroken skill.


    Boom!


    -1557!


    -1440!


    A flurry of red damage numbers shed across the screen. With eachbo of spells and basic attacks, Orson''s damage output surpassed even his passive burn effects.


    Orson nodded in satisfaction. Once he reached level 20 and crafted his legendary weapon with the Emerald Gem, his damage would see a dramatic boost. Nearby, nk, hidden under her mask, couldn''t help but gape, a flurry of questions filling her mind.


    "Did he just¡­ really pull that off? And¡­ it is kinda long¡­" she murmured to herself, cheeks reddening before she snapped herself out of it. "Ugh, no! Focus!"


    The four NPCs were disoriented, momentarily frozen by the surprise bombardment. Orson''s onught focused on the two front-line warriors and the mage, leaving the priest for nk to take down with stealth attacks.


    "By the pure and holy light, I beseech thee¡­ heal us all!" The priest NPC began chanting a healing spell.


    "Interrupt him!" Orson barked.


    Before he could finish, nk darted in, her dagger piercing the priest with a cold efficiency that halted his spell.


    "Not bad; you''re pretty sharp," Orson said approvingly.


    The NPCs were quick to recover, though, moving with surprising speed and awareness. Orson cursed as a few of his basic attacks whiffed. "It''s too dark here. Report their coordinates!"


    nk felt a jolt. "Wait¡­ his range is even farther than the targeting distance?"


    "Warrior at 271.122."


    "Mage at 258.114!"


    ¡­


    nk called out the coordinates, her mind racing. She''d never seen a mage fight like this. She was the one sneaking around in the shadows, yet Orson, perched high above, was orchestrating a perfectly coordinated assault.


    "Nice! Now we''re in sync," Orson crowed from above, raining down fireballs and basic attacks with pinpoint uracy. His barrage not only dealt damage but added burn effects, locking the priest in a futile struggle against nk.


    nk felt an odd mixture of awe and frustration. His skills were beyond anything she''d expected from a mere former pro. The power of his attacks, his sustained blue-shield defenses, his absurd range¡ªeverything about this man was ridiculous.


    But nk''s frustration quickly turned to horror as she realized the priest NPC was faltering. Blood trickled from his mouth as he copsed to his knees, turning his tear-filled eyes to nk. "Please, spare me. If you let me live, I''ll reward you handsomely once we return."


    nk hesitated, momentarily dumbstruck by the sight of the priest begging for mercy. He looked so¡­ real. It was as if he were a living person, pleading for his life.


    "A soft-hearted assassin, huh?" Orson''s voice crackled through thems, exasperated. "Did I team up with the wrong person?"


    nk''s face flushed with embarrassment as her confidence wavered. "What is wrong with me?" she thought. It was a game, after all, and this was just an NPC, nothing more.


    "If you don''t want a counterattack, finish him off," Orson warned, but nk remained frozen, her resolve crumbling as she stared at the pleading priest. He even threw a pouch of coins at her feet, trying to buy his life.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Orson shook his head, letting her learn the hard way. Just as he''d anticipated, the NPC''s pleading eyes turned cold and murderous, revealing a hidden intent. "Die!"


    A blinding cross of holy light surged from the priest''s staff, aiming to obliterate nk in one blow. It leveled the trees around them into splinters. But just as the spell was about to connect, three fireballs came crashing down from the sky, breaking the priest''s casting in an explosive burst.


    The st knocked nk back to her senses, her shock reced by fury. She lunged forward,nding a deadly sequence of five critical hits, each strike swift and lethal. The priest let out a final, anguished scream, copsing as a pile of loot spilled from his body¡ªtwo purple-grade armor pieces and three high-tier skill books.


    However, nk barely nced at the loot. She stumbled back, breathing heavily, pressing herself against a fallen tree for support.


    "It''s too real," she whispered, staring at her bloodied hands. "The feel of every hit, the weak spots... it''s just like real life. I can''t¡­ This is too much."


    "Get a grip," Orson''s voice called out, jolting her from her thoughts. "If we''re working together, don''t drag me down."


    nk red up the hill, fists clenched. Even without her, he was handling the three remaining NPCs without breaking a sweat. His mastery of distance control and timing was beyond anything she''d seen.


    Orson''s wless footwork and calcted spell use kept him firmly in control, even as the NPC warriors roared in frustration, unable tond a hit. He shattered the formation of the two tanky warriors, then strategically shifted his attacks to the earth mage, the most annoying of his opponents.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    -290!


    -290!


    Orson was relentless. Whether at a distance or up close, his movements and timing were impable, allowing him to predict and counter every step the NPCs made.


    "Good grief, even against three strong NPCs, he''spletely unfazed. His ystyle has no weaknesses," nk thought, feeling the pressure mount. This man was¡­ a true champion.


    For once, the prideful nk felt herself shrinking in the shadow of another.

 Chapter 31 31: Ascension Elixir

    Meanwhile, Empress and her team noticed Orson locked in a fierce battle.


    LuckyBird: "That mage¡­ he seems to be getting ganged up on by NPCs. Should we go over and take a look?"


    SpeechlessFace: "Are you kidding? Why would we help apetitor? He got himself marked as a red name and now NPCs are beating him up. How''s that our problem?"


    LuckyBird: "...Fair point. But we should hurry up. Those anonymous yers might already have their hands on the boss."


    The five remaining members of the Moonlight Guild, survivors of the earlier attack, were now a significant force vying for the injured boss.


    With Dragon''s Kiss Guild and Usher''s team crippled by Orson, Moonlight Guild found themselves among the strongest contenders.


    Empress hesitated. She admired Orson''s skill and boldness, and perhaps forging a friendship could draw him into their guild. However, her guildmates strongly opposed assisting Orson and vetoed her suggestion.


    Reluctantly, Empress chose to respect the team''s consensus for the greater good.


    ---


    Elsewhere, Orson, supposedly outnumbered and beaten, held a decisive upper hand.


    He danced around the battlefield, weaving in and out of range, dealing continuous AoE damage with relentless precision.


    Aimed shots to the head broke the earth mage NPC''s defenses, obliterating its skull in a shower of arcane energy.


    With precise timing, he activated Radiant Sun Shields to block heavy strikes and seamlessly retreated, weaving in basic attacks to trigger zing Burn.


    -1440!


    -1440!


    ¡­


    Heavy-armored swordsman NPC Lujianjia roared, his movement speed spiking as he raised his massive greatsword and unleashed Savage Combo Strikes.


    Orson''s expression tightened as three of his shields were destroyed in quick session.


    -119!


    His health dropped by a third.


    Orson frowned. He had underestimated them.


    These NPCs weren''t especially powerful but each had their trump cards. Savage Combo Strikes alone dealt over 2,000 damage¡ªa near-lethal blow.


    Fortunately, Orson''s strategy to prioritize the mage NPC paid off. Eliminating the highest-damage threat first prevented a disastrous situation where the three NPCs could focus-fire him.


    Now, Orson refused to leave any room for error. He held back his only knockback skill, mest, timing its use to disrupt Lujianjia''s approach while maintaining a punishing hit-and-run style.


    ---


    "You have killed Lord Kain''s Guard. EXP +5000!"


    "You have killed Lord Kain''s Mage. EXP +¡­"


    Ten minutester, Orson wiped out all three NPCs. He waved his hand and activated his party leader privilege, looting everything into his inventory without dy.


    Exhausted, Orson plopped down and activated Meditation to recover mana.


    ---


    "Due to killing NPCs under Lord Kain, Sin Value +10,000. Reputation +4,000!"


    A system notification popped up. Killing NPCs incurred sin values thirty times higher than killing regr yers. Orson''s name, once faintly red, now turned a deep purple.


    His total sin value hit 11,300, making him an infamous red-name yer. To clear his record, he''d have to kill monsters equal to the sin value¡ªa colossal grind.


    ---


    "Viin achievement unlocked. Regional announcement imminent. Do you wish to remain anonymous or hide the cause?"


    "I''ll go public, but hide the details," Orson chuckled.


    He wouldn''t pass up the chance to get some free publicity. However, to avoid tipping off Lord Kain, he opted to obscure the reason for the announcement.


    ---


    [Regional Announcement]:


    yer Orson hasmitted heinous acts, unlocking the Viin achievement and earning the title [Vile Tyrant]. yers are encouraged to hunt him down on sight.


    [Regional Announcement]...


    ---


    HoldByHolder: "Here we go again. What did this guy do now? Who pissed him off this time? That title requires over 10k sin value to unlock."


    8littleP: "Damn! Big bro''s savage! Truly the model red-name yer. I''m obsessed!"


    ¡­


    yers were dumbfounded. Orgod''s antics kept escting to new heights. Even the system couldn''t take it anymore, encouraging everyone to kill him.


    But who dared? The guy had solo-killed Usher, the Dragon''s Kiss Guild leader, and now had a viin title to boot. Taking him down would be no easy feat.


    ---


    "Vile Tyrant¡­ It suits him perfectly."


    Empress stared at the announcement in astonishment. Nearby Moonlight Guild members who''d criticized Orson earlier were utterly stunned.


    SpeechlessFace: "You mean to tell me¡­ that guy killed the NPCs? Are NPCs really this weak?"


    The Moonlight Guild party exchanged awkward nces. They''d assumed NPCs were dominating a helpless yer, only to realize it was Orson who had singlehandedly wiped out the NPCs.


    ---


    "Didn''t n on ying red-name¡­ but I''m broke," Orson sighed and inspected his new title.


    ---


    [Vile Tyrant]


    Effect 1: Killing yers increases their loot drop rate by 10%.


    Effect 2: Killing NPCs increases their loot drop rate by 50%.


    Penalty: Upon death, all equipment, items, and gold will drop.


    ---


    Orson flinched at the penalty. This title was both a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, killing NPCs was now incredibly lucrative. On the downside, dying meant losing everything¡ªincluding his underwear.


    "Nice!"


    His haul from the NPCs didn''t disappoint:


    Four heroic-tier gear items, nine skill books.


    Among them, two were upgrades for C-tier magic, while the rest belonged to other sses. He nned to auction those off.


    Additionally, three heroic-tier armor pieces and a priest''s staff¡ªall Level 20¡ªcould easily fetch 2,000 gold if sold together.


    ---


    "Wait¡­ What''s this?"


    Orson''s brow furrowed as he unearthed two peculiar quest items from his inventory.


    ---


    Quest Item: Barrier Stone


    Use: One piece of the Six-Sided Barrier Formation. Returning it to its proper position will restore the barrier.


    ---


    Confused, Orson checked the [Night Banquet] quest tracker.


    Barrier Stone: 1/1.


    One of the objectives was already marked asplete.


    "Wait¡­ Didn''t the Lord im the boss had stolen the Barrier Stones?"


    Orson smelled something fishy. Pair this with the Lord''s attempts to lure yers into danger, and it became clear: the Lord intended to manipte yers into killing the boss and "retrieving" the stone¡­ which had been with the NPCs all along.


    "Such a sneaky bastard¡­"


    ---


    Rummaging further, Orson uncovered an old vial.


    ---


    Quest Item: Soul Collection Bottle


    Use: Collect the souls of 20 elite-tier bosses to synthesize a [Ascension Elixir].


    The more powerful the bosses, the greater the elixir''s effects. Only usable by NPCs.


    ---


    "Holy crap! Ascension Elixir!"


    Orson''s pulse quickened. He immediately recalled a major event from his past life¡ªthe Demonic Surge Invasion.


    During this firstrge-scale event, multiple major cities, including Pondnorlin City, had their barriers shattered by relentless demon waves.


    Lord Kain had suddenly appeared, wielding incredible power to assist yers in defending the city. Thinking back, Orson realized the truth: the Soul Collection Bottle wasn''t for assisting yers. It was for the Lord''s own purposes¡ªto create the Ascension Elixir.


    ---


    With this elixir, NPCs could ascend to demonic forms. Many yearster, during the hardcore trials, even NPCs would betray humanity after consuming such elixirs.


    "Lord Kain, you sly bastard. Plotting ascension from the very start." Orson sneered.


    ---


    Now understanding everything, Orson turned to nk, disappointed.


    "This is it? The great God-tier assassin? Pathetic."


    Throughout the fight, nk stood like a soulless doll¡ªneither assisting him nor betraying him to sell his position.


    "nk, you''re wasting my time," Orson said as he approached her.


    ---


    nk grabbed a handful of dirt, her voice low: "Don''t you think all of this feels too real?"


    "I know."


    Orson''s face darkened. He had hoped nk would be pivotal to his uing ns, but her current state proved she wasn''t up to the task.


    "Then how can you act so decisively? Have you¡­ killed before in real life?" nk asked, her brows furrowed, her captivating face tinged with unease.


    Orson smiled, shaking his head as he strode toward the boss''sir. Hisughter echoed meaningfully:


    "Who cares if I''ve killed or not? I act decisively because I don''t want to die."


    "You''re too soft. Get lost."


    nk''s eyes widened, but before she could speak, a searing fireball struck her directly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    nk''s expression shifted


    from shock to resignation as the mes consumed her. Staring at Orson, she murmured:


    "Next time, when Ie for revenge¡­ you''d better keep that cocky attitude."

 Chapter 32 32: Quad-Element Mage

    "yer nk has sent you a friend request."


    Orson smirked and epted it. He then casually picked up the Level 15 heroic-tier dagger¡ªnk''s weapon, which had dropped earlier.


    nk didn''t say a word, but Orson could already guess her intentions. A person as prideful as nk wouldn''t ask to have her lost gear returned. Her goal was clear: using the friend list''s location feature to track Orson''s whereabouts andunch a revenge campaign.


    Infinite Dimensions wasn''t a world for the weak.


    Orson, who was determined to protect his sister and friends in the future, didn''t need anyone soft by his side either.


    Thus, he decided to give nk a chance to prove herself. By allowing her to relentlessly hunt him, she could hone her assassination skills while simultaneously forcing Orson to stay vignt at all times.


    Compared to the brutal, permadeath "hardcore mode" that woulde in a few years, Infinite Dimensions''s current newbie phase was almost too leisurely. Orson felt like he was living far toofortably.


    ---


    "Got some goodies. Interested?" Orson sent a message to ShatteredCrown, seeing him online.


    ShatteredCrown: "Haha, how could I not be? Anything from you, Master, must be top-tier. Show me what you''ve got!"


    Orson rolled his eyes. He had never admitted to taking ShatteredCrown as a disciple, but the guy''s deep pockets made him tolerable.


    Since thest fiasco with the Bone Crusher set being price-gouged on the auction house, Orson decided to sell everything directly to familiar faces this time, avoiding scalpers profiting off his hard work.


    ---


    ShatteredCrown: "Holy crap, is that a haul of skill books? Did you raid a bossir or something?"


    ShatteredCrown: "And these Level 20 heroic-tier items? My Level 10 staff looks like trash inparison!"


    The gear dropped from the NPCs was impressive. Though not part of any set, their standalone stats were overwhelmingly strong.


    One priest''s staff boasted 300 spell power¡ªdouble that of a typical Level 20 blue-tier weapon¡ªand came with healing bonuses to boot.


    As for the skill books, Orson kept two for himself:


    1. C-Tier Wind Magic: Wind Whisperer


    Effect: Consume 200 MP to gain the blessing of the wind spirit. Increases attack speed and casting efficiency by 20% for 30 seconds. Cooldown: 45 seconds.


    2. C-Tier Earth Magic: Shaking Stone Vines


    Effect: Consume 300 MP to alter the terrain within a targeted area and deal damage equal to your spell power. Cooldown: 2 minutes.


    Both skills were highly practical. Wind Whisperer was especially useful for offsetting Orson''s slow attack speed and lengthy cast animations.


    After brief consideration, Orson immediately learned both spells.


    If other mages saw this, they''d probablyugh their heads off. This was a prime example of "skill book wastage."


    Most mages specialized in a single elemental branch, investing all their talent points in that path to synergize magic attributes and maximize output.


    By splitting his focus across multiple elements, Orson would inevitably fall behind specialized mages inte-game damage.


    But Orson wasn''t concerned.


    In Infinite Dimensions, talent points were notoriously limited, but contrary to popr belief, leveling up wasn''t the only way to earn them. Certain high-difficulty quests also awarded talent points.


    This inside knowledge gave Orson the confidence to splurge on skill books.


    ---


    "Quad-element mastery¡­ not bad at all," Orson chuckled to himself.


    A quad-element mage was absurdly powerful in the early stages of the game.


    In his previous life, some wealthy yers had triggered the hidden quad-element mage quest. However, all had failed miserably, often resetting their ounts out of frustration.


    The quest''s difficulty was astronomical, and the skill point requirements were just as daunting. Compared to a specialist, the cost-benefit ratio seemed unreasonably low.


    But for someone like Orson, armed with advanced game knowledge, it was merely a matter of patience and preparation.


    ---


    ShatteredCrown: "Alright, Master. Name your price. How much for the whole lot?"


    "3,000 gold coins," Orson replied after some thought.


    Considering the four Level 20 heroic-tier items and seven skill books, the price was a steal. Last time, three pieces of gear had sold for 1,800 gold. This was a bargain for a "regr customer."


    ShatteredCrown: "Deal! Orgod, you''re a saint!"


    Pleased with ShatteredCrown''s decisiveness, Orson added, "I''ll list them in the auction house for you to buy."


    Before he could finish the sentence, his mailbox chimed. 3,000 gold coins received.


    ---


    "Aren''t you afraid I''ll scam you?" Orson asked, amused.


    ShatteredCrown: "Scam me? Who cares? Even if you did, I''d still be happy."


    "¡­You''re unreal."


    Orsonughed, mailing over the gear immediately, saving himself the auction fees.


    ---


    He then opened nk''s chat window and sent 1,500 gold coins along with her dagger to her mailbox.


    Despite the tense coboration during their NPC hunt, Orson prided himself on keeping his word. The agreed-upon 50-50 split was non-negotiable.


    Besides, without nk''s distraction of the priest NPC, Orson might not have been able to defeat all four before running out of mana.


    nk replied curtly: "Next time we meet, I''ll kill you."


    Orson shook his head, sighing. "So ungrateful."


    Despite her venomous words, she didn''t hesitate to pocket the payout. Orson couldn''t help but feel a twinge of regret.


    ---


    Outside the butcher''sir, ten or so surviving yers had cleared out the elite monsters guarding the entrance.


    Orson stood at a distance, silently observing the unfolding dynamics.


    From the darkness of the ruined castle, a river of blood began to flow. A chilling woman''s cry echoed through the air as two glowing red eyes pierced the shadows, radiating a sinister, crimson light.


    ---n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    [Keril the Butcher: Level 20]


    [Lord-ss Entity]


    HP: 600,000 / 1,200,000


    Attack Power: 770


    Skills: Group Imprisonment, Blood Dragon''s Roar, Overpower, Blood Sacrifice Upgrade


    The butcher revealed its true form, emerging from a cavernous hole. It was a massive, grotesque bat, missing one wing and covered in horrifying wounds from Hazel''s earlier attack.


    ---


    "You there! Let''s team up!" Empress shouted.


    Nearby, Usher stood with five other yers around Level 16, all of whom had hidden their IDs.


    Orson''s eyes narrowed as he analyzed their situation. At their feety the corpses of at least twenty Vampire Minions¡ªevidence that this group was even stronger than Moonlight Guild.


    ---


    "What do you think, Usher?" one of the anonymous warriors asked.


    Usher coldly nced at Empress and sneered, "I don''t know her. Do whatever you want."


    ---


    Madman spat, "Screw you, Usher. Acting all high and mighty! If it weren''t for us tanking most of the mobs earlier, you wouldn''t even be here to strut around!"


    The anonymous warrior smirked. "You dumb thief. Don''t think I don''t know. Without your fake-match king, you''d be a stone statue by now."


    ---


    Madman clenched his fists, his expression twisted in anger. "Fine! Show me how you''re gonna handle this boss on your own!"


    Ignoring the taunts, one of the anonymous warriors suddenly darted forward, hurling his greatsword straight at the boss.


    The de''s tip struck true, piercing the butcher''s eye.


    ---


    Critical Hit: -1,100!


    The sword curved midair, almost as if alive, before rebounding perfectly back into the warrior''s hands. He followed up with a double-handed sh, striking the injured wing andnding another critical hit.


    ---


    Critical Hit: -1,100!


    Watching from a distance, Orson''s brow furrowed. "Snow Dream? Could it be¡­ are they from SSR Club?"

 Chapter 33 33: The Pro Gamer

    The hexagram rune surged, releasing a series of explosive wind des that shot out fiercely.


    At the veryst moment before the blood dragon fully materialized, the mage in the anonymous team used the wind des to interrupt the boss''s spellcasting, allowing the tank to escape unharmed.


    "See that, thief? That''s how you y the game," the swordsman said, standing confidently and mocking Madman.


    "QNMGB¡­" Madman cursed loudly in a mix of English and gibberish, clearly furious but also somewhat helpless.


    Meanwhile, the anonymous knight blocked Keril the Butcher''s follow-up attacks with a towering shield.


    -189


    -320


    ...


    The knight only had around 3,000 HP¡ªfar less than Empress''s bulkier stats¡ªbut their precision in mitigating damage and evading attacks was leagues beyond hers. Any damage they did take was quickly healed by the anonymous team''s priest.


    Seeing that single-target attacks were proving ineffective, Keril unleashed its AoE control skill, Mass Confinement.


    Six blood spheres floated ominously above the heads of Usher''s party. If hit, they would instantly turn to stone.


    "Dodge and keep your distance! Backline, continue outputting damage!"manded the swordsman with a sharp tone. The rest of the team moved as one, skillfully evading the skill without a single misstep.


    "Fighting alongside pros makes things feel so smooth. These professional yers really live up to their reputation," Ushermented, firing a multi-arrow shot that knocked the boss back. The wind mage followed up with consistent attacks, delivering impressive damage.


    "Professional yers? That exins why theirbat awareness is so much better than ours," Empress muttered to herself, feeling the ring gap between them.


    At this stage of the game, most yers were still figuring out basic mechanics. But professional yers, trained in full-dive VR environments, had already rehearsed strategies for countless boss types.


    Compared to Usher''svish equipment, the anonymous yers'' gear was fairly ordinary. However, their mastery of the game more than made up for the disparity. This was the difference between amateurs and professionals. Superior technique could bridge any gap in equipment over time.


    "Boss, let''s get in there! If we don''t start dealing damage now, they''ll kill the boss before we even touch it," urged SpeechlessFace.


    "Yeah, Empress, you''ve got this! Besides, there''s no way they''re better than Orgod!" added LuckyBird.


    "True, that wind mage is impressive, but they''re not on Orgod''s level," Empress agreed, regaining herposure. She had been shaken by the anonymous team''s overwhelming skill, but she couldn''t let it intimidate her.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    She readied her shield and stepped forward. "Let''s move. This boss isn''t anyone''s personal property!"


    However, the moment they approached Keril the Butcher, Usher raised his bow, his cold expression locking onto LuckyBird, the team''s healer.


    "What the hell is wrong with you? This boss your mom or something?!" Madman taunted Usher, his sharp tongue immediately going for the jugr.


    Usher scowled, gripping his bowstring tightly, though he refused to lower himself to Madman''s level.


    "Are you really going to make enemies of me, Moonlight Guild? Or are you just bluffing?" he sneered, focusing his gaze on Empress.


    "A game is just a game. Are you seriously threatening me with real-life influence? How pathetic," Empress snapped, but her voice wavered under the weight of his implied threat.


    She knew exactly what he was capable of. Usher''s Dragon''s Kiss Guild was backed by the colossal DK Corporation, a financial giant far beyond the reach of her family''spany.


    "Losing isn''t in my vocabry," Usher dered, his voice brimming with arrogance. He scanned the yers around him with a domineering presence, determined to remind them who ruled Pandorin City.


    Dragon''s Kiss Guild had been established to dominate and crush allpetition, no matter who or what stood in their way.


    Grinding her teeth, Empress tightened her grip on her shield. Usher''s oppressive demeanor enraged her, but she had no viable way to counter it.


    As the anonymous team maintained wless coordination, the boss''s HP plummeted to 400,000. Despite Keril''s multiple high-damage attacks, it couldn''t break through the dualyer defense of the swordsman and knight.


    Frustration wed at Empress''s resolve. If this continued, the boss would undoubtedly fall into their hands.


    "Empress, have you lost your nerve?"


    A yful voice whispered into her private chat. It was Orgod.


    "Criticize me all you want, but you''re no different. You''re just sitting back, too afraid to act," she retorted.


    Orgod chuckled. "Afraid? Hardly. I can deal with Usher, but you''ll have to do something for me first."


    "I''m listening," Empress replied, intrigued despite herself.


    "Simple. Have your four teammates charge in and let the boss kill them."


    "What?! Why would I do that?" Empress eximed, stunned by his suggestion.


    "Trust me if you want this done. Otherwise, keep standing there and watch them take the boss," Orgod said tly.


    "What''s it going to be? Surely, your teammates won''t disobey you, right?"


    His words hit a nerve, making Empress flush with embarrassment. She''d been so focused on appeasing her team earlier that she''d missed the chance to assist Orgod.


    "They''ll listen to me," she replied confidently. She exined Orgod''s n to her party members.


    LuckyBirdughed. "Empress, if you want us to throw ourselves into the boss''s ws, we''ll do it for you, no problem. Love ya!"


    "Just don''t let us get hit by the stone curse. I don''t want to be AFK for 48 hours," joked another teammate.


    Ten minutester, Keril''s HP was down to just 50,000.


    Madman watched in frustration, itching to contribute, when suddenly he noticed Empress''s four teammates rushing toward the boss.


    "What are they doing?! Don''t leave me out of a boss kill, you bastards!" he yelled.


    "They''re not attacking¡ªthey''re sacrificing themselves," Empress corrected, holding him back with a smirk.


    "What? Why?!" Madman looked thoroughly confused.


    "An old friend of yours said to keep you alive for now," she replied cryptically.


    "Old friend? Are you sure they didn''t mean¡­ oh,e on, stop hitting me!" he muttered as she smacked him for his nonsense.


    "Chen Shan, what''s the meaning of this? Are you trying to sabotage us?!" Usher roared as the Moonlight Guild yers reached the boss.


    "They''re not even attacking you," Empress replied calmly, her expression unreadable.


    Usher blinked in shock as the Moonlight Guild yers stripped off their equipment, then began punching the boss with their bare fists.


    -1


    -1


    "What the hell¡­ are they trolling?" muttered the anonymous swordsman, clearly baffled.


    Keril, enraged, retaliated with massive ws, killing the yers in one hit each. But then something unexpected happened.


    Blood orbs emerged from the corpses, flying into Keril''s mouth.


    "Damn it! Is this¡­ blood sacrifice?! That''s a boss buff!"


    Keril''s HP, which had dropped below 50,000, suddenly skyrocketed back to 400,000.


    "Tenacious¡­ isn''t she?" a familiar voice chuckled as Empress made a bold move, forcing the boss into a narrow passageway with her shield.


    "Your turn, Orgod," Empress called out with a sly smile.


    And in that moment, Usher and the anonymous yers froze, recognizing the figure silhouetted against the skyline: Orgod.

 Chapter 34 34: I Am Your Demon

    Orson twirled his staff, pping his hands together with force. "Rupturing Stone Vines!"


    The ground around the dpidated castle began to tremble as if a massive creature was burrowing beneath the surface.


    "Everyone move!" Empress yelled as she and Madman quickly dodged away. Beneath their feet, the soil groaned and cracked, waves of dirt surging like tidal waves. The entire castle shook violently, its structure groaning under the stress.


    Chunks of stone started raining down from above, rapidly blocking off the already narrow entrance to the boss''sir.


    "What the hell are you doing, Orson?!" the anonymous swordsman roared in fury, ring at the distant figure.


    "Burying you alive," Orson replied coldly.


    The anonymous knight panicked, shouting, "What''s happening out there? We''re trapped!"


    "Reaver, have you lost your mind?!" Usher''s frustration boiled over as chaos erupted.


    Inside the crumbling ruins, Usher and his team struggled to fend off the boss while watching helplessly as their only escape was being sealed off by cascading debris.


    "Orson! I swear I''ll kill you!" the anonymous swordsman screamed, his face twisting in rage. He clenched his fists and considered charging Orson, only to freeze when he noticed the massive gap between them.


    The distance was absurd¡ªat least 500 meters!


    "Is this even possible for a yer to achieve right now?!" the swordsman muttered, his confidence shaken.


    Charging that far to kill a mage? Even with his skill, he doubted he''d make it halfway before Orson''s spells shredded him. And this wasn''t just any mage¡ªit was Orgod, the top-tier mage with unmatched precision.


    Orson ignored the swordsman''s impotent rage, calmly casting a series of fireballs and basic attacks to rain destruction on the copsing castle.


    Madman gawked at the spectacle, muttering, "WTF¡­ is this guy firing rockets or something? So long, so far, and so damn deadly!"


    Empress couldn''t help butugh bitterly. "He''s ying apletely different game. I knew his range was ridiculous, but this¡­ this is outright absurd."


    With a deafening crack, the castle''s foundations gave way. The entire structure copsed in on itself, burying the entrance entirely. Inside, the muffled cries of Usher and his party were silenced beneath the rubble.


    "You have in yer Nirji. Sin value +100."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "You have in yer Usher. Sin value +100."


    One by one, notifications popped up as everyone trapped inside met their end.


    This was Orson''s carefully calcted n.


    A structure of this scale copsing under its own weight? No yer with a mere few thousand HP could survive. Even bosses at this stage of the game would struggle to endure.


    -10,000!


    -10,000!


    ...


    Bright red damage numbers erupted from the ruins as Keril the Butcher howled in pain, its HP plummeting by over 200,000 in an instant.


    "Shame it didn''t finish the job," Orson muttered, frowning slightly.


    The boss wed its way out of the rubble, its body shrouded in a dark aura. The stones surrounding it were violently repelled as it activated its Unstoppable Body skill.


    Boss Skill: Unstoppable Body


    Effect: For 3 seconds, ignore all control, crowd control, or discement effects.


    "Well then, time to get to work," Orson grinned, the fiery magic swirling around him. His signature me Serpent spiraled down from the sky, striking the boss with unrelenting precision.


    Madman gulped nervously. "This guy''s a cheater! That range¡ªhow are thieves supposed to y the game with freaks like him running around?"


    Orson''sughter was carefree. "Thieves should stick to sneaking and stealing. Why covet the radiant magnificence of a mage like me?"


    "Go to hell, you smug bastard!" Madman shot back.


    Empress maintained herposure, giving clear instructions. "I''ll hold the boss''s aggro. Madman, watch those two." She nodded toward the two professional yers.


    "If they make a move, I''ll take them out instantly," Orson said, stepping closer.


    "Orgod¡­ long time no see," said the wind mage, Snow Dream. Her tone was hesitant, her expression conflicted.


    Orson nced at her briefly, his voice cool and detached. "I wouldn''t dare to call myself Orgod anymore."


    Snow Dream hesitated, her face flushed with embarrassment. Reaver, however, shot her a re before stepping forward.


    "So, the match-fixing rat dares to show his face again?" Reaver sneered, his LD prefix SSRؼReaver glowing for all to see.


    "The first Demon Swordsman¡­ Reaver?!" Empress''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    Reaver was a superstar in the gaming scene, known as the undefeated prodigy of SSR Club and a rising star in the eSports world.


    "Undefeated? That''s augh. Isn''t that right, Reaver?" Orson chuckled darkly.


    For Reaver, the title "undefeated" was both a badge of honor and a source of humiliation. Though he was hailed as the next big thing for SSR Club, he had never once beaten Orson¡ªnot as a mage, not as a swordsman, not even in the countless practice matches they''d fought.


    Reaver''s face burned with rage, his voice rising to a shout. "You may be skilled, but you''re nothing more than a disgraced rat¡ªthe shame of SSR and the eSportsmunity!"


    "Whatever you say." Orson shrugged, his tone indifferent. The anger he might have felt in the past was gone, reced by a calm born of experience.


    "Stop him from reaching the boss! I''ll take care of the others!" Reavermanded, gripping his de tightly.


    Snow Dream''s face paled as Orson approached. Her grip on her staff trembled, but she couldn''t muster the courage to attack.


    "Empress, the boss is hurt and moving slowly. Just kite it around," Orson instructed without looking back.


    "Got it," Empress replied, drawing the boss''s attention and leading it away.


    As Orson passed Snow Dream, he said softly, "Your technique has improved. You haven''t cked off since bing a core yer."


    Snow Dream froze, her mind racing. After a moment''s hesitation, she lowered her staff and muttered, "I''m sorry, Orgod."


    Then, to everyone''s surprise, she logged off mid-dungeon, vanishing from the battlefield.


    Madman stared, ck-jawed. "What the hell? Who was that chick to you? She just dipped after you said two words."


    "My disciple," Orson replied tly, his expression briefly softening.


    Madman''s jaw dropped. "No way! Is she hot? Or is she, you know¡­ built like a tank?"


    Orson rolled his eyes. "She doesn''t use a custom avatar. What you see is what she looks like in real life."


    Madman''s eyes lit up. "Hook me up, bro! What''s her Insta?"


    "Send me 50 gold. Prove your worth," Orson quipped.


    "Get lost!"


    The banter ended as Orson and Madman approached Reaver.


    "Two versus one? Not very sporting, is it?" Reaver sneered, though sweat beaded on his brow.


    "Of course not," Orson said with a grin. "This is a one-on-one. A duel between real men."


    He stepped forward deliberately, exuding an overwhelming aura of confidence.


    Reaver gripped his de tightly, his heart pounding. This wasn''t just Orson''s strength¡ªit was the weight of years of humiliation pressing down on him.


    "I want to break you. I want to break every single person in SSR Club," Orson said, his smile cold and maddening.


    Deactivating his zing Burn passive and holding back his God-tier abilities, Orson stepped into Reaver''s range¡ª20 meters, the standard for a mage.


    "F*** you!" Reaver roared, his de shing. He was determined to y the demon that had haunted him for so long.

 Chapter 35 35：To kill and condemn the heart

    Madman chuckled slyly, "Heh, hey warrior, better watch your back door!"


    Just as Reaver prepared to act, Madman''s words froze him in ce.


    No matter the ss, exposing your back to a thief was never a wise decision. With precise, critical backstabs, they''d always teach their targets to guard their vulnerable "flower."


    "Are you nning to jump in, Madman?" Orson asked casually.


    Madman picked his nosezily and flicked the imaginary booger away. "Nah, I''ll wait until you two are low on health. Then I''ll clean up. Orgod, with your deep red name, I bet your gear is worth a fortune!"


    "Good. Let me send you straight to the fountain for revival," Orson grinned darkly. He knew Madman all too well¡ªthis guy always followed through on his shameless threats.


    Madman''s face stiffened. Memories of Orson''s terrifying damage output shed through his mind. Killing a thief like him would be child''s y.


    "Fine! I''ll spare you both¡­ for now," Madman muttered, retreating swiftly until he was over 100 meters away, just to stay out of range of Orson''s ridiculous attacks.


    "Prepare to die!" Reaver roared, pulling a second blue-grade sword from his waist.


    Madman''s eyes widened. "No way¡­ dual-wielding warrior?"


    Orson wasn''t surprised. Reaver had held back during the boss fight earlier, clearly not revealing his full strength.


    In Infinite Dimensions, warriors could adopt a variety of fighting styles early on. Most yers preferredbinations like sword-and-shield, de-and-shield, or a two-handed greatsword.


    The most difficult of all was the dual-wielding warrior. Sacrificing most of their blocking ability, they maximized offensive efficiency while maintaining agility.


    This setup wasn''t for amateurs. It was either a beginner''s trap or the choice of someone supremely confident in their skill.


    Orson maintained hisposure and tested the waters with basic fireballs and auto-attacks.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    He rained down attacks, taking full advantage of his superior range.


    -33


    -11


    -Blocked!


    Reaver smirked smugly, deflecting every fireball with his twin swords. Every swing was precise, every block perfectly timed. This wasn''t surprising¡ªtiming and control were the bread and butter of professional yers.


    If Reaver had been using a shield instead of dual des, he likely could have blocked Orson''s entire barrage effortlessly.


    Madman cackled from afar, "Hey bro, are you even trying? Your attacks can''t even break his defense! Have you been ying too much with your sparrow?!"


    Orson almostughed out loud at the jab but shook his head, continuing his barrage of attacks.


    Reaver closed the gap,ing within ten meters of Orson. Still, the mage remained calm, releasing a rapid series of three fireballs, seamlessly chained with basic attacks.


    The pressure mounted on Reaver. He stopped abruptly, his twin swords spinning violently in a whirlwind.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Howling Tempest!"


    A fierce gust swept through the battlefield, dispersing Orson''s iing attacks. Nothingnded.


    Orson sidestepped smoothly, avoiding Reaver''s thrown de with precise movement. At the same time, he kept his attacks consistent, retreating while firing.


    -15


    -29


    The damage numbers were unimpressive, barely scratching Reaver''s HP. His swordsmanship countered every attempt Orson made tond a decisive blow.


    Smirking arrogantly, Reaver taunted, "Your long-range attacks are impressive, but this close¡­ you''re just a fool. Let me guess, you''ve slotted a Spirit-tier Soulmark, haven''t you?"


    Orson remained silent, continuing what seemed like a futile effort to deal damage.


    Reaver sneered, "A Spirit-tier Soulmark? How quaint. Against real experts, that''s nothing more than garbage."


    The swordsman''s condescending tone grew as he vented years of suppressed frustration from being overshadowed by Orson.


    "You''re desperate, aren''t you? Banking on whatever advantage that Soulmark gives you. But it doesn''t matter. I''m going to end this today!"


    Orson''s lips curled into a smirk. Hisposure rattled Reaver even more.


    "And why the hell do you talk so much during fights, Reaver?" Orson interrupted. "Were you bullied a lot as a kid? Is this your way of proving you''re better than others?"


    Reaver froze. His sneer disappeared as those words struck a nerve.


    "How does he know?" Reaver''s thoughts spiraled.


    "Ah, so that''s it," Orson murmured knowingly, his smile sharp as a de.


    To break a professional yer, you start with their pride.


    "Wind Whisperer."


    Orson''s soft incantation activated a six-pointed star, lighting up the glyph of wind magic.


    "Triple-ss magic user?" Reaver''s eyes widened.


    To him, such a build was a joke¡ªa reckless choice that only amateurs would make. Spreading points across multiple magic disciplines left yers underpowered in the mid-tote game.


    The increased skill flexibility might offer short-term strength, but it came at the cost of diluted talents, inadequate skill points, and crippling financial costs.


    "You''d go this far just to get revenge on SSR Club?" Reaver scoffed, assuming he''d figured out Orson''s motivations.


    Suddenly, Orson''s first fireball struck him square in the chest.


    -248


    Reaver staggered, his health dropping sharply.


    The wind magic''s attack speed buff had thrown off his timing, causing him to misjudge his block.


    Orson followed up with rapid-fire projectiles, each 20% faster than before.


    -332


    -332


    -Blocked!


    Reaver barely managed to deflect the final shot, his smug expression now reced by rm.


    From a distance, Madman gawked. "Holy sh¡ªhe was baiting that guy with those weak attacks! He was just lulling him intocency!"


    Orson chuckled mockingly, locking eyes with Reaver. "You''re not cut out for being a warrior. And as a mage? You''re even worse. Why you see me as your rival is beyond me. Are we even on the same level?"


    Every word stabbed at Reaver''s pride, his face darkening with fury.


    Clutching a health potion, Reaver surged forward, believing he''d adapted to Orson''s new tempo.


    But the mage abruptly shifted tactics. His fireballs began flying at unpredictable intervals¡ªsometimes slow, sometimes fast. There was no discernible pattern.


    What looked like chaos was deliberate.


    As a former professional, Orson understood that every yer had their rhythm. Once you disrupted that rhythm, cracks would appear.


    -248


    Another fireballnded, leaving Reaver barely clinging to life.


    "Didn''t I tell you before? Your approach is wed," Orson said casually, as if exining something trivial.


    Reaver prided himself on his rigid adherence to meta strategies. But that very rigidity was his downfall. He thrived when opponents followed predictable patterns, allowing his overwhelming aggression to shine.


    Against Orson? He couldn''t even touch him.


    "W-why can''t I hit you?!" Reaver shouted, disbelief etched across his face.


    "Because your ''meta'' is a cage," Orson said. "And I''m a feather, floating wherever I please."


    Madman''s jaw dropped. "This¡­ this is insane! A mage that doesn''t follow the rules?! What kind of alien are you, Orson?"


    Orson''s skill came from surviving the game''s hardcore mode. His strategy was pure chaos¡ªan ever-shifting puzzle that no one could solve.


    The duel had been decided the moment Reaver stepped into Orson''s 20-meter range.


    Orson had already ounted for his opponent''s psychology, movements, and weaknesses. This wasn''t a fight¡ªit was an execution.


    "I won''t lose!" Reaver roared desperately.


    Orson smirked. "Don''t kid yourself. Even pros have their limits."


    With a flick of his wrist, Orson fired a basic attack.


    The fireball streaked forward, ending Reaver''s misery. "Goodbye, old friend."

 Chapter 36 36: Shrimp Stealing Hearts, Pig Crushing Dreams

    Reaver disappeared in a sh of white light, sent back to the respawn point. Unfortunately for him, his bad luck resulted in the loss of a mere handful of silver coins.


    Empress: "Are you done yet? I can''t hold on much longer."


    Orson replied with a mischievous grin, "Coming to save you, dear Empress."


    "Get lost¡­ or better yet, don''te at all," Empress snapped with exasperation.


    Keril the Butcher unleashed several Group Confinement skills, but Orson and the others dodged them with practiced ease. The heavily injured boss was soon beaten down to the brink of death.


    "Stab him! Burn him! This boss is about to fall!" Madman shouted impatiently as Keril''s health dropped below 10,000.


    At that moment, Orson suddenly received a private message from Reaver, and his mood plummeted to rock bottom.


    "Every single person in SSR deserves to die," Orson muttered, struggling to contain his fury.


    SSRؼReaver: "Go ahead andugh, Orson. Let''s see how long itsts. Want to know why the Esports Association banned you?"


    "You think you''re so pure, so much better than everyone else, but let me tell you the truth. That game¡ªthe one that ruined you? Everyone but you was in on it. Every single one of us was ying along."


    "We all knew you''d never agree to throw a match. You''re way too full of yourself for that. So, yeah¡­ we cut you out of the deal. Each of us made millions off it, including your precious little prot¨¦g¨¦, Snow Dream. Oh, didn''t see thating, did you?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "By the way, about that appeal you tried to file with the Esports Association? You didn''t know? The biggest sponsor of the Esports Association is SSR. If they didn''t ban you, who else were they going to ban?"


    The message ended with a final jab: "Rot, you worthless piece of trash!"


    Despite having endured the trials of a post-apocalyptic world, Orson couldn''t stop his emotions from churning.


    He finally understood Snow Dream''s earlier behavior¡ªthe guilt, the evasive nces, and her sudden logout.


    Because she couldn''t face him.


    Orson felt likeughing at himself¡ªat his own naivety. He''d med himself for the disastrous match, thinking it was his own poor performance and leadership that had caused their loss.


    He''d suspected there might be a traitor in the team, but he''d never imagined that everyone, including Snow Dream¡ªthe yer he''d mentored with his own hands¡ªhad been in on it.


    "Hey, man! If you don''t start attacking, we''re gonna get wiped!" Madman''s urgent voice brought Orson back to the present.


    Empress: "What are you doing, spacing out? Get your damage in!"


    Realizing his teammates were on the verge of death, Orson snapped out of it and unleashed Touch of the me Serpent, hurling it at the boss with an explosive fury.


    Ding!


    The boss''s body copsed, leaving behind a pile of loot, but Orson had no interest in checking it.


    After a long silence, Orson replied to Reaver''s message: "You''d better prepare to delete your ount."


    Then he blocked Reaver before thetter could gloat further.


    "I''ll get everyst one of you. I swear it! I swear to fing God!" Orson seethed inwardly, his thoughts filled with the memories of camaraderie that now made his skin crawl.


    "You have in [Keril the Butcher]. Experience +20,000."


    "Your level has increased to 16."


    "[Soul Collection Bottle] has detected a collectible boss soul. Would you like to collect it?"


    The notifications brought Orson back to his senses. He hesitated briefly before choosing to collect the soul.


    A wisp of white smoke rose from the boss''s corpse and disappeared into his inventory.


    [Soul Collection Bottle]


    Collected Progress: 1/20


    The progress bar ticked up, leaving Orson pondering. The Ascended Demon Pill could only be consumed by NPCs. For now, he decided to focus on gathering the required souls.


    "World Announcement: Would you like to remain anonymous?"


    Orson''s calm returned as he replied, "Show my name."


    "World Announcement: yer Orgod has led a team to defeat the boss [Lord-ss: Keril the Butcher]!"


    "This instance waspleted with only three survivors, earning double rewards for no NPC assistance!"


    "Reward: 60 free attribute points, 40 skill points, 12,000 reputation, and 30 gold coins!"


    The server chat erupted into chaos.


    CornerSlyFox: "Unbelievable! Even Usher couldn''t steal it from this guy. What a legend!"


    TaylorSwiftBigFan: "Dragon''s Kiss Guild? SSR? Aren''t they supposed to be unstoppable? So where are they now? Silent as the grave?"


    36DPhoneHolder: "They teamed up and still couldn''t win? Hrious!"


    The once-boisterous Dragon''s Kiss Guild yers were now conspicuously quiet. Their repeated defeats at the hands of a single yer left them too embarrassed to speak.


    SafetyFirst: "I admire Orgod! Join our Battle Intent Guild. Starting sry: 20 million!"


    LBGHTXXXX: "Afraid of crossing Dragon''s Kiss Guild? Not me. 35 million plus lifetime VIP ess to Nocturne City''s top clubs. Join us, Orgod!"


    Recruitment offers flooded the world chat, with jaw-dropping sries that left bystanders green with envy.


    Empress smirked and teased Orson: "Why settle for them? Join Moonlight Guild. 50 million and two personal gamingpanions. Deal?"


    Madman''s ears perked up. "Pick me! Forget the sry, just give me the gamingpanions!"


    "Get lost, kid," Empress retorted disdainfully.


    Meanwhile, in the wilds, ShatteredCrown saw the announcements and exploded with rage.


    ShatteredCrown: "Back off! That''s my master you''re trying to poach!"


    He bought two golden megaphones¡ªitems so expensive that only billionaires would use them casually.


    US Server Announcement:


    ShatteredCrown: "I, President of The King Family Guild, hereby offer a 200-million-yearly sry to recruit Orgod, my master, into our guild! Together, let''s conquer the game!"


    The announcement shocked millions of yers.


    MoneyWalker: "200 million?! Forget a mansion¡ªwhy not buy a private jet?"


    Randomyer: "Orgod has a disciple? Since when?"


    Orson read the announcement and smirked. "This idiot has money to burn but can''t just send it directly to me?"


    His inbox flooded with private messages from guild recruiters, but he ignored them all and turned off private messaging altogether.


    Finally, Orson focused on looting.


    The Night Banquet quest wasn''t especially hard. With nk''s help, eliminating the NPCs had doubled the rewards.


    Under normal circumstances, NPC assistance would make clearing the quest much easier once yers learned the bloodkin monsters'' mechanics.


    Unfortunately, the loot was underwhelming: a single Level 20 purple armor piece and two D-rank skill books. Orson listed them in the auction house to split the proceeds with his teammates.


    Madman grumbled while sifting through the boss''s corpse. "Wasn''t there supposed to be some kind of quest item?"


    Orson''s mind clicked as he recalled the Barrier Stone in his inventory, a drop from the NPCs they''d killed earlier.


    "Damn it! Did the quest glitch or something? The boss is dead, but there''s no quest item!" Madman raged.


    Orson shook his head, feigning ignorance.


    He checked the Night Banquet quest log: the task to return the Barrier Stone to the city''s lord was already marked asplete. Abandoning the quest would incur no penalties.


    Quest Log: Due to the Barrier Stone''s disappearance, hordes of monsters have infiltrated Pondenorlin City. Please assist Lord Cain in retrieving it...


    A sly grin spread across Orson''s face.


    "So¡­ if I don''t return the Barrier Stone, won''t that mean endless grinding inside the city?"


    His n was clear: Lord Cain would never see that stone again.

 Chapter 37 37: The Kids Got Potential!

    Back in the banquet hall:


    Madman: "What''s gotten into this old geezer? Why''s he flipping tables?"


    Lord Cain was livid upon learning that his subordinates were killed and the Barrier Stone hadn''t been retrieved. He mmed his fist on the table, smashing it to pieces in a fit of rage.


    Orson smirked to himself. Messing up Cain''s ns by killing his guards? No wonder the guy''s losing it.


    "You failed to submit the task item [Barrier Stone], resulting in significantly reduced rewards."


    "You receive 4,000 EXP, 10 free attribute points, and 5 skill points."


    As Orson had anticipated,pleting the boss fight still yielded some rewards.


    Although the reduced rewards stung, keeping the Barrier Stone for endless monster farming was worth the sacrifice.


    Outside the instance, Empress rejoined her guild, and Madman logged out, citing some real-life errands.


    Before he left, Orson gave him a nudge, recalling Madman''s first hidden ss discovery in his past life¡ªan E-rank locksmith thief.


    "You run into a hidden ss, let me know before you decide," Orson advised.


    Madman: "What''s this? You''re some kind of walking strategy guide now? Trying to get on my good side to pull me into your gang?"


    Orson grinned. "Pretty much. I''m starting a guild. I''ll buy a war seat soon. You in?"


    Madman paused, slightly taken aback. After considering Orson''s skill and straightforward nature, he replied candidly, "Sure, so long as there are girls around. I''m just a casual, anyway."


    "Deal. Wee aboard." Orson''s smile deepened.


    Madman might seem like a clown, always joking about women, but in truth, he was anything but simple. A military academy prodigy in real life, his tactical mind and knack for survival were top-tier.


    Despite starting as a casual yer and picking his ss on a whim, Madman hadter wed his way into the top ten thieves without guild resources or backing.


    Recruiting him was a major step in assembling a trustworthy and capable team. Orson didn''t need a massive guild¡ªjust reliable yers who could both fight and be trusted.


    As Orson mulled over grabbing ate-night snack, a booming voice jolted him out of his thoughts.


    "Criminal! Surrender immediately!"


    Turning around, Orson saw a squad of NPC guards bearing down on him.


    He pped his forehead, realizing he''d forgotten about his 10,000+ crime points. Whether inside or outside the city, he was a wanted man.


    "This guy''s name turned purple? How many people did he kill to pull that off?"


    "Brothers, that''s Orgod! Kill him, and we''re rich!"


    Themotion drew dozens of yers, their eyes glinting with greed.


    If not for the NPC guards, they might not have dared to act. After all, this was the guy who humiliated Usher!


    Orson sighed as more and more yers swarmed in, calling in reinforcements.


    In the eyes of US yers, if their target had a health bar, then it was kible. If dozens didn''t work, they''d bring hundreds¡ªif hundreds didn''t work, they''d bring thousands.


    Faced with the growing mob, Orson simply smiled and sped his hands together.


    The yers stared in disbelief as the infamous red-named Orgod calmly allowed himself to be arrested by the NPC guards.


    "What the¡ª? A three-time champion surrendering like that?!"


    "This guy''s got no backbone. Guess King Family wasted their 200 million on a wimp."


    "Bet he had thousands of gold on him. Just slipped through our fingers¡­ Damn it!"


    The crowd could only watch helplessly as Orson was hauled off.


    "You have been arrested by the Imperial Guard of the Holy Dragon Empire."


    "Given your current crime value, you must pay a fine of 1,190 gold or serve 300 days in prison to clear your name."


    "Will you pay the fine?"


    Thrown into the city dungeon, Orson promptly refused.


    Pay over a hundred thousand real-world dors for killing a few NPCs and yers? No way.


    For most yers, a 300-day sentence would mean deleting their character and starting fresh. But Orson wasn''t panicking. If anything, this could be an opportunity for reinvention.


    He tested his abilities in the cell but found that skills were disabled. His equipment slots were also grayed out, rendering violence useless. The anti-magic shackles on his wrists confirmed it.


    "I need to speak with your warden," Orson called out.


    "Shut it, punk!" barked a guard named Five Cent.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Orson chuckled and dropped an Imperial gold coin onto the ground.


    Five Cent''s eyes lit up as he scrambled to pick it up, even biting it to ensure it was real.


    "Ah, dear adventurer, how can I assist you?" His tone flipped in an instant, worthy of an Oscar.


    Orson smirked. Infinite Dimensions really nailed it. Even NPCs are corrupt to the core.


    "Take me to your superior. I have urgent business to discuss," Orson said, his tone all business.


    Five Cent hesitated. "Well, the boss isn''t exactly avable right now¡­ How about I get you a drumstick instead?"


    Another coin clinked to the ground.


    Five Cent''s face split into a greedy grin. "Right away, sir! Please follow me!"


    He led Orson to the guardmander''s quarters atop the city wall. As they approached, muffled moans of pleasure echoed from inside the ajar door.


    Orson''s smirk froze. So many hidden gems in this game. How did I miss this back then?


    "Commander, there''s a prisoner here to see you."


    Five Cent pushed the door open a crack, only for a foul-smelling boot to fly out.


    "Can''t you see I''m busy?! Scram!" themander bellowed.


    A scantily d woman darted past them, her face flushed with embarrassment. Orson marveled silently: Uncensored. Truly a masterpiece.


    Themander, Wesley, red at Orson with barely concealed annoyance. "You''d better have a damn good reason for interrupting me."


    Five Cent gleefully waved another coin in front of Wesley''s face. "This one''s a big spender, boss."


    Wesley waved Five Cent away and looked Orson up and down. "You realize bribing an imperial officer is a crime, don''t you?"


    Orson smirked, tossing him a pouch containing fifty gold coins.


    Wesley''s eyes gleamed with greed as he feigned indignation. "I am incorruptible!" he dered, closing the door behind him.


    The pretense quickly dropped. "Must''ve been tough in the cell, huh?" Wesley said, grinning as he unlocked Orson''s shackles.


    Free of his restraints, Orson considered killing the greedy worm but checked Wesley''s stats first.


    [City Guard Commander Wesley: Level 30]


    HP: ???


    Attack: ???


    Skills: ???


    Theck of detailed stats was a clear warning: Wesley''s strength far exceeded that of ordinary NPC guards.


    Orson sighed inwardly. If Wesley had a skill like Invulnerability, fighting him could attract reinforcements and spell disaster.


    Instead, Orson decided to negotiate. "Commander, how about we strike a deal?"


    Wesley chuckled, his eyes narrowing. "Kid, I like the way you think."

 Chapter 38 38: A Legendary Quest

    "You have sessfully bribed the City Guard Commander."


    "The Commander has proposed a ransom of 300 gold to release you, but your crime value will not be reduced."


    The notification rang out, but Orson didn''t flinch. He started haggling with his figurative dragon-ying sword:


    "Make it 100 gold. Otherwise, I''d rather rot in jail."


    "The Commander has proposed 200 gold¡­"


    "Still too much. 100 gold, take it or leave it!" Orson mmed his hand on the table and reached for the shackles.


    "Wait, wait, wait!" Wesley panicked, raising a hand to stop him. "Fine! Look, I''ve got a family to feed, alright? 120 gold, and I''ll have to pull strings to make it happen! That''s the best I can do!"


    Seeing Wesley''s theatrics, Orson had to admire the game developers'' creativity.


    Even if Infinite Dimensions wasn''t a reality-blended game, its immersive design made it feel just like the real world.


    "I also need a fake identity and a guarantee that no city guards will hunt me for the next week," Orson said coolly.


    Wesley frowned. "The fake identity I can do, but the city guard rotates shifts every three days. The best I can give you is two days."


    "Two days is plenty," Orson agreed.


    "You have obtained the Imperial Mage''s Robes."


    "You have received a temporary fake ID valid for 48 hours."


    Orson''s inventory now included aplete set of Level 15 green mage gear. However, its attributes were grayed out, meaning it only worked cosmetically,yered over his novice gear.


    "Please name your temporary ID."


    Grinning, Orson typed: "Boss Bai."


    The ID above his head shifted from purple to the distinct blue of an NPC, and he couldn''t help but chuckle.


    It was no wonder the Thief ss was among the hardest to y¡ªit demanded as much cash as a mage to build, yet so many yers flocked to it. Being a stealthy rogue could be incredibly satisfying!


    Through Wesley''s connections, Orson arrived at the southeastern outskirts of Pondenorlin City, as marked by the Barrier Stone.


    This was the slums¡ªnarrow alleys filled with foul-smelling ditches and crumbling buildings from previous monster invasions.


    "Clear the way! Boss Bai''s here to inspect!" Orson swaggered down the path, radiating the aloofness of someone who didn''t recognize anyone''s face.


    Few yers were around, as the area''s stench andckluster quests made it unpopr.


    "Look! A mage, a real mage is here!"


    "Thank the heavens! Finally, we''re saved. A mage will make these walls imprable!"


    The poorly equipped NPC guards erupted in cheers upon seeing Orson.


    In the Infinite Dimensions world, mages held high social status. Their destructive power and scarcity often determined a nation''s strength.


    Being at the edge of the city, the outer walls were much lower than the inner ones, leaving these poverty-stricken areas vulnerable whenever the protective barrier failed.


    "Boss Bai! Recently, monsters have been frequently attacking my patrol area. They''re gathering again¡ªplease join us in driving them out!" A soldier stepped forward, bowing respectfully.


    "No problem. How many monsters are we talking about?" Orson asked.


    "From what we can see, at least a hundred!"


    "Only a hundred?"


    Orson frowned. Such a small wave wouldn''t be enough to grind his Soul Imprint level or cleanse his crime points.


    He had spent over 100 gold¡ªtens of thousands in real money¡ªto maintain his cover as a city guard. A hundred monsters felt like a joke.


    "Uh¡­ sir?"


    The NPC soldiers looked confused. Was the mage from the inner city so weak that he was afraid to take on a mere hundred monsters?


    "This is ridiculous. I''m losing money on this deal! That sted Barrier Stone cost me so many rewards!" Orson grumbled, annoyed at his own shortsightedness.


    In the early stages of the game, even with a barrier breach, monster swarms were rare. Expecting an easy grind was overly optimistic.


    "Boss Bai, the scout estimates that if the monsters aren''t dealt with quickly, their numbers will multiply within a day. By then¡­ we won''t stand a chance!"


    Hearing this, Orson''s mood shifted. pping his thigh, he eximed, "That''s more like it!"


    The NPCs grew more panicked at his enthusiasm, imagining a monstrous horde descending upon them.


    "Ding-dong! You refused to lead an offensive, triggering a hidden quest!"


    Orson''s eyes gleamed. Hidden quests were rare gems, and now he''d found one by ident!


    "Hidden Quest: Defend the Barrier Stone Breach."


    "Difficulty: Legendary. Recruit a raid team to defend against the horde."


    In Infinite Dimensions, quests were ranked by difficulty: Common, Elite, Legendary, Abyss, Hell, and Mythical.


    Normal quests allowed up to six yers, while high-difficulty missions often required a raid group of up to 60 yers.


    This Legendary hidden quest was leagues above the usual hidden tasks.


    "Quest Objective: Defend against a massive monster invasion. If monsters breach the inner city, the mission will fail."


    "Failure Penalty: Lose three levels, 20,000 reputation, and gain a 10-day EXP penalty (halved earnings)."


    "Note: Unless the Barrier Stone is returned, the monster invasion will continue for 24 hours."


    Reading the quest details, Orson couldn''t hold back a grin.


    So that''s why this mission exists. If I hadn''t killed the NPC guards or kept the Barrier Stone, this chain wouldn''t have triggered.


    With the stone in hand, he had a trump card. If the horde became unmanageable, he could always return the stone to end the quest without penalty.


    At the soldiers'' urging, Boss Bai reluctantly climbed the tower to survey the situation.


    [Goblin Vanguard: Level 18]


    - HP: 4500/4500


    - Attack: 185


    - Skills: Swift Charge, Earthen Spikes


    [Elite Skeleton Knight: Level 22]


    - HP: 12,000/12,000


    - Attack: 270n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    - Skills: Lance Charge, Soul Assault


    ¡­


    Among the hundred-plus monsters were several elites, mostly around level 20. They were ideal for farming levels and skill proficiency.


    With two hours until the invasion began, Orson descended the tower. If he could stack monster-killing tasks on top of the quest, he''d maximize efficiency.


    "Too much crime value¡­ What now?" Orson muttered, troubled.


    While his fake ID might fool yers, experienced rogues would see through it. High-function NPCs would also detect his criminal status.


    Then inspiration struck. "Wait! There''s one ce that hands out massive monster-killing quests!"

 Chapter 39 39: The Flame Dragon

    Orson, d in his NPC disguise, made his way to the Bounty Hunters'' Tavern in the inner city.


    "Holy hell, I thought the cops were raiding the Hunters'' Guild!"


    "Wait¡­ what''s an Imperial mage doing here taking demon-hunting jobs?"


    The sight of the Boss Bai namete atop Orson''s head sent a ripple of panic through the tavern. A few red-named yers, mid-task, nearly bolted for the exit.


    The Bounty Hunters'' Guild held a unique position in Infinite Dimensions. It operated in almost every town, and its neutrality allowed even red-named yers and criminals to participate in demon-hunting tasks if they had the credentials.


    After paying 10 gold to register as a hunter, Orson was presented with a wide array of tasks.


    The guild''s missions ranged from E-rank to SSS-rank.


    - E-rank tasks included mundane errands like retrieving lost cats or finding missing girls.


    - D-rank and above involved hunting monsters, such as ying 100 Moonhowl Werewolves or collecting 50 Troll Tusks.


    - A-rank tasks and beyond became downright insane, with S-rank missions even requiring teams to y dragons.


    As a novice hunter with a ck Iron Badge, Orson was limited to E-rank and D-rank tasks.


    Currently, due to the breach in Pondenorlin''s barrier, the tavern was overflowing with D-rank hunting missions.


    "You have epted the D-rank task: y 50 Skeleton Mages."


    "You have epted the D-rank task: Collect 60 Magic Ape ws."


    "You have reached the maximum task limit: 2/2."


    Orson frowned. The two-task cap was inconvenient, especially given that the trip from the tavern to the outer slums took over ten minutes. Running back and forth would waste too much time.


    "Would you like to purchase the Hunter Task Expansion Bundle?"


    "Beginner Bundle: Increase task limit to 20."


    The system prompt popped up, and Orson let out a bitterugh. The bundle''s price was 50 gold.


    Demon-hunting tasks were a staple for grinding rewards, offering silver coins and skill points. However, Orson had never been willing to buy bundles in his previous life. For efficiency''s sake, he had no choice now.


    "Purchase the Advanced Bundle."


    "You have spent 300 gold and received the Advanced Hunter Expansion Bundle!"


    "Hunter Expansion Advanced Bundle:"


    - Increases task limit to 60.


    - Grants remote task eptance and submission within city limits.


    Orson winced at the cost. Still, the ability to remotelyplete tasks made the purchase worthwhile. He''d need to finish a mountain of tasks to level up his hunter rank.


    "Random King: "Damn it! All the D-rank tasks are gone! There were like twenty of them a second ago!"


    "Skytear''s Sorrow: "Who the hell is Boss Bai? What''s with hoarding all the tasks?"


    Nearby yers clustered around the bar, grumbling at the vanishing tasks. When they spotted Orson, they were baffled:


    "Is that an NPC? Since when do they act like total maniacs?"


    Ignoring theints, Orson methodically epted all avable tasks. Whether or not he couldplete them didn''t matter¡ªhe could rece unfinished tasks with new ones when they refreshed in two hours.


    ---


    "Bradley, how''s it going? Are you done yet?"


    Orson sent a private message to his struggling ally. Bradley''s level had dropped to 9 after hours of futile grinding.


    "Moneybags: "I''m gonna¡­ damn it! If I don''t yank that drunken bastard''s armpit hair tonight, I''ll eat my keyboard!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "¡­Harsh."


    Orson shook his head. Bradley was stubbornly attempting to clear the Saint de trial and had been defeated hundreds of times. His determination was both impressive and masochistic.


    "Finish it soon. I''ll help you grind levels afterward."


    Bradley didn''t reply, focusing instead on his endless cycle of defeat.


    ---


    With over an hour remaining until the monster invasion, Orson logged off for a quick break. After a shower and a feast of grilledmb skewers, he returned to the game.


    "Regional Announcement: yer ''ughter Spree'' has awakened the A-rank Hidden ss: Mad Demon Knight."


    "Rewards: 100 free attribute points, 40 skill points, 5,000 reputation, 50 gold!"


    ---


    The first A-rank Hidden ss had emerged, earning admiration from yers across the server.


    "Irond Healer: "Amazing! The first A-rank ss already?!"


    "Moneybags: "Damn! 500 gold as a celebration? ughter Spree is really flexing!"


    ---


    Orson remained unimpressed. He remembered ughter Spree as a core member of the ughter Guild. While the ss provided an early-game edge, ughter Spree''sckluster skills caused him to fade into obscurityter on.


    In Infinite Dimensions, the strength of a ss mattered less than the yer''s skill. Even the weakest E-rank sses could topple higher-tier ones in capable hands.


    ---


    Back in the outer slums, Orson climbed the defensive watchtower.


    "Boss Bai! If we don''t engage soon, we''re doomed!"


    The NPC soldiers were visibly panicked.


    "Hmm¡­ Now this is what I call a party."


    Orson sucked in a breath as he gazed at the monstrous horde. Thousands of creatures nketed the horizon, a sea of shadows surging forward.


    His scalp tingled. No wonder the mission allowed a 60-man raid. A six-yer team wouldn''t stand a chance against this onught.


    The horde was roughly two kilometers away¡ªjust beyond Orson''s current maximum range of 1,670 meters. Any hopes of whittling down the numbers before their approach were dashed.


    ---


    "Countdown: 60 seconds."


    "You have been grantedmand over the Outer City Guards."


    The mission''s prompt appeared.


    Orson surveyed the defending NPC soldiers. There were fewer than 30, most of them around level 15¡ªfar weaker than their inner-city counterparts.


    "Relying on them is as good as throwing bodies at the horde¡­"


    ---


    After some thought, Orson decided to improve his magic capabilities.


    "You have spent 9 skill points and 6 gold to level up your magic."


    "You have spent 12 skill points and 14 gold to reach Magic Level 10."


    "C-rank Fire Magic: [Touch of the me Serpent] has been enhanced!"


    "You have learned Fire Magic: [me Dragon]!"


    [me Dragon]


    - Effect 1: Consumes 600 MP to summon a fiery dragon. Each strike deals 400+ spell attack power andsts 15 seconds. Cooldown: 50 seconds.


    - Effect 2: Targets in contact with the me Dragon suffer 220 burn damage per second for 3 seconds.


    Orson''s face lit up. Spending so many resources had paid off¡ªthe skill had transformed into a powerhouse.


    Though ssified as C-rank, me Dragon rivaled even some B-rank AoE skills in power.


    ---


    With 25 skill points left, Orson upgraded [Earth Surge] and [Wind Whisperer] to level 5. These utility spells didn''t gain much offensive power but benefitted from reduced cooldowns.


    ---


    "Countdown over!"


    "The monster horde is advancing!"


    Orson''s expression hardened as the ground began to quake. The horde, a mass of writhing darkness, surged forward like an ominous tidal wave.

 Chapter 40 40: What a Kind Man

    Among the advancing monster horde, the fastest were the skeleton riders and several nimble magical beasts, numbering between two to three hundred.


    Orson quickly regained focus. These elite mobs all had HP exceeding 10,000. Sending the NPC soldiers to form a shield wall against them would be a futile effort¡ªat best, they''dst two or three turns before being trampled into paste.


    "Whisper of the Wind!"


    With the casting efficiency boost from Whisper of the Wind, Orson initiated a Level 5 Quaking Stone Spikes, but instead of targeting the monster cluster, he cast the spell 600 meters away from the city wall.


    Massive stone pirs erupted from the ground, manipted by Orson into forming over a dozen stone chevaux-de-frise¡ªan effective obstacle against cavalry.


    Everyone knows that whether it''s mounted cavalry or a reckless drunk driver, they all fear these things the most.


    Though they couldn''t directly damage the monsters, they significantly slowed their advance. Each stone barrier was two meters high, spaced three meters apart, forming a "no-go zone" for cavalry in the open field outside the city.


    This is the power of earth-element magic: though its offensive capabilitiesg behind, its versatility is unparalleled. In guild wars or defensive battles, a single earth-specialized Grand Mage can hold an entire frontline alone.


    Afterpleting the first defensive line, Orson didn''t attack immediately. He waited for the 1 minute and 45-second cooldown of Quaking Stone Spikes to finish.


    "Mount up, everyone! Ten on each nk! Corral the scattered monsters toward the chevaux-de-frise!"


    At Orson''smand, the NPC soldiers mounted their horses and rode out, granting him the rare privilege ofmanding NPC troops like a general.


    Most of the 20+ NPCs were infantry and archers. The inner city boasted the elite heavy cavalry, leaving only these lightly armored soldiers for the outskirts. Mounted, they gained no stat bonuses, but their light equipment made them faster than most monsters¡ªperfect for drawing aggro.


    After waiting over a minute, Orson erected a second row of chevaux-de-frise 500 meters from the wall.


    This time, the barriers were spaced closer together and formed a V-shape.


    With his sharp gaze, Orson anticipated the skeletal riders hitting the first set of barriers, causing a bottleneck for the following monsters. Ultimately, the horde would jam up in the V-shaped chevaux-de-frise, creating a ssic "pocket formation."


    True to his calctions, a cacophony of crashes erupted. Bone fragments flew in all directions as Orson observed.


    -3500


    -3500


    ...


    Over ten skeletal riders mmed into the barriers, shattering themselves and their skeletal steeds into pieces.


    As undead creatures, skeleton riderscked intelligence and blindly charged forward without evasion. Even reduced to a mangled state, they dragged their broken limbs onward.


    Under Orson''s orders, the NPC soldiers galloped around, drawing scattered monsters into a concentrated group again.


    Orson, leading the remaining 10 archers, approached the bottleneck. The archers lined up and readied their bows.


    As more monsters flooded into the pocket, Orson smirked. "Let''s test the new skill."


    A crimson six-pointed star red into existence, radiating heatwaves. The surrounding temperature rose sharply, and the air brimmed with fiery magic energy.


    Boom¡ª


    A massive ming dragon, over 20 meters long, coalesced in the air with a deafening roar.


    The me Dragon let out a menacing cry, its fiery form almost lifelike, as it unleashed dozens of fireballs into the horde.


    -1100


    -220


    -220


    ...


    "...This is a C-tier spell?"


    Even Orson doubted himself.


    The me Dragon released five waves of fireballs over its 15-second duration, dealing massive AOE damage. Though its single-target damage was modest, its area control rivaled some A-tier spells.


    -1530


    -1530


    ...


    The passive skill zing Burn triggered, finishing off numerous critically injured skeleton riders.


    In moments, the battlefield outside the city turned into a fiery hellscape. Dozens of monsters burned to ash, with hundreds more unable to advance past the barriers.


    If any stragglers escaped the pocket formation, the archers quickly finished them off.


    "You''ve in an elite skeleton rider. Experience +600."


    "You''ve in a magic ape. Experience +450."


    "You''ve in a goblin cavalry. Experience +430."


    ...


    Orson''s experience bar surged upward. Within minutes, his level 16 XP hit 15%. At this rate, he could level up in less than 30 minutes.


    Meanwhile, heaps of task items and monster materials filled his inventory.


    "Boss Bai is invincible!"


    "Boss Bai, hail the conquering hero!"


    The NPC soldiers cheered wildly, showering Orson with exaggerated praise. He epted it all with a smug grin, reveling in their sycophantic ttery.


    ---


    ### yers'' Perspective:


    "Where are my monsters?!"


    "Why are they running away?!"


    yers grinding mobs in the area were baffled as nearby monsters bolted en masse. No matter what attacks they used, the monsters ignored them, sprinting toward a single destination as if lured by a feast.


    yer A: "What''s going on? Every hit shows as Miss."


    yer B: "Let''s follow them. Maybe we''ve triggered an event."


    The yers followed the horde and were met with an astonishing sight:


    A sea of monsters, numbering in the thousands, swarmed toward the city wall. Amidst the chaos, a fiery dragon rampaged, leaving only ashes in its wake.


    "Oh my god! That''s a fire dragon!?"


    "A 10,000-HP elite monster goes down in seconds?! Is this the power of an NPC mage?"


    The yers stared, ck-jawed, as Boss Bai unleashed his overwhelming magic.


    "This NPC is too strong! What kind of hidden quest is tied to him?"


    A hopeful yer boldly approached Orson, stering on a fawning grin.


    "Oh great mage, is there any way I might assist you?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    But others quickly derided him:


    "Scrub, get lost! You''re level 13 with green gear¡ªwhat help could you possibly offer?"


    "I''m level 15 and a fire specialist! Pick me, mage, and I''ll prove my worth!"


    Suppressingughter, Orson continued casting, maintaining his aloof "NPC grandeur."


    "I hear rumors of a guild, Dragon''s Kiss Guild?" Orson said.


    The yers froze in shock.


    "The mage knows Dragon''s Kiss Guild?"


    Orson sneered. "Heard of them? Of course."


    His expression darkened. "The chaos outside the city, the innocent lives lost¡ªit''s all because of Dragon''s Kiss Guild and their heinous deeds."


    The yers blinked, puzzled. No such system announcements had urred.


    "You''re all here for quests, aren''t you?" Orson shifted the topic, struggling to stifle hisughter.


    "A quest! It''s real!" The yers were ted.


    Orson nodded sagely. "List ten crimes of Dragon''s Kiss Guild. Spread the word. Let all nations know their atrocities. Oncepleted, report to the inner city''s Guard Captain Wesley for your reward."


    The yers were dumbstruck. Was that...it?


    Still, they erupted into cheers.


    "Such a kind and benevolent mage!"

 Chapter 41 41: The Fox Clan Set

    Within minutes, the skeletal cavalry were reduced to heaps of shattered bones, and less than half of the original 1,000 monsters remained.


    The pace of the attacks began to slow, but Orson remained vignt. With a wave of his hand, another Quaking Stone Spikes erupted, reinforcing the pocket formation and extending the defensive line.


    A group of about 30 fox spirits, their bodies glowing faintly with mes, approached cautiously.


    Although their numbers were small, their stats far surpassed ordinary mobs, rivaling those of a standard Level 20 boss.


    What made them particrly troublesome was their cunning. Instead of recklessly charging forward like the skeletal riders, they broke formation and began targeting the NPC soldiers drawing aggro on the outskirts.


    Orson''s expression darkened. In a matter of seconds, three mounted NPC soldiers were dragged down, their horses overwhelmed. The surrounding monsters swarmed them, leaving nothing but carnage in their wake.


    ---


    [Sacred Fox Spirit]


    Level: 22


    HP: 35,000/35,000


    Attack: 300


    Skills: Heavy w Strike, Basic Fire Magic


    ---


    "These mobs are rare," Orson murmured. "If memory serves, they drop a 20-level mage set."


    He quicklymanded the NPC soldiers to retreat to avoid further losses.


    While the fox spirits demonstrated some intelligence, they were no match for Orson''s veteran cunning.


    Under the buff from Whisper of the Wind, Orson''s attack speed increased. His basic attacks interrupted the lead fox''s pursuit, followed by a barrage of fireballs that sent it flying.


    Suddenly, a crack of thunder split the air. An NPC soldier was struck by lightning, copsing into a state of forced paralysis, his body emitting faint smoke.


    Emerging from the ranks of the fox spirits was a majestic figure wreathed in sparks of electricity. Its piercing eyes locked onto Orson as it growled menacingly.


    ---


    [Sacred Fox King]


    Level: 22


    HP: 140,000/140,000


    Attack: 470


    Skills: Fire Thunder Curse, Heavy w Strike


    ---


    Just as Orson had predicted, this was a boss mob. Its stats and abilities rivaled those of an elite boss, particrly its Fire Thunder Curse¡ªa variant of fire magic leaning into lightning-based effects.


    In the game''s elemental system, each of the four major magic types had numerous specialized subsses, ranging from D-tier to A-tier in power.


    Lightning magic was one of the C/B-tier awakenings of fire magic, known for its devastating power and swift casting speed¡ªa formidable choice among ordinary awakened sses.


    Orson faced the snarling Sacred Fox King with a calm smile.


    The me Dragon materialized above the fox spirits with a deafening roar, unleashing a torrent of mes. Caught off guard, the Sacred Fox King was swept up by the fiery onught.


    Orson capitalized on the dragon''s knockback effect, chaining basic attacks into the stunned boss from over 200 meters away.


    ---


    Combo x10!


    Combo x30!


    ...


    ---


    Meanwhile, The me Dragon''s fireballs rained down, engulfing the fox spirits in waves of mes. Those attempting to break through toward Orson found themselves within range of the NPC archers, whose arrows reduced them to pincushions.


    ---


    "You''ve in a Sacred Fox Spirit. Experience +1000."


    "You''ve in a Sacred Fox¡­"


    "Your level has increased to 17."


    ---


    Orson grinned. The leveling efficiency was even better than he had anticipated.


    With this pace, even considering the steep XP curve after Level 20, he estimated he could reach Level 23 in 24 hours of grinding.


    ---


    -1640


    -1641


    ...


    ---


    The Sacred Fox King wailed as Orson''s relentless attacks,bined with his zing Burn passive, hammered away at its health. Suspended in mid-air, the boss never touched the ground again.


    ---


    "This is how the Mage King fights? An effortless Combo x182...what the hell?!"


    "Kneeling to the Mage King. I struggle tobo 10 hits on trash mobs, and he''s chainingbos like this."


    "Two thousand damage per second?! Insane."


    ---


    Nearby mage yers, awestruck by Orson''s disy, could only gape. Though convinced that Boss Bai was an elite NPC, watching him utterly dominate a boss like a child''s toy was still overwhelming.


    While infinitebos might seem miraculous to ordinary yers, in Hardcore Mode, they were a survival necessity.


    Regr bossescked escape abilities like Super Armor or Unstoppable Stance, allowing seasoned yers to chain hundreds, if not thousands, of hits with proper technique.


    ---


    "Holy crap, a hero-tier item dropped! And not just one!"


    "Looks like a mage robe and some other armor...can we grab it?"


    ---


    Before the spectators could react, the Sacred Fox King exploded in mid-air. Coins, materials, and equipment scattered in all directions.


    A dazzling purple light beamed upward, but before anyone could examine the loot, Orson swept it all into his inventory with a flick of his hand.


    ---


    [Fox n Robe]


    Quality: Heron/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Level: 20


    ss: Mage


    Defense: Physical/Magic Damage Reduction 20%


    HP: +300


    Effect: Regenerates 1% MP per second.


    3-Piece Set Bonus: Thunderp


    Effect: Increases Fire/Lightning Magic Crit Rate by 50% for 1 minute (Cooldown: 10 minutes).


    6-Piece Set Bonus: Reduces Thunderp cooldown to 7 minutes.


    ---


    Orson''s scalp tingled with excitement. In his past life, the Fox n mage set was one of the strongest hero-tier mage sets at Level 20.


    With its 6-piece bonus skill Thunderp, it was the pinnacle of burst damage, unrivaled by even legendary sets.


    The robe''s baseline stats were equally exceptional. Its percentage-based defense bonuses were critical for a fragile mage, and the MP regeneration made it perfect for Orson''s mana-heavy build.


    With 17,500 MP, the robe''s 1% regeneration restored 175 MP per second¡ªenough to make him a perpetual spell-casting machine.


    He moved on to inspect the second hero-tier drop from the mobs.


    ---


    [Fox n Ring (Left Hand)]


    Quality: Hero


    Level: 20


    ss: Mage


    Effect 1: +5% Crit Rate


    Effect 2: +0.2 Attack Speed


    3-Piece Set Bonus: Quickstep


    Effect: Reduces cooldowns by 10%.


    6-Piece Set Bonus: Reduces cooldowns by 20%.


    ---


    "Perfect," Orson smirked.


    essories were often minor upgrades to stats but could create significant disparities between yers. Due to their rarity, many yers reached Level 30 withoutpleting a full set of essories.


    ted by his haul, Orson resumed his grind.


    As the monster waves began to thin out, nearly 2,000 creatures had fallen within an hour.


    ---


    "Congrattions! You have defended against the first wave of monsters."


    "Rewards: Experience +20,000, Skill Points +5, Attribute Points +5, Gold +2."


    "Stay alert! The monsters will return in 10 minutes!"


    ---


    Orson rxed slightly, surveying the battlefield littered with loot.


    Suppressing a grin to maintain Boss Bai''s dignified image, he began cleaning up the spoils.


    ---


    "You''ve obtained 27.5 Gold."


    "You''ve obtained 53 Green-Quality Items."


    "You''ve obtained 15 Blue-Quality Items."


    "You''ve obtained 2 Purple-Quality Items."


    "You''ve obtained 12 Skill Books."

 Chapter 42 42: Accidental Fame

    "You have learned the C-rank water magic [Chaotic Tides]."


    "You have learned the D-rank fire magic [Explosive Fireball]."


    ...


    Among the dropped skill books, four were for mages. Though their quality wasn''t high, Orson learned them anyway.


    Now, he had all four elemental magics covered. The only regret was that high-quality magic books were exceedingly rare. Among them, only the C-rank water magic [Chaotic Tides] seemed somewhat useful:


    Effect: Consumes 200 MP to create a chaotic water zone. Monsters within the area lose their sense of friend or foe for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 45 seconds.


    It was a typical PvE crowd-control skill. The description sounded impressive, but it had no effect on NPCs or yers.


    Since he had already learned it, Orson didn''t care. After all, he had plenty of money and plenty of monsters to farm.


    Thanks to the [Orc Heretic] title, which added a 10% bonus to drop rates, Orson was reaping insane rewards. Other yers could only dream of such a haul.


    Even with a base drop rate of just 1%, the sheer number of monsters Orson was killing guaranteed frequent rewards. A purple-tier greatsword for knights and a warrior''s armor piece had even dropped thanks to the enhanced drop rate.


    His [Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye] had already reached 20,000 proficiency points¡ªand that was just the beginning.


    Orson noticed that the monsters were growing stronger with each wave. During the brief lull between attacks, he raised another row of stone barricades.


    In total, he now had twelve defensive lines encircling the outer city.


    "I can''t afford to take risks," he muttered. His Sin Value was still above 9,000. If he were killed, all his gear and money would drop.


    After meditating to restore his state, Orson prepared for the next wave.


    ---


    Meanwhile, the world chat was anything but peaceful.


    World Announcement:


    "yer Usher wields a divine weapon, unmatched and peerless! Ranking 1 on the Divine Weapon Leaderboard!"


    "The first owner of a Legendary weapon is rewarded: 2 talent points, 20 skill points, 30 free attribute points, and 50 gold!"


    The announcement left yers across the server stunned.


    Orson opened his eyes from meditation, muttering, "Just like in my past life¡­"


    Dragon''s Kiss Guild Nobleman: "Congrattions to the boss for crafting a divine weapon! Celebrate!"


    Thornwalker: "A Level 15 Legendary bow¡­ Rich people sure have it good. Probably cost tens of millions."


    Backtracker: "Usher''s being ridiculous. A Level 15 weapon? Why waste that much money on something so short-lived?"


    Curious, Orson opened the Weapon Leaderboard:


    Rank 1: Usher


    Weapon: [Golden Wing Bow]


    Quality: Legendary


    Attack: 400


    Crit Rate: 20%


    Effects: ??


    Besides its basic stats, the weapon''s awakened effects were hidden¡ªa safeguard to protect yers'' strategic secrets.


    Still, its raw stats alone outssed Level 20 purple-tier gear. A 20% crit rate boost was absurd.


    But Orson knew its true power didn''t lie in those stats alone.


    In his past life, he had seen this bow''s full attributes posted on the forums:


    The [Golden Wing Bow] ignored physical resistance, extended range, and granted a triple-split arrow effect¡ªan incredibly powerful weapon.


    In the uing Guild Base War, Usher had wielded this bow to devastating effect, single-handedly killing over 600 yers and iming the top spot on the Kill Leaderboard.


    That battle had cemented Usher''s meteoric rise. He became known as Infinite Dimensions'' top archer, and the [Dragon''s Kiss Guild]''s fame skyrocketed.


    New yers entering the game often set their sights on joining Dragon''s Kiss Guild.


    The first Guild Base War was not just a battle for resources¡ªit was a war of reputation. Winning it would define a guild''s standing for years toe.


    Usher posted a server-wide announcement:


    Usher: "A heartfelt thanks to my guildmates and the farming crews for their support. Without you giving up precious leveling time, this bow could never have been forged¡­"


    Many guild leaders read this with scorn but remained silent. Usher''s dominance was frustrating, but there was little they could do.


    Despite his losses to Orson, Usher''s guild was growing stronger. Most believed a single yer, no matter how skilled, couldn''t stand against a top-tier guild backed by financial titans.


    ---


    Suddenly, a new voice broke the server''s solemnity:


    Harley''s Legend: "Ahem. Pardon me for interrupting the great one''s speech."


    Nothing Special: "Yeah, yeah, stop pretending. Doesn''t everyone know about Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s dirty tricks?"


    More "unpleasant" voices began filling the chat.


    yer A: "What''s this about NPCs being fed up with Dragon''s Kiss Guild?"


    yer B: "Wait, are they serious?"


    In a distant inn, the ughter Guild''s leader, Demon Emperor, was drinking with his officers. They were discussing strategies to counter Dragon''s Kiss Guild in the uing war.


    ughter Guild was a powerhouse in its own right and had no intention of letting Dragon''s Kiss Guild dominate.


    Soon, usations against Dragon''s Kiss Guild flooded the world chat:


    Harley''s Legend: "Crime 1: My niece, a high school freshman, was ecstatic to finally defeat a goblin. Do you know how much it meant to her?"


    Heavy Truck Driver: "Spill the tea! I love drama!"


    Harley''s Legend: "Dragon''s Kiss Guild members stomped in, killed the goblin, and stole every spawn in the area. My niece was heartbroken!"


    Other yers quickly chimed in:


    Little Demon: "Totally rtable! My squad can''t even y after work because Dragon''s Kiss Guild hogs every spawn point!"


    Harley''s Legend wasn''t done:


    "Crime 2: A friend of mine was happily ying with his girlfriend. A Dragon''s Kiss Guild officer stole her away with a single green-tier item. My friend''s love? Shattered!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Crime 3: I once tried to sell health supplements to Dragon''s Kiss Guild members. They called me shady. Selling legitimate goods is now shady? Pure discrimination!"


    The absurd yet hrious usations struck a chord with yers.


    Soon, creative storytellers joined in, drafting lengthy lists of grievances.


    The topics ranged from environmental destruction (littering after monster kills) to scandalous affairs involving guild officers.


    Screenshots flooded the official forums, sparking a wildfire of outrage.


    ---


    Orson, still farming monsters, burst intoughter. The oundish stories nearly made him lose focus.


    Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s already fragile reputation was now in freefall.


    Harley''s Legend: "Hahaha! Easy task rewards for shouting in chat. Too good!"


    Harley''s group gleefully headed to the inner city to im their rewards.


    Just as they reached the gates, their mailboxes chimed.


    "Task Reward: You''ve received an anonymous donation of 5 gold."


    "WHAT?! Five gold? That''s 5,000 real bucks!"


    "Me too! I got it!"

 Chapter 43 43: Long Reach, Ruthless Strikes

    In the previous timeline, Dragon''s Kiss Guild had a terrible reputation. Countless yers who suffered under their dominance bore a deep grudge against them.


    This was primarily because the guild''s overwhelming strength and ruthless tactics crushed small guilds and independent yers alike, leaving no room forpetition.


    However, the present situation was different. Dragon''s Kiss Guild hadn''t even begun flexing their full might in Infinite Dimensions, yet their public image had already taken a nosedive.


    It was a scenario that neither Usher nor the guild''s leadership had foreseen.


    ---


    Cracks in the Dragon''s Armor


    "Stop insulting me, okay? I''ll quit the guild¡ªis that enough?"


    The regional broadcast red a message from a well-known warrior named Wild Gale, causing a stir among the yer base.


    Wild Gale wasn''t just any yer¡ªhe was a skilled strategist and frequent forum poster with considerable influence in themunity.


    For such a prominent figure to publicly quit Dragon''s Kiss Guild sent a clear signal: the guild was far from united.


    Other high-level yers in the guild weren''t blind either. While following Usher promised rewards, not everyone had the patience to endure the constant verbal abuse from other yers.


    One after another, affluent yers began leaving the guild, forcing Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s leadership to hold an emergency meeting offline.


    ---


    Usher''s Calcted Calm


    "Fair-weather yers? Let them go. What I need are genuine elites," Usher dered, his tone calm despite the situation.


    His newfound confidence stemmed from acquiring a legendary weapon. To him, the exodus of unreliable members was a blessing in disguise.


    "What do we do now? Recruitment has be a nightmare," Ivy, one of the guild officers, asked with a frown. The viral forum thread had made her job exponentially harder.


    "My suggestion is simple: do nothing. No responses, no actions," Usher replied.


    "But why? All we did was aggressivelypete for mobs¡ªit''s not like wemitted atrocities," Ivy argued.


    "Exactly. Let them stir up trouble for a while. When the guild war begins, those clowns will reveal their true colors," said Skysher, another officer.


    Usher nodded with a faint smile. He firmly believed in humanity''s inherent admiration for strength.


    As long as Dragon''s Kiss Guild maintained their dominance, the loyalty and admiration they lost would eventually return.


    The uing Guild Stronghold War would be the perfect stage to prove their might.


    ---


    A Target on Orson''s Back


    "Did you find his address?" Usher suddenly asked, shifting the topic.


    "Yes! You won''t believe it¡ªour so-called Triple Crown Champion lives in the poorest slum!" the investigator sneered.


    Hearing this, Usher''s smile turned cold. "Pay him a visit. Let''s have a proper ''conversation.''"


    "Understood. We''ll stop by tomorrow at thetest."


    ---


    Orson''s Grinding Frenzy


    Unaware of the storm brewing, Orson remained fully engrossed in his grinding marathon.


    After eight hours of relentless farming, he climbed from outside the top 30 on the level leaderboard to the top three.


    "What the hell? I slept for one night, and Orgod jumped to Level 21? Four levels in one go?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    yers tracking the leaderboard noticed something unusual. Every few minutes, Orgod''s experience bar visibly surged upward.


    ---


    Orson pressed on, grinding through the night and into the next day.


    After ten more hours, he hadpleted eighteen waves of monsters, killing over 20,000 in total.


    ---


    Soul Seal Progress


    [Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye]: Super God-grade


    - Passive 1: For every 10 monsters killed, increase attack range by 1 meter. (Intermediate cap: 4247/5000 meters)


    - Passive 2: For every 1 monster killed, increase MP by 1. (Intermediate cap: 42470/50000 MP)


    ---


    Thanks to his soul seal''s extraordinary effects, Orson''s passive damage from zing Burn now exceeded 4,000 per second.


    Even against high-level elite monsters, his passive alone was enough to destroy them.


    The loot from his grinding spree was just as impressive:


    "You have obtained 63.3 gold coins."


    "You have obtained 82 green items."


    ---


    The Fox n Set


    Among the spoils, Orson had nearlypleted the Fox n Mage Set,cking only two earrings to finish it.


    ---


    Character Status


    Name: Orgod


    Race: Human


    Level: 23


    Magic Attack: 390 (using a beginner''s staff)


    HP: 1300/1300


    MP: 39,500/42,470


    Attack Speed: 1.1


    Agility: 33


    Defense: 170 / 20% damage reduction


    Critical Rate: 12%


    Attack Range: 4,249 meters


    Unused Free Attribute Points: 140


    Unused Skill Points: 190


    ---


    Dressed in his newly acquired Fox n Set, Orson admired his stats. Even without a weapon buff, his attributes were absurdly overpowered.


    "What would happen if Iunched a random attack into the sky?" he mused, pondering the absurd range of 4.3 kilometers.


    For now, he left his free points unallocated, nning to save them for his ss Awakening Quest when the time came.


    ---


    Auction Madness


    While chatting with Bradley, Orson casually listed a full Wanderer Set, a six-piece legendary archer set, on the auction house.


    Starting Bid: 1 Gold


    Duration: 30 minutes


    The archer''s set prioritized cooldown reduction and critical damage, with a set effect allowing two skills to reset their cooldowns. Though not revolutionary, it was still a coveted piece of gear.


    ---


    Within seconds, the auction caused an uproar.


    ---


    "A legendary archer set for 1 gold? Am I dreaming?"


    "Holy crap, it''s Orgod''s gear! He''s a beast!"


    Even high-profile guilds took notice.


    ---


    "Boss, check the auction house!" ughter Guild''s core member Spree alerted their leader, Demon Emperor.


    When Demon Emperor saw the set, he nearly drooled.


    "Buy it. No matter the cost, get me that Wanderer Set!" he ordered.


    ---


    As the bidding war intensified, the price skyrocketed to 3,000 gold within minutes.


    ---


    "Contact Orgod. Tell him our guild will buy all Level 20+ gear he sells in the future!"


    Ignoring the flood of private messages, Orson smiled knowingly.


    ---


    He had six hours left to farm and was confident he could collect enough drops to sell multipleplete legendary sets.


    He understood the strategic value of these high-tier items, especially with the Guild Stronghold War approaching. Equipping top yers with legendary gear could tip the scales of the battle.


    For this reason, Orson had already chosen his buyers.

 Chapter 44 44: Godslayer

    ShatteredCrown: "Holy crap! Dear Master, why didn''t you tell me there was something this good on sale?"


    Orson sighed with a wry smile. "I knew you''d ask. I saved a knight''s set for you. Put it on your sweetheart, and she''ll be invincible."


    ShatteredCrown: "Hehe, Master, you understand me so well!"


    Orson felt a chill and said, "The Wanderer Set went for a mountain of gold. I''ll give you the knight''s set at half price."


    ShatteredCrown: "Love you, mwah mwah¡­"


    Orson: "Scram."


    Just then, a message popped up from Bradley.


    Bradley: "Damn it, just look at my level now!"


    Bradley''s voice came through like he''d swallowed a bomb.


    Orson opened his friends list, blinked, and asked, "Level 3? Are you trying to let that Holy Sword Saint kill you until you hit zero?"


    Bradley: "Don''t bother me. I can still die 20 more times, and I swear I''ll seize myst chance! I''m gonna keep¡­ no, I''m gonna destroy him!"


    Bradley''s shouting devolved into gibberish. Orson scratched his head, suspecting Bradley was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.


    "Alright, fine. Let me lend you a hand."


    Orson casually lobbed a [Explosive Fireball] into a cluster of trolls. The fiery orb detonated like a miniature sun.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    -1233!


    Critical hit: -2466!


    -4130!


    ¡­


    This magic was essentially an upgraded [Burst Fireball]: short cooldown, high damage, but with a slow trajectory, making it easy for agile targets to dodge.


    Bradley: "No amount of help can fix this! You have no idea how insane that old dog is!"


    Bradley was gearing up for another rant when he suddenly froze. His inbox had just filled with rows of skill books:


    - C-rank Battle Skill: Wind Thunder Step


    - B-rank Battle Skill: Endless sh


    - D-rank Battle Skill: Flying Dragon Strike


    ¡­


    A total of 21 skill books.


    Among them was a B-rank warrior skill, worth its weight in gold. Currently, the auction house had only eight such books listed, each selling for over 400 gold coins¡ªroughly $40,000 each in real-world money!


    Bradley gawked at the sheer fortune sitting in his inventory.


    Unable to contain himself, he logged off and started a video call with Orson.


    "Dude¡­ are you seriously just giving me a B-rank skill book? Let me ask you again¡ªare you cheating?"


    Bradley was hunched in a restroom stall, whispering like a secret agent in a spy movie.


    "Of course not!" Orson rolled his eyes. "I got it from farming monsters. Total RNG."


    Bradley still looked unconvinced. "What level monsters drop this kind of stuff?"


    "About 25-level elite bosses, like the Dark Knight Commander. It had over 700k HP; I spent ages killing it. Don''t want it? Send it back."


    "I''ll keep it, dammit!" Bradley yelled. "You absolute monster!"


    Without another word, he hung up.


    Orson was left dumbfounded. "What''s his problem? I give him free loot, and he yells at me?"


    ---


    The real challenge in Bradley''s S-rank Awakening Quest wasn''t the mechanics or damage requirements. The goal was simply to injure the Holy Sword Saint, no matter how minor the damage.


    The problem? Bradley''s limited skills and low level left him with few options beyond basic attacks. Against an opponent like the legendary Saint of the Holy Dragon Empire, who had morebat experience than Bradley could fathom, this was an uphill battle.


    The skill books Orson had sent were a lifeline. Whether Bradley seeded would ultimately depend on his own determination.


    ---


    After clearing another wave of monsters, Orson submitted a batch of bounty hunter quests.


    "You havepleted the C-rank quest: y 50 Nether Twin-Headed Crocodiles."


    "Reward: +3 Free Points, +4 Skill Points, 30 Silver Coins, +4000 XP."


    "You havepleted the D-rank quest: Collect 30 Skeleton Archer Badges."


    ¡­


    Although the attribute gains from low-level quests were minimal, every bit added up.


    Orson''s Hunter Rank advanced from ck Iron to Bronze, unlocking ess to C-rank quests.


    Normally, such a progression would require weeks of grinding, including tracking down rare quest monsters. But thanks to the diverse waves of enemies in his current mission, Orson waspleting multiple quests in a single session.


    Over 10 hours, Orson finished 65 quests, earning:


    - +130 Free Points


    - +154 Skill Points


    Including the mission rewards for each monster wave, his total gains were staggering.


    Yet Orson still wasn''t satisfied. He needed even more points to meet the requirements for the hidden Four-Element Mage quest.


    ---


    "Breaking news! Demon Emperor just spent 13,000 gold on the Wanderer Set!"


    "Thirteen million dors on gear? Demon Emperor''s wealth rivals Usher''s!"


    The auction for the [Wanderer Set] had concluded.


    ---


    Orson opened his mailbox to find a notification.


    The sound of coins clinking filled the air as he received 11,700 gold, post-transaction fees.


    "Holy¡­ that''s a lot of money," Orson muttered, momentarily overwhelmed.


    For top guilds like ughter, such spending was routine. For Orson, it was surreal. With the [Orc Heretic] title boosting his drop rates, he had farmed the set in just a few hours¡ªa feat that would take others months of coordinated grinding.


    ---


    The value of his loot wasn''t limited to gold coins. His inventory included:


    - Over 1,000 green-tier items for Level 15¨C25 yers, which could sell for about 30 silver each (totaling 300 gold).


    - 300 blue-tier items, priced at 10¨C20 gold each, ideal for arming elite guild yers.


    These items were worth far more than their individual prices¡ªthey could tip the scales of the uing Guild Base War.


    ---


    Satisfied, Orson turned his attention to a different goal. He opened the in-game store and selected [Guild Base War Slot].


    "You are about to spend 5,000 gold. Confirm?"


    Taking a deep breath, Orson clicked Confirm.


    "You have obtained a Guild Token. Please name your guild."


    Orson paused briefly, then said, "Godyer."


    Not Demon yer, but Godyer.


    A fierce gleam shed in his eyes. Orson knew the truth¡ªhumanity was nothing but a weapon forged by the gods, mere pawns in a celestial game.


    The gods themselves were the architects of the apocalypse.


    Gods or demons, it didn''t matter. As long as Orson lived, he vowed to y everyst one of them.

 Chapter 45 45: Recruitment for Godslayer

    "Server Announcement: Congrattions! yer Orgod has established the guild [Godyer] and secured a Guild War slot!"


    The server exploded in chatter. Though announcements of guild creation had bemonce since the gameunched, this one was different.


    "Orgod?!"


    "The King Family offered him a 200-million sry, and he turned it down just to create his own guild?!"


    "This is huge! Dragon''s Kiss Guild, SSR, ughter¡ªlooks like they''ve got some seriouspetition now!"


    yers couldn''t believe it. The once-disgraced Three-Time Champion, mocked for his supposed involvement in match-fixing, had made an unprecedentedeback in Infinite Dimensions.


    In just days, he had single-handedly disrupted the ns of Dragon''s Kiss Guild and SSR, defeated Usher multiple times, and now¡ªthis.


    "He turned down 200 million... Orgod must really mean business this time!"


    ---


    ShatteredCrown: "No need to say more¡ªsupporting my master with a little giveaway!"


    Ever the charismatic opportunist, ShatteredCrown celebrated his master''s new guild by dropping three massive 777-gold giveaways on the world chat.


    Empress of the Moon: "Congrats, Orgod! Can''t wait for our next coboration!"


    ughterDemon Emperor: "Looking forward to shing with you in the Guild Wars!"


    The gesture set off a wave of congrattions from prominent yers. The ensuing storm of red envelopes left the server''s yers scrambling for gold like it was Christmas morning.


    Orson noticed the name ughterDemon Emperor and raised an eyebrow. "A battle maniac, huh?"


    He recalled that the ughter guild leader, a real-world CEO, was notorious for his obsession withbat. His S-rank Thunder de Archer had once caused no end of headaches for rival guilds. Despite Orson ignoring ughter''s earlier private messages, the man showed no ill will¡ªa rare quality.


    ---


    Soon, Orson''s guild received an avnche of membership applications.


    "yer Purple Sword, Level 17, Warrior, has applied to join the guild."


    "yer Snow Demon, Level 16, ss: ¡­"


    Over 300 applications poured in at once, spurred by the allure of Orson''s reputation.


    Orson shook his head and disabled the application system.


    "Quality over quantity."


    At the Iron Rank, a guild could only host up to 300 members. Allocating spots wisely betweenbat and lifestyle yers was crucial. Any oversight¡ªlike allowing spies from other guilds¡ªcould jeopardize their chances in the Guild Wars.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ---


    "You''ve invited yer Money Traveler to join the guild."


    "You''ve invited yer Madman to join the guild."


    "You''ve invited yer Wild Gale to join the guild."


    ---


    Bradley: "I''m Level 2, Orson. Are you really going to let me drag the guild down?"


    Madman: "Dude, where''s all this moneying from? Did you find yourself a sugar momma? Why don''t I have that luck!"


    Wild Gale: "...?"


    Despite their protests, both Bradley and Madman quickly epted their invitations.


    For Orson, these two were irreceable. Bradley was his loyal brother-in-arms, while Madman was a crafty strategist with military school credentials. Above all, they were trustworthy.


    ---


    Orson''s third invite went to Wild Gale, a former Dragon''s Kiss Guild member and a prominent battle forum contributor.


    In his past life, Wild Gale had never made a name for himself in rankings. His B-rank Awakening and averagebat performance left him unremarkable. However, he possessed a unique strength: knowledge.


    Wild Gale''s guide, "Comprehensive ss Counter Strategies," was a must-read for new yers in Infinite Dimensions. Spanning over 50,000 words, the guide dissected every ss''s strengths and weaknesses.


    While most yers relied on brute force, Wild Gale''s tactical insights could elevate Godyer''sbat proficiency.


    ---


    Wild Gale: "You know I was in Dragon''s Kiss Guild. Are you sure you trust me?"


    Orson replied with a smile. "I''m not sure yet. But I trust your theories."


    Wild Gale hesitated. His inbox was flooded with messages from his former guildmates, using him of being a traitor. Their scorn left him disillusioned.


    Wild Gale: "I don''t care about farming gear. If you gear me up, I''ll join."


    Orson chuckled and sent over a 20-level premium warrior set, worth over 100 gold.


    Stunned by Orson''s generosity, Wild Gale immediately epted the invite.


    ---


    With recruitment underway, Orson returned to farming monsters.


    The countdown to the Guild Wars stood at just over a day. Most yers were racing to hit Level 20, where ss Awakening and new gear unlocked a significant power boost.


    ---


    Three hours before the end of his defense mission, Bradley suddenly sent Orson a frantic voice call.


    Bradley: "I DID IT! Orson, check the announcement! I''m officially the Sword God!"


    ---


    "Server Announcement: Incredible! yer Money Traveler haspleted the S-rank hidden quest: [Forged in Fire]!"


    "Reward: S-rank hidden ss: Light-Dark Sword Saint!"


    "Bonus: +100 Free Points, +120 Skill Points, +10 Talent Points, +150 Gold!"


    ---


    The server erupted.


    yer A: "What?! A Level 1 yer awakened an S-rank ss?!"


    yer B: "Where did he find this quest? I''ll pay 50 gold for the info!"


    Dragon''s Kiss Guild Swordsman: "Are you kidding me? I''m in the top 50 and fully geared, but this noob gets an S-rank ss?!"


    ---


    Money Traveler: "Rx, everyone. I''m just that skilled. Go to bed; you''re embarrassing yourselves."


    Orson burst intoughter as Bradley reveled in the attention.


    Money Traveler: "Listen up! Remember the name Money Traveler! And to all the recruiters out there¡ªdon''t bother. I''m already the deputy of [Godyer]!"


    Bradley''s overconfidence left yers fuming.


    ---


    Orson: "Stop flexing and join my dungeon run. We''ve got three hours to get you to Level 20."


    Bradley: "Three hours? Are you serious?"


    Orson: "What else? Look at my level."


    Bradley: "Level 24, 90%? What the hell? Are you leveling with pig feed?"


    Orson: "Shut up ande over."


    ---


    Ten minutester, a shirtless Level 1 Bradley arrived. His mismatched appearance left Orson speechless.


    "Where are you looking? I''m standing right in front of you!" Orson sighed.


    Bradley: "Boss Bai? An NPC? Wait¡­ you''re not cheating. You''re a dev, aren''t you?!"


    Orson: "I''m your dad!"


    Smacking Bradley on the head for a critical -99, Orson nearly sent him back to the respawn point.


    ---


    Bradley: "Wait, let me test my new skill first."


    Summoning a sh of light in his palm, Bradley conjured the Holy Light Sword¡ªa weapon once wielded by the legendary Saint of Swords.


    But as Orson watched, the sword fizzled out after just a few inches.


    "Damn, my mana''s too low. It''s... a bit short," Bradley muttered awkwardly.


    Orson''s mouth twitched. cing a hand on his shoulder, he said, "With a sword that short, let''s keep it sheathed for now."

 Chapter 46 46: An Offline Duel?

    "Oh wow! Leveling speed''s insane!"


    Bradley, lounging nearby and leeching XP, leveled up as though he were strapped to a rocket. Early on, every few elite monsters earned him a full level. By the time thest waves of monsters were cleared, he had climbed to Level 19, just shy of the Level 20 milestone.


    "Broke. Absolutely broke. A Level 25 elite boss, and all I get is trash."


    As the final elite boss fell, Orson checked the loot. There were no brilliant purple beams signaling legendary items¡ªjust a few unimpressive blue-tier gear pieces.


    "You''ve obtained 5 gold."


    "You''ve obtained a dungeon quest scroll: [Dragon Maiden]."


    "Wait, an Abyss-level dungeon lead?"


    Orson paused, intrigued. He opened his inventory to examine the scroll.


    [Lost Kingdom of the Frost Dragon]: Travel to the outskirts of Purple Thunder Fortress to search for the maiden. Danger awaits at every turn. The gods will pray for your survival¡ªgood luck!


    A quest marker appeared on his map, pinpointing Purple Thunder Fortress, the second major yer hub. Located far from Pondenorlin City, it was surrounded by significantly stronger monsters.


    Some yers, eager to advance the main storyline, had already braved the journey to unlock the teleport node for future convenience.


    "An Abyss-level dungeon¡­ now this is interesting."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Abyss-level content was notorious. Even Legendary difficulty was grueling, but Abyss was the stuff of nightmares. In his previous life, it took six months and a team of professionals to conquer the first Abyss dungeon.


    But as daunting as the difficulty was, so too were the rewards¡ªlegendary gear, A-tier skill books, and beyond.


    ---


    With the 24-hour defense missionplete, Orson and Bradley were returned to a normal instance of the map. The surrounding NPC soldiers and altered terrain vanished, resetting to their default states.


    ---


    "Server Announcement: yer Orgod has achieved the impossible, defending Pondenorlin''s outer city against a relentless monster siege!"


    "First Clear Achievement: Legendary Dungeon [City Siege Defense]!"


    "Reward: 100,000 XP, 30 skill points, 25 free attribute points, 30 gold, 20,000 reputation!"


    ---


    The announcement stunned the server into a momentary silence.


    "So that''s how he got a full archer set¡ªthis was a Legendary dungeon!"


    "Phew¡­ at least it didn''t say it was a solo clear. That would''ve been terrifying."


    yers let out sighs of relief, reassuring themselves. Orgod, after all, was a seasoned professional with strong allies. It was only natural he could clear a Legendary dungeon.


    Little did they know that Orson''s only teammate was Bradley, who had contributed nothing but fiddling with his new ss skills.


    ---


    Bradley: "What''s with theck of monsters?"


    He twirled his dual swords, ncing around in confusion.


    Orson: "You idiot, the mission''s over. You''ve been AFK leeching XP this whole time!"


    Bradley scratched his head sheepishly, thenughed. "Time to grind to Level 20. Once I''m there, I''ll be unstoppable!"


    Orson chuckled but remained silent. The Light-Dark Sword Saint ss was undoubtedly strong, but it required meticulous practice. Its signature dual-wielding mechanics came with steep learning curves, and ditching a shield for offense made mistakes far more punishing.


    ---


    Orson: "By the way, how did you even pass your trial? It sounded like you were seconds away from quitting."


    Bradley smirked. "Easy! Money Traveler''s a genius."


    Orson raised an eyebrow, expecting some shy skillbo or a stroke of luck. Instead, he got¡­


    Bradley had noticed that his trial NPC, Iceheart, was a notorious alcoholic. When all else failed, Bradley bought a wagon of strong liquor for 10 gold and offered it to him.


    Once Iceheart was drunk beyond coherence, Bradley challenged him to a duel. Sure enough, the drunken saint made a critical error, allowing Bradley to score the single point of damage required to pass the trial.


    ---


    Orson was dumbfounded. "I''ll give it to you¡ªyou''re learning how this game works."


    ---


    He tossed a full Level 20 [Bloodthirsty Centurion] Warrior Set to Bradley.


    Bradley: "Damn, Orson, you''re living the dream. I''ming to get you tomorrow. Let''s move you out of that dump into a proper guild base."


    Orson nodded; the idea had been on his mind. With his newfound wealth, there was no reason to remain in his run-down apartment. His outdated gaming podcked proper support for long sessions, and a guild headquarters would make coboration easier.


    ---


    Logging out, Orson climbed out of his pod, exhausted but satisfied. His body felt fine, but the mental strain of extended grinding was no joke.


    At 10 p.m., he checked in with his sister via text. Learning that a team of specialists had been assigned to her case reassured him. "Charles, you bastard," he muttered. "Your morals suck, but I can''t deny your efficiency."


    As he made himself instant noodles, Orson mused, "Only I would eat this stuff while holding tens of millions in gold."


    It was a simple indulgence. In the post-apocalyptic future, food options were dire, and instant noodles were a rare treat.


    "Incredible how much progress I''ve made in just a few days."


    From SSR to Dragon''s Kiss Guild, from the gods to the demonic factions¡ªOrson''s enemies were lining up.


    "Let''s see whoes out on top."


    ---


    Lighting a cigarette, Orson stepped onto the balcony to enjoy the rare peace of the night. In three years, this world would change forever. For now, he savored the fleeting calm.


    ---


    Knock. Knock. Knock.


    The sudden noise jarred him. "At this hour?"


    His instincts red. Keeping still, he peered through the peephole.


    The knocking grew louder.


    "Orson, open up. We need to talk."


    The voice outside was impatient, but Orson remained silent.


    "Don''t y dumb. Your meter''s running¡ªwe know you''re home."


    Finally, Orson replied calmly, "Hold on. I''ming."


    ---


    Opening the door, Orson found himself facing three men and one woman. The men were imposing, their faces hard and unfriendly.


    The woman, dressed in a leather jacket and exuding authority, stepped forward. "Gabrielle, legal counsel for the DK Corporation."


    Orson''s expression remained neutral.


    "What? Not inviting us in?" Gabrielle smirked.


    "Of course. Come in."


    Orson gestured toward the dimly lit living room, though his eyes never left the three men. One stood by the door, another blocked the hallway, and the third loomed behind him.


    ---


    Gabrielle: "You should know who we are."


    Orson: "Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s backers. Am I right?"


    Gabrielle chuckled. "Smart. Let''s get to the point. You have three choices."


    She ced a stack of documents on the table, her tone cold.


    ---


    Gabrielle: "First, join Dragon''s Kiss Guild as vice-president for an annual sry of 500 million."


    Gabrielle: "Second, ept a one-time buyout of 1 billion and delete your ount."


    ---


    As Orson slurped his noodles, Gabrielle''s eyes shed with irritation.


    "And third?" Orson asked nonchntly.


    Gabrielle: "Third, your match-fixing scandal resurfaces, this time with irrefutable evidence. You''ll spend the next decade behind bars."


    Her smile turned predatory.

 Chapter 47 47: A Good Death?

    Orson ignored Gabrielle and her threats, keeping his focus on slurping his noodles.


    DK Group''s power made framing him a trivial matter. They had crushed his reputation before; this time, Usher wanted him in jail. The essence of the strategy hadn''t changed.


    But Orson was sick of their games. He had suffered enough in his past life¡ªthis time, he wouldn''t let himself be bullied so easily.


    Gabrielle smirked, breaking his train of thought.


    "Orson, you''re a big deal in Infinite Dimensions, I''ll give you that. If it weren''t for the young master''s goodwill, you wouldn''t even have the privilege of sitting here negotiating with me."


    Orson tilted his head mockingly. "Oh? How noble of you."


    One of the bodyguards behind Gabrielle scowled and stepped forward, clearly intending to teach the disrespectful young man a lesson.


    Gabrielle raised her hand, signaling for restraint. Her smile remained unshaken.


    "Make your choice."


    Orson finished his broth, stood, and threw the empty container into the trash.


    "Vice President of Dragon''s Kiss Guild? Pass. Doesn''t interest me."


    "What about ten billion for a buyout?"


    He scoffed. "Not tempting enough."


    ---


    "Then what will it be?"


    Gabrielle''s tone darkened as she drummed her fingers on the stack of papers.


    "You may not care about yourself, but shouldn''t you at least think about your sister? A terminally ill girl, isn''t she? Scheduled for surgery next month, if I recall correctly."


    ---


    Orson froze. A sh of murderous intent flickered in his eyes¡ªhis bottom line had been crossed.


    "You''re ying with fire," he said through a forced smile.


    He turned and walked toward the sink, casually saying, "Excuse me, my hands are greasy. I''ll just wash up."


    ---


    When Orson returned, Gabrielle paled. "What are you doing?!"


    Orson was holding two kitchen knives, one in each hand.


    The three bodyguards were visibly startled. No one had expected such audacity from this scrawny gamer.


    "What do you think I''m doing? You break into my home, make demands, and expect me to bow? No chance."


    One of the bodyguards lunged forward, drawing a copsible baton and swinging it at Orson''s face.


    ---


    With a sharp sidestep, Orson dodged the strike andshed out with a swift kick to the man''s ankle. The bodyguard yelped in pain, stumbling.


    Orson''s knife pivoted in his hand, the t side mming into the back of the man''s neck with a dull thwack. The bodyguard crumpled to the floor.


    ---


    Gabrielle and the remaining bodyguards froze.


    "What the hell? Since when was the gaming prodigy a hand-to-handbat expert?"


    Orson nted a foot on the downed man''s back, his face calm but radiating menace.


    To these professionals, he may have seemed like easy prey¡ªbut they had underestimated him. Even in a weaker body, hisbat instincts as a trial survivor gave him the edge.


    "Here''s my choice: leave now, or die."


    ---


    Gabrielle forced herself to regainposure, retrieving her documents and standing.


    "You''ll regret this, Orson. There are countless ways to make you suffer, to make you wish you''d never been born."


    Orson didn''t respond. Instead, he dragged the groaning bodyguard by his belt, dumping him in the hallway outside.


    "I won''t see you out. Enjoy the elevator."


    ---


    From the balcony, Orson watched Gabrielle and her entourage retreat to a ck Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Only then did he exhale, re-entering his apartment.


    This ce was far too exposed. DK Group''s goons could find him here effortlessly.


    Lighting a cigarette, Orson paced the room, considering his next move. His sister was still in the hospital, and leaving her vulnerable was not an option.


    "A bigger city. Better security. Better healthcare," he muttered to himself.


    ---


    The tension in his chest refused to ease.


    "Fighting a corporate giant with only your fists? A fool''s errand."


    He could toy with Usher in Infinite Dimensions, but reality was a different beast. As much as Orson hated the thought, survival meant picking his battles carefully.


    ---


    Just as he cursed his predicament, a sharp pain exploded in his left eye.


    "What the¡­?"


    The world blurred and spun. His vision flickered erratically between the real world and fragmented scenes from Infinite Dimensions.


    The two realities seemed to ovep, the boundaries between them twisting into a surreal chaos.


    "What the hell is happening to me?"


    ---


    A few minutester, the pain subsided, leaving Orson slumped against the side of his bed.


    Before he could process the bizarre episode, the lights in his apartment flickered and died. A cold breeze brushed his face, and his pulse quickened.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Gabrielle''s back?"


    He nced toward the balcony, and his heart nearly stopped.


    ---


    A shadow crouched on the railing¡ªa figure with feline grace and wild, flowing hair. Two piercing eyes glinted in the darkness, locked onto him.


    ---


    "The real you¡­ what a disappointment."


    The figure''s voice was icy,ced with disdain. With a fluid leap, the intruder entered the room, her movements sharp and lethal.


    ---


    Orson''s instincts kicked in. Gripping a kitchen knife, he barely deflected the glint of her de. Metal shed violently, the force ripping through his wrist and drawing blood.


    The woman''s strength pinned him against the bed.


    "Who the hell are you?!" Orson growled, straining against her weight.


    ---


    Her body pressed against his, radiating a cold intensity. In the faint light, he could make out her striking features and shapely figure¡ªdetails he had no time to appreciate.


    "What''s wrong, ''Grand Sorcerer''? Scared already?" she mocked, her tone dripping with cruel amusement.


    Despite his resistance, Orson could tell she wasn''t exerting her full strength. Her goal wasn''t to kill him¡ªnot yet, anyway. She wanted to humiliate him.


    ---


    Realizing the futility of struggling, Orson suddenly released his grip on the knife.


    "Do it. Kill me already."


    ---


    Her eyes narrowed in confusion. The room fell silent, their bodies locked in an uneasy standoff.


    Then, without thinking, Orson''s hand slid upward, resting on her waist.


    "Might as well enjoy myst moments, right?" he muttered, his cheeks reddening slightly.


    ---


    "You pervert!"


    The assassin recoiled as if burned, pping him hard across the face.


    Orson didn''t hesitate¡ªhe pped her back, sending her reeling in shock.


    ---


    For a moment, she froze, visibly shaken.


    "Is¡­ is she crying?"


    Orson gawked at the sight of the deadly assassin trembling, her eyes watering.


    "You¡­ you deserve to die! A thousand times over!" she screamed, her voice cracking.


    ---


    Something about her tone tugged at his memory. Narrowing his eyes, Orson studied her face carefully.


    "Wait a second¡­ you''re¡­ nk?!"

 Chapter 48 48: The Radiant Shuttle

    Orson was utterly baffled. What kind of day is this? First, Usher''s goonse knocking, then nk shows up for an assassination attempt, and now his left eye is acting up.


    "Is Infinite Dimensions even worth ying anymore?" he muttered.


    "Uh... hey, don''t cry, babe. Come on, be good, alright?" Orson grabbed a tissue box from his nightstand and awkwardly offered it to her.


    But nk, the infamous assassin, only cried harder. The more she thought about being humiliated in-game by this man, and now in real life, the angrier and more wronged she felt.


    Her delicate sobs turned into a full-on breakdown, tears streaming down her face as she wailed pitifully.


    Orson massaged his temples, feeling like the universe was ying some cruel joke on him.


    Sitting half a meter away, he handed her tissue after tissue, muttering, "Alright, fine! I''ll let you kill me ten times tomorrow in the game. Bute on, I''ve only got one life in the real world. I can''t let you stab me without taking some advantage first."


    nk was hitting Orson right in his weak spot¡ªhe could handle almost anything but a crying woman. It was Sienna''s favorite move, too, always guaranteed to work.


    After a while, nk sniffled and red at him with red-rimmed eyes, full of disdain. "I don''t want to talk to someone like you. Having the Captain send me to recruit you was clearly a mistake. You''re not worthy of joining us."


    "The Captain?" Orson asked, puzzled. "What''s that? Not some scam group, is it?"


    nk shot him a murderous re, but Orson just grinned.


    "Rx, I''m kidding. No need to get mad. By the way, I have to say, you''re much prettier in person than in the game¡ªespecially with that cute little nose and those tiny eyes. Really pleasing to look at."


    Her frustration boiled over again. "Tiny eyes?!"


    Now that the lights were on, Orson could properly take in her appearance. She wore a sleek ck tactical suit that hugged her slender figure. Her baster skin, electrifying eyes, and a teardrop mole near the corner of her eye made her look both alluring and deadly.


    "No wonder she''s so upset. I really did take a big advantage earlier," Orson muttered to himself, squinting at her.


    nk''s chest heaved as she tried to suppress her rising fury.


    "Enough jokes. Why did your ancient martial arts ne looking for me?" Orson finally asked with a smirk.


    nk''s surprise was evident. "How does he know about my background?"


    Her origins were a closely guarded secret, known only to a select few in high-level government circles. Yet this gamer seemed to know more than he let on.


    nk straightened, her expression hardening. "If you want to continue ying Infinite Dimensions without interference, listen carefully. I''ll only say this once."


    She exined her mission: she was acting on behalf of an organization called "The Radiant Shuttle" to recruit Orson. Their goal was to establish a foothold in Infinite Dimensions.


    Orson''s expression turned serious. "The Radiant Shuttle¡­"


    Memories from his previous life surged forth. After Infinite Dimensions entered its extreme hardcore phase, this powerful organization emerged, uniting ancient martial artists and top-tier fighters.


    They had poured their blood and sweat into constructing the first Heavenly Demon Defense Line, protecting the US Safe Zones at great personal cost.


    It was The Radiant Shuttle who made that sacrifice.


    When Orson first encountered nk, he''d suspected she had ties to an ancient martial arts n. Now, his hunch was confirmed.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But their foresight surprised him. The game had only been live for a few days, and The Radiant Shuttle was already moving toy its groundwork.


    In his previous life, Orson had been a small fry who never caught their attention.


    Now, they were seeking him out directly. He couldn''t tell if it was a stroke of luck¡ªor misfortune.


    "Join The Radiant Shuttle, and we can offer you protection," nk said bluntly, clearly aware of the trouble brewing around Orson.


    "What about Dragon''s Kiss Guild?" Orson asked.


    nk smirked coldly. "From a national perspective, DK Group is nothing more than a pawn. What''s there to worry about?"


    Orson chuckled. "Fair point."


    The Radiant Shuttle''s connections clearly extended to the highest levels of the state. No matter how powerful DK Group was, it would always be an antpared to the government.


    But there was a condition. nk''s icy tone left no room for negotiation:


    "To join us, you must be the undisputed number one yer across all regions¡ªout of hundreds of millions of yers. And you must remain loyal to your country."


    She threw a business card onto his desk. "Call this number in the morning. Arrangements will be made."


    Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked out.


    Orson watched her retreating figure, shaking his head.


    "The bigger the storm, the pricier the fish¡­"


    "First the corporations, now the state. Everyone''s diving into Infinite Dimensions."


    He hadn''t paid much attention to such things in his previous life, but now it was clear. With Infinite Dimensions operating beyond any single nation''s jurisdiction, governments couldn''t afford to stay idle.


    Joining The Radiant Shuttle was a strategic move¡ªit would give him a shield against external threats, including potential assassination attempts.


    Feeling more at ease, Orson yawned and decided to wash up before heading to bed. His 26-level lead put him securely at the top of the leaderboard. Catching up to him was practically impossible for others now.


    "Beep, beep, beep¡­"


    The electronic lock''s rm sounded. Orson turned around, puzzled.


    nk stood at the door, looking annoyed.


    "What are you still doing here? Don''t tell me¡­ you''re nning revenge for earlier?" Orson crossed his arms over his chest protectively, a wary expression on his face.


    nk''s cheeks flushed. She muttered under her breath, barely audible: "The fingerprint lock''s on. I can''t open the door."


    "Wait, what? You just climbed up the balcony earlier. Can''t you jump back down?" Orson asked, genuinely confused.


    "This is the thirteenth floor!"


    nk''s face twitched. If she were better at swearing, she''d have unleashed a torrent of curses by now.


    "So what? Thirteenth floor isn''t that high. You can make it," Orson said earnestly, his eyes filled with anticipation.


    "I''m not wasting time exining things to an idiot like you!" nk stomped her foot in frustration.


    Grabbing Orson by the cor, she dragged him to the door and unlocked it herself.


    As she stormed off, Orson leaned against the doorframe and muttered, "Geez, just admit you need more training. It''s not a big deal."


    nk''s fists clenched, her voice trembling with fury. "Die! A million times, just DIE!"

 Chapter 49 49: The Legendary Trio

    The next morning, Orson called the number on the card nk had left him.


    Radiant Shuttle''s efficiency was impressive¡ªless than an hourter, an SUV with government tes pulled up to pick him up. The driver, who introduced himself as K.D., imed to be from the provincial military district but didn''t disclose his exact position.


    Orson didn''t press for details; it wasn''t like he''d get any answers. As long as Radiant Shuttle provided protection, he was satisfied.


    The SUV drove into the posh Ring City Lake vi district. K.D. handed Orson a key card for one of the vis before quickly driving off, adding that specialists were already stationed at the hospital to ensure his sister''s safety.


    Though a little stunned, Orson took in the luxurious standalone vi. It was tastefully furnished and, as requested, came equipped with six top-of-the-line gaming pods. He didn''t bother asking further questions¡ªK.D.''s frosty demeanor made it clear there was no room for idle chatter.


    After checking the equipment, Orson logged back into Infinite Dimensions.


    As time and space blurred, the game world came into focus.


    Orson reappeared in the game. The 24-hour grind from the previous day had wiped out his Notoriety Value, allowing him to walk freely through the streets again.


    He opened his equipment panel, showing off the coveted Fox n Mage Set, with all twelve pieces now collected. While it was a dream set for most lightning mages, Orson was already plotting upgrades.


    His n was to eventually rece the Fox n Staff, Fox n Boots, and Fox n Shoulder Guards¡ªthree pieces of the set¡ªwith higher-tier alternatives. While full sets granted powerful awakening skills, the Thunderstrike effect in the Fox n set was underwhelming, merely reducing its cooldown by three minutes.


    The real meta was the 3x3bo strategy: keeping three pieces of one set for the awakening skill while swapping in another three-piece set for a second awakening skill. This configuration optimized flexibility and power.


    With the Sacred Relic: Elven Diamond in hand, it would be a waste not to craft legendary-tier equipment.


    Orson headed straight to the crafting district.


    "Come in, adventurer! Take a look! If you see something you like, just let me know!"


    A burly NPC stood at the door, enthusiastically beckoning customers. The moment Orson approached, the man practically blocked his path.


    "Top-tier, custom-crafted gear! Grand opening discount: 99% off!"


    Orson''s eyebrow twitched at the tant marketing gimmick. Ny-nine percent off was basically no discount at all.


    Ignoring the salesman, Orson strolled down the street. The Infinite Dimensions crafting district housed multiple cksmith shops¡ªeight, to be exact. Each NPC craftsman had wildly varying skills and oues.


    On forums, countless yers hadined about losing fortunes due to shady cksmiths who churned out low-quality gear or outright failed their crafting attempts. Choosing the right smith was a gamble, to say the least.


    Across the street, avishly decorated shop was surrounded by arge crowd. A banner proudly proimed:


    "Crafted by Korul, Master of the Legendary Bow!"


    Dozens of yers were queued up to craft equipment. The legendary bow wielded by Usher, the current top-tier archer, had been made here.


    "That ce is a money pit. Crafting costs there are five times higher than anywhere else," Orson muttered as he nced at the shop. It catered exclusively to the wealthy, boasting high-quality results at exorbitant fees.


    Finally, Orson reached a shabby little stall at the end of the alley.


    "Fifty gold coins and top-tier materials, and all I get is a pile of junk?!"


    "Refund! You scammer! Refund me right now!"


    A disgruntled group of yers surrounded a short, red-bearded dwarf who looked utterly indifferent. Hugging a keg of ale, the dwarf waved them off.


    "Shoo! You lot brought garbage materials, so you get garbage gear. That''s how it works!"


    As if to emphasize his indifference, he flipped a Closed for Today sign onto his counter.


    "Boss, I''m here for custom orders."


    Orson stepped inside, ignoring the warnings and jeers from the yers outside.


    "Are you crazy? This dwarf''s equipment explodes two out of three times! The remaining third turns into junk. You''re throwing money down the drain!"


    Despite the vocal protests, Orson calmly approached the dwarf.


    The cksmith, Veijander, looked up with bloodshot eyes. "For hero-tier gear, there''s a 30% sess rate. For superior gear, 20%. Take your chances."


    "What about legendary gear?" Orson asked, a teasing smirk ying on his lips.


    Veijander froze mid-swig, lowering his ale slowly. "Legendary, you say? You''re ambitious, aren''t you, kid?"


    "Not really. I need three legendary pieces¡ªweapon, robe, and shoulder guards. Can you handle it?"


    The onlookers gasped audibly. Three legendary items? Even the top-tier yer Usher had only managed to craft a single weapon and a single piece of armor.


    "Sure thing, but you''ll need a Sacred Relic to guarantee sess," Veijander replied smugly.


    Orson reached into his inventory and casually ced the Elven Diamond on the counter.


    ng!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Veijander''s tools ttered to the floor. His bloodshot eyes bulged as he snatched up the diamond, inspecting it under the light with trembling hands.


    "It''s¡­ it''s real?! A Sacred Relic!" Veijander was nearly hyperventting.


    Momentster, his shop door mmed shut, leaving the astonished crowd outside.


    "Veijander''s attitude has shifted."


    The dwarf sprang into action, donning a pair of goggles and examining the diamond with reverence.


    "Can you do it or not?" Orson asked. "If you can''t, don''t waste my time."


    Veijander clutched the diamond protectively. "Of course I can! With this material, I can craft masterpieces!"


    "Good. Do you have the schematics, or should I look for them myself?" Orson continued.


    "Schematics? Ha! I''ve got you covered. Let me show you what I''ve got!" Veijander said, pulling out a selection of blueprints.


    Two legendary sets were offered:


    1. Eternal Wrath Set


    - Characteristics: High mana pool, spell pration, and cooldown reduction.


    2. Sanctuary of Dominion Set


    - Characteristics: True damage, high attack power, and attack speed boost.


    "Each item will cost you 1,000 gold in crafting fees," Veijander added.


    Orson grinned. This was why he had chosen Veijander. The grumpy dwarf was a hidden gem: his fees were a fraction of what Korul charged, and he had ess to exclusive schematics.


    "Let''s go with the Sanctuary of Dominion set," Orson decided. Its stats were perfectly aligned with his needs.


    The system disyed the crafting requirements:


    - Sacred Relic: Elven Diamond (1/1)


    - Refined Steel (200 units)


    - Beast Hide (100 units)


    - Troll Bones (30 units)


    - Sky Feather Crystals (5 units)


    - Hearts of War (3 units)


    The first three materials were within reach¡ªOrson had enough green gear to dismantle for refined steel and had gathered plenty of hides and bones during the monster siege.


    But the Sky Feather Crystals and Hearts of War were rare, second only to Sacred Relics. Finding them would be a challenge.


    "Hmm¡­ looks like this''ll have to wait," Orson said, sighing.


    Veijander panicked. "Wait! Don''t go! Give me five hours, and I''ll finish the job!"


    Orson smirked. "I''d love to, but I''m short on materials."


    After exining his predicament, Veijander''s eyes lit up. "Don''t worry! I have just the solution for a capable adventurer like you!"


    A quest notification appeared:


    [Hidden Quest: The Secret of Ascension]


    - Objective: Travel to the Frozen Valley and locate the entrance to the Ascension Kingdom ruins.


    "Looks like I''ve got my next destination," Orson muttered, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

 Chapter 50 50: The S-Class Holy Spirit Priest

    "The Secret of Ascension? This dungeon... if I recall correctly, SSR Club was the first to clear and unlock it."


    In Infinite Dimensions, once a yerpleted a hidden quest, the corresponding dungeon could be avable to others with reduced difficulty to encourage exploration.


    Orson had vivid memories of The Secret of Ascension, a legendary-tier dungeon. If he hadn''tpleted the Missing Barrier Stone quest first, SSR Club would likely have imed the first legendary dungeon clear instead.


    "Did you give this questline to anyone else?" Orson questioned Veijander sharply.


    The dwarf cksmith hesitated, looking a bit guilty. "Kid, I''ve got a keen eye for talent. You''ll definitely pull this off!"


    As expected, Veijander''s quest-giving "easter egg" wasn''t a secret solely to Orson. SSR Club clearly knew about it too. Judging by Veijander''s reaction, SSR must have submitted high-quality materials to unlock the questline.


    Realizing this, Orson knew he had to act fast.


    He was well aware that, at this stage, SSR Club¡ªwith its roster of professional yers¡ªpossessed abat efficiency leagues ahead of even the wealthiest guilds like Dragon''s Kiss Guild. Their ability to conquer high-difficulty dungeons was unmatched.


    Marking the quest location on his map, Orson sprinted toward the Frozen Valley.


    Thirty minutester, he arrived at a vast expanse of snowfields.


    [Icefield Raiders: Level 27]


    - HP: 36,000/36,000


    - Attack: 580


    - Skills: Continuous Shot, Leaping sh


    The snowfields were crawling with elite monsters, far stronger than the creatures around Pondenorlin City.


    No sooner had Orson stepped into the area than a group of Icefield Raiders charged at him.


    Raising the Fox n Staff, Orson summoned a rainstorm overhead.


    C-ss Water Magic: Tidal Raindes


    -200


    -200


    ¡­


    This magic spell dealt low continuous damage but had overwhelming coverage, striking every enemy within a 30-meter radius. Moreover, it synergized with the icy terrain, causing enemies to slip, slow down, or even fall over.


    As the raiders stumbled and fell, Orson conjured The me Dragon, unleashing fiery devastation.


    -4170


    -4170


    ¡­


    From over 100 meters away, Orson blended multiple elements seamlessly. His quadruple-magic attacks were unstoppable.


    Critical Hit: -1500


    -750


    Wielding a full set of 20-level heroic-tier gear, Orson''s magic attack had reached an impressive 800 points. Even his basic attacks dealt massive critical damage.


    Orson couldn''t help but imagine the potential of his power afterpleting his ss Awakening and equipping the legendary trio of gear. His damage output would soar to unimaginable heights.


    Easily dispatching the elite monsters, Orson pressed onward.


    Suddenly, sounds ofbat echoed from the distance.


    Orson stopped and looked ahead cautiously.


    A massive Icefield Troll King¡ªstanding over ten meters tall¡ªwas being besieged by dozens of yers near the valley''s entrance.


    [Icefield Troll King: Level 27]


    - HP: 637,000/800,000


    - Attack: 850


    - Skills: Troll Dominance, Merciless m, Bone-Crushing Blow


    The troll king''s greenish-blue skin glistened under the icy light. Wielding a giant iron hammer, it smashed the ground with each swing, causing avnches and snowstorms to erupt around it. The scene was both chaotic and awe-inspiring.


    Despite the boss''s overwhelming power, the yers'' coordination was impressive. The frontline tanks held firm, absorbing each attack with precision.


    Orson quickly noticed something unusual: though there were thirty or so yers present, only a handful were actively engaging the boss. The rest stood guard, their eyes scanning the surroundings vigntly.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "They''re keeping watch¡­ are they worried about interference from other yers or stray monsters?" Orson murmured.


    The disciplined formations and high-level execution revealed the group''s skill. These weren''t newbies fumbling through a new MMORPG¡ªthese were pros.


    "SSR is already here."


    Orson''s gaze turned icy as he recognized the dual-de warrior leading the charge: Reaver.


    Reaver wielded two shining longswords, leaping into the air and spinning like a cyclone. His des shed the troll king''s chest repeatedly.


    Critical Hit: -1100


    -550


    -550


    ¡­


    The glow of light-based enchantments on his swords added to the damage. Reaver''s movements were fluid, dodging the troll king''s retaliatory strikes with practiced ease.


    As hended, Reaver smirked. "I told you, this boss is too slow to be a challenge. I could solo it."


    SSR''s Bloodseeker: "Damn, that spin move was insane! I saw him solo a level 20 boss earlier without taking a hit."


    SSR''s Mourner: "With Reaver here, every legendary dungeon is a guaranteed clear."


    Hearing his teammates'' praises, Reaver responded coolly. "Stop relying on me. Train harder instead of always clinging to my coattails."


    At that moment, a cold voice interrupted:


    "If you''re so strong, why haven''t you soloed Orson yet?"


    The smiles vanished from Reaver''s face. His smirk twisted into a sneer. "Last time was a fluke. Next time I see that dog, he''s finished."


    The troll king, enraged by the attacks, roared mightily.


    Skill Activated: Troll Dominance


    The ground shook as over a hundred Troll Wolf Knights emerged from the surrounding snowfields.


    Each elite wolf knight had 60,000 HP, putting immense pressure on the SSR yers.


    "Keep those adds away from my casting range!"


    The voice of the white-robed priest who had taunted Reaver earlier rang out. She quickly issuedmands:


    "Second, third, and fourth squads¡ªintercept the adds on the left nk! Riley, cover me as I assist Reaver and Alpha Squad!"


    The teams executed the orders with precision, blocking the iing elite mobs and preventing them from reaching the boss fight.


    From his hidden position, Orson narrowed his eyes. "That voice... it''s her."


    The troll king shifted its attention to the frontline, swiping its massive hammer. A Sanctuary Knight¡ªdecked out in three pieces of 20-level heroic-tier gear¡ªwasunched into the air like a ragdoll.


    -1330


    -1557


    -1600


    Even with 7,000 HP, the knight was on the brink of death after just a few hits.


    Suddenly, the white-robed priest stepped forward. A silver hexagram lit up beneath her feet.


    Holy Light Magic: Protective Blessing!


    Holy Light Magic: Eternal Lament!


    - Physical Defense +300


    - HP Restored +800


    +900


    +1000


    The knight''s health, once critically low, surged back up. Their physical resistance spiked, reducing the boss''s next heavy blow to a mere 1,000 damage.


    But the priest wasn''t done. Another silver glow bathed the battlefield.


    Holy Light Magic: Life Unyielding!


    A healing aura spread across twenty yers, granting:


    - +200 HP regen per second


    - Increased max HP


    - Boosted physical and magical resistances


    With the buffs stabilizing the battle, the yers turned the tide against the troll king and its minions.


    "Damn, Big Sis is unstoppable! She''s the undisputed top healer in the region!"


    "Top healer? She''s the best in the entire server¡ªno, the whole world!"


    The SSR yers were visibly inspired by the priest. Since the game''sunch, her presence had made SSR''s progress invincible, clearing every challenge with ease.


    "That''s the S-ss Holy Spirit Priest, all right."


    Orson''s expression darkened.


    The white-robed priest had golden hair and delicate features, exuding a calm and ethereal aura. But Orson knew better¡ªshe was as ruthless as they came.


    Among SSR''s ranks, there was no one Orson feared more than Wedge, the first-ranked Holy Priest from Sword and Conquest.


    As SSR''s team captain, she held authority second only to the club''s owner. To Orson, she was the true mastermind behind SSR''s dominance.

 Chapter 51 51: Bury Them All

    Back in the SSR club, Orson rarely concerned himself with anything outside ofpetitions. As an orphan, he''d long understood that relying solely on himself was the only path forward, and he had no time to care about others'' opinions. However, this independence gave Wedge the perfect opportunity to manipte others and sow division. Whether intentionally or not, she gradually isted Orson from his teammates.


    Wedge was a woman of deep scheming. Despite being a dedicated healer, she was arguably the most dangerous member of the SSR team.


    When it came to the match-fixing scandal that destroyed Orson''s career, he was certain¡ªif Wedge hadn''t masterminded the setup, she at least carried out orders from the SSR owner.


    With Wedge coordinating the battle, her team fought with precision. The tanks held firm against the Icefield Troll King''s brutal attacks while Reaver darted in and out, showing off his shy moves. Meanwhile, Snow Dream and another archer rained destruction from the rear.


    All six core members hadpleted their ss awakenings, with each earning at least an A-tier ss. Coupled with their natural skill, they were on apletely different levelpared to ordinary yers.


    In just five minutes, the boss''s health dropped below 200,000. Half of the summoned wolf warriors had already been in, and the Icefield Troll King looked destined to fall into SSR''s hands.


    Suddenly, a voice interrupted from behind.


    "Adventurers, would you like a little help from me?"


    The group turned to see a figure d in the robes of an imperial mage, standing a hundred meters away.


    "NPC Imperial Mage? Boss Bai¡­ Why is he here?"


    "What''s going on? Did we trigger some kind of hidden event?"


    SSR members exchanged puzzled nces. The Icefield had no settlements or towns nearby, so the sudden appearance of an NPC was unusual.


    "Focus on the boss! Ignore the NPC!" Wedge snapped, her sharpmand breaking the group''s confusion.


    "I don''t need payment, nor recognition. Allow me to lend you a hand," Orson offered, his voice calm.


    He even revealed his health and level to appear less threatening.


    Reaver sneered. "A frail mage with only 1,500 HP ims he''s strong? Even our squishiest sses have at least 2,500 HP. Get lost!"


    "Think carefully," Orson advised again, his voice carrying a faint chill. "This Troll King is more dangerous than you realize. If you''re not careful, you might all get wiped out."


    Annoyed, Wedge raised her staff. "Get lost before I kill you myself."


    She fired a burst of Holy Light at his feet, leaving a charred hole in the snow to emphasize her point.


    "Fine," Orson muttered, his tone soft as a shadow flickered across his face. "Await your fate, then."


    He turned and walked off into the mist.


    Two minutester, Orson scaled the cliff overlooking the Icefield Valley.


    "2,200 meters¡­ Adjust for wind to the left¡­ A destructible terrain above the valley..."


    Orson smirked, muttering to himself.


    Originally, he had nned to sneak into the valley disguised as an NPC and locate the dungeon entrance ahead of SSR. But Wedge and Reaver''s arrogance had pushed him too far.


    "If that''s how they want to y¡­" Orson murmured, his eyes shing with icy determination.


    From his vantage point, he carefully calcted his spells'' ranges and effects, formting a strategy to bury them all.


    Orson raised his staff, which began to glow with ominous, pulsing runes. Thunderclouds gathered in the skies above, their lightning arcing toward his weapon.


    "Thunderstorm!"


    A violet aura enveloped Orson as a notification appeared: Fire and Lightning spells gain +50% critical chance for one minute.


    "Whisper of the Wind!"


    His casting speed and attack rate soared.


    "Traitors must pay." Orson''s voice carried the weight of his simmering hatred. Memories of betrayal and humiliation swirled in his mind:


    The false usations that ruined him.


    The scorn he endured from the esports world.


    His sister''s death because he couldn''t afford her treatment.


    "This is only the beginning," Orson growled.


    "me Dragon!"


    "Explosive Fireball!"


    "Rainde Tide!"


    "Quaking Stone Spikes!"


    Spell after spell tore through the air, with no regard for uracy. Orson simply hurled his entire arsenal at his enemies below.


    "Something''s wrong. Very wrong," Wedge muttered, her face pale.


    Snow Dream, standing nearby, frowned. "What''s the matter, Captain? The boss is almost down."


    "It''s the NPC¡­ The level doesn''t add up!" Wedge blurted, her instincts screaming at her.


    "What''s wrong with the level?" Reaver snapped, still focused on the Troll King.


    "Imperial NPCs always have even levels. And their HP isn''t supposed to be that low!" Wedge exined.


    Her fingers flew across her interface, bringing up the yer rankings.


    At the top of the leaderboard, a single name stood out: Orgod, Level 26, 15%.


    "Scatter! Everyone scatter!" Wedge shouted in panic. "That''s not an NPC¡ªit''s Orson!"


    The team froze, startled by her sudden outburst.


    "Orson? So what? Even if it''s him, he''s not here anymore," one teammate muttered dismissively.


    Reaver, however, felt a chill run down his spine as he recalled Orson''s absurd attack range during theirst encounter.


    "RUN¡ª!"


    Before Reaver could finish his warning, a searing me dragon descended from the heavens, colliding with the valley floor.


    The explosion was deafening. The ground trembled violently as fire, lightning, and stone erupted in a deadly vortex of destruction.


    -2000 (Critical!)


    -8500 (Critical!)


    -4250


    Damage numbers danced across the battlefield in a macabre spectacle. The screams of dying yers echoed through the chaos.


    "Shield Wall¡ª!?" Reaver shouted, desperately calling for his tank to protect the group.


    But it was toote.


    Within seconds, nearly ten yers fell to the unrelenting magic storm, their health bars obliterated.


    Even Wedge''s exceptional healing and buffs couldn''t counteract the overwhelming damage.


    "ept your fate," Snow Dream murmured, standing still amidst the carnage. Her voice carried neither fear nor defiance, only quiet resignation.


    Wedge stared in disbelief. Despite her team''s strength, their meticulously crafted ns had been torn apart by Orson''s relentless assault.


    Her thoughts spiraled:


    Why does someone like him even exist?


    Why must he always crush everything I build?


    The memories of working under Orson in the SSR team surfaced¡ªthree years of humiliation and being overshadowed by his brilliance. Just as she thought she had moved on, he returned to haunt her again.


    "Why¡­" Wedge whispered bitterly, watching a massive boulder fall toward her.


    "You have in SSR''s Weeping de. Infamy +100."


    "You have in SSR''s Bloodsoaked Tears. Infamy +100."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Notifications filled Orson''s screen as he sighed. "I just cleared my infamy, and now it''s back again. So much for staying clean."


    "You have in the Icefield Troll King. Experience +12,000!"


    As Orson had nned, with the main threat to the boss eliminated, the Troll King was left unimed.


    And all the loot? His for the taking.

 Chapter 52 52: The Ascension Kingdom

    Orson entered the valley and began clearing the battlefield.


    On a rock encrusted with frost, a silver cross stood tall, half the height of a man, radiating holy light as it absorbed magical energy from the surroundings.


    "Still alive, huh? What a stubborn cockroach," Orson muttered.


    The S-tier Holy Spirit Priest ss wasn''t just about its absurd healing and buffing capabilities; it also came with the overpowered skill "Holy Spirit''s Rebirth." When killed, the priest could sacrifice experience points to resurrect, with greater sacrifices boosting their stats upon revival.


    Orson smirked, nting his foot firmly on the silver cross. "Go on, resurrect. I''ll kill you as many times as it takes."


    Inside the glowing cross, Wedge fumed with rage, her soul lingering in a suspended state. She hesitated, debating whether to resurrect or not.


    Unlike most healers, advanced priest yers often possessed decent single-target damage capabilities. However, theycked the devastating AoE of mages or archers.


    Even with her S-tier ss, going up against a brute-force AoE mage like Orson wasn''t just risky¡ªit was suicidal.


    She knew she couldn''t beat him.


    Her strength as a priest had always relied on the synergy with her powerful teammates. Alone, she was vulnerable.


    Meanwhile, Orson was unbothered, looting the battlefield without a care in the world.


    The Icefield Troll King dropped a Level 25 purple-grade armor piece and three low-level skill books¡ªtwo for archers and one for thieves.


    From Wedge, Reaver, and the rest of the SSR team, he looted over 100 gold coins. Unfortunately, none of their purple equipment dropped.


    "Afraid, huh? Good. Stay down," Orson remarked coldly, pausing to nce at the silver cross.


    "Orson! This isn''t over!" Wedge''s voice echoed from the cross in her soul state, venomous and threatening.


    "Oh, it''s far from over," Orson replied with a chill. "From the moment you framed me for match-fixing, you knew this day woulde."


    Wedge''s fury subsided, reced by grim calction. She knew better than to foolishly resurrect under Orson''s gaze.


    Secondster, the silver cross shattered, and her soul retreated to the respawn point in the distant city.


    With SSR out of the way, Orson entered the Icefield Valley.


    The narrow canyon was eerily quiet, devoid of monsters. The further he ventured, the narrower the path became. Just as the valley appeared to reach a dead end, Orson stopped.


    "There it is," he muttered.


    After some searching, he found the right spot on the ice wall. With a precise spell, he shattered the hidden barrier, revealing the dungeon entrance behind it.


    "You are about to enter the Ascension Kingdom ruins."


    "Warning: This is a legendary-tier dungeon. Party y is rmended."


    Ignoring the system''s caution, Orson stepped into the cave.


    Orson had run this dungeon only a few times in his past life. Its drop rates for rare items were abysmal, and it barely yielded any coins. However, its monsters were disproportionately strong, making it unpopr with most yers.


    Yet, Orson knew a secret: like One Night of Terror, this dungeon had a hidden mode.


    [Ascension Statues ¨C Level 25]


    [HP: 85,000/85,000]


    [Attack Power: 550]


    Skills: Self-Destruct, Crushing Blow


    The moment Orson stepped through the arched stone gate, two guardian statues charged at him.


    These statues had earned their reputation as yer killers during early game content. Their stats alone were intimidating, but their Self-Destruct skill made them particrly nightmarish.


    The dungeon''s mechanic was brutal: if the statues'' HP differed by more than 10%, the healthier one would self-destruct, dealing 10,000 damage. For most early yers, this was an instant kill.


    Clearing them required impable team coordination to bnce their health pools.


    Orson, however, had his own method.


    He cast Quaking Stone Spikes to block one statue''s path, thenunched Chaotic Tides at the other. The water magic''s confusion effect caused the two statues to attack each other.


    To ensure the n worked, Orson disabled his passive skill, zing Burn, which dealt too much damage and could unbnce their health.


    Instead, he used basic attacks to chip away at both statues while carefully monitoring their HP.


    Whenever a statue managed to break through the stone spikes, Orson slowed it down with Mud Swamp, a low-damage earth spell that drastically reduced the movement speed of heavy targets.


    Finally, a gust of Whisper of the Wind sent the statues stumbling, perfectlyplementing the mud''s effects.


    Four-element mages like Orson excelled in versatility,bining control and damage spells in unpredictable ways.


    Minutester, the two statues crumbled into rubble, and the sealed door creaked open.


    Stepping through the gate, Orson entered a vast underground city.


    Standing on a stone tform, he gazed across the sprawling ruins, taking in the intricate architecture of the once-great Ascension Kingdom.


    "Legend says this was where the king led his people to ascend to divinity. Discover the truth behind the kingdom''s mass ascension."


    Orson scoffed. He knew the real story.


    The so-called "ascension" was nothing more than the kingdom''s mad king leading tens of thousands of citizens in a mass self-immtion, offering their lives as sacrifices to a powerful entity.


    Aheady a broken bridge spanning a deep chasm. To progress, Orson would need to find a solution.


    Eyeing a nearby ruined tower, he casually fired a basic attack at its base. The crumbling structure toppled onto the bridge, forming a makeshift path.


    "You have disturbed the spirits of the ruins!"


    The notification chimed as spectral figures swarmed from the ruins toward the bridge.


    [Ascension Spirits ¨C Level 25]


    [HP: 30,000/30,000]


    [Attack Power: 420]


    Skills: Fearless Charge, Cursed Shackles


    Orson didn''t even flinch.


    With a flick of his staff, he summoned The me Dragon, unleashing a torrent of fire.


    -1,360!


    -300!


    -4,240!


    The spirits burned to ash before they could even reach him. Their curse-debuff skills wereughably ineffective against his long-range assault.


    After cutting down wave after wave of mobs, Orson suddenly stopped.


    "Wait a minute¡­ Why am I running toward the boss like some idiot?"


    He chuckled at his own folly.


    From his position, he had a clear view of the golden pce where the dungeon''s final boss resided. The distance? Less than 3,000 meters.


    With a casting range of nearly 5,000 meters, why should he bother walking over? He was practically a living turret.


    Grinning, Orson began backtracking to the stone tform.


    If the dungeon''s bosses had any intelligence, they''d be dumbfounded. What kind of yer resorts to such shameless tactics?


    "Come on out, old ghost."


    Standing atop the tform, Orson unleashed a barrage of spells, haphazardly aiming toward the pce.


    After several fiery explosions, a deafening roar echoed through the ruins.


    "Who dares disturb my rest!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    A towering shadow emerged from the pce¡ªa skeletal dragon with a human face.


    [King Ma of Ascension ¨C Level 25]


    [Lord-ss Creature]


    [HP: 1,300,000/1,300,000]


    [Attack Power: ???]


    [Skills: ???]


    "So this is the untouched legendary version. The boss''s stats arepletely unknown."


    Orson''s expression turned serious. In his past life, he''d only run the dungeon after SSR had cleared it, downgrading its difficulty to elite-tier.


    Facing the original Lord-ss version with 1.3 million HP? This would be a challenge like no other.

 Chapter 53 53: The Lifelong Nemesis

    DK Group ¨C Infinite Dimensions Division


    Usher was abruptly awakened from his game by an assistant.


    "You won''t be able to touch him¡ªnot in reality, at least," came a calm voice.


    A middle-aged man in casual attire stepped into Usher''s office, his presence unremarkable, but the two sharply dressed military officers nking him¡ªone a female major¡ªmade his authority clear.


    "K.D., right? I don''t quite follow who this ''him'' is that you''re referring to," Usher replied coolly.


    Feigning ignorance, he tried to mask the storm brewing inside him.


    K.D. wasn''t having it. "Orson. Infinite Dimensions'' top-ranked yer. He''s now under the military''s protection. Understand now?"


    Usher''s eyes narrowed. "I''m confused. To my knowledge, he isn''t affiliated with the military."


    "That was true. But now, he is," K.D. responded matter-of-factly.


    The revtion stunned Usher momentarily. He wasn''t afraid, though; he was angry.


    The previous night, his hired enforcers had been humiliated by Orson. One of his bodyguards had ended up injured, and the rest had fled like cowards.


    Usher clenched his fists, unwilling to let such an affront slide.


    The female major smirked at Usher''s stiff expression. "If we were just representing the military, I wouldn''t have personally apanied K.D. here. No, we''re here on behalf of the nation."


    The weight of those words hit Usher like a sledgehammer. "Representing the country?"


    K.D. maintained his poker face and stated firmly, "Orson and his family are on a protected list. This is a red line. You are expected toply. That''s all I can disclose without breaching state secrets."


    With that, K.D. declined an offer to stay for lunch and prepared to leave with his entourage.


    "Wait a moment!" Usher called out as they were about to step out the door.


    K.D. raised an eyebrow but turned to face him.


    After a moment of silence, Usher said, "Orson''s actions in Infinite Dimensions have disrupted our operations. As project lead, I can''t let this go unanswered. Surely, you understand my position."


    K.D. nodded. "I understandpletely. Your conflicts can remain in the game. My responsibility is ensuring his safety in reality. Nothing more."


    Pausing for emphasis, K.D. added, "A word of advice¡ªyoung men like you should tread carefully. Otherwise, your father''s empire might not survive the storm that follows."


    Usher''s expression darkened. His voice dropped to a frosty tone. "Understood. Thank you for the reminder."


    As the office door closed behind K.D., Usher clenched his jaw, his nails digging into the palms of his hands.


    "Vice President."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The VP turned, startled by Usher''s sudden address.


    Before he could respond, Usher hurled a ss of water across the room, shattering it against the wall.


    Rage twisted his otherwise handsome face into something monstrous. Grabbing the VP by the cor, Usher snarled, "Get out. Take the legal team with you. All of you¡ªget out of my sight!"


    Breathing heavily, Usher sank into his chair, his mind aze with fury.


    "Orson! Orson! I swear I''ll destroy you, even if it''s thest thing I do!"


    Ascension Kingdom Dungeon


    Meanwhile, Orson stood atop a cliff, coolly kiting the boss, King Ma, across the ruins.


    His Whisper of the Wind buff kept his movement fluid and his attacks precise.


    Under normal circumstances, Orson could kite most bosses to death, keeping them at arm''s length with his superior range.


    But Ma was no ordinary foe. With his dragon-like body and flight capabilities, the boss''s mobility was leagues ahead of anything Orson had faced recently.


    Even with years of Infinite Dimensions experience, Orson had to work hard to anticipate Ma''s erratic aerial patterns. He carefully timed his attacks, baiting the boss into flying where he wanted.


    Ma caught on quickly. Adjusting his tactics, the boss began gliding low along the jagged walls of the ruins, darting unpredictably.


    As the distance between them closed to 1,000 meters, Orson grinned.


    "Right where I want you."


    A Mud Swamp spell materialized on the cliffside, snaring the boss mid-pounce.


    When Ma tried to w his way free, Orson unleashed Whisper of the Wind again, conjuring a violent gust that swept the boss from its perch.


    Ma iled, attempting to stabilize with its wings, but Orson was ready.


    "Fly again. I dare you."


    With a smirk, Orson cast Quaking Stone Spikes, sending a massive stone pir mming into the boss''s wing. Ma plummeted into the ruins below.


    -50,000!


    The ground shook as the boss crashed into the remains of a building.


    Orson chuckled darkly, satisfaction evident on his face. Despite relying primarily on utility spells, he was racking up damage rivaling high-grade offensive magic.


    Furious, Ma roared, his voice reverberating through the dungeon.


    "Shut up already!" Orson snapped, sending another me Dragon hurtling toward the boss. The fiery serpent mmed into Ma, knocking him back yet again.


    With his Thunderstorm Buff active, Orson chained his spells with relentless precision:


    - Explosive Fireball.


    - me Dragon.


    - Rainde Tide.


    Combo Count: 20!


    Combo Count: 70!


    Combo Count: 199!


    Just as Orson was about to break 200, Ma''s body red with an ominous green light.


    The boss broke free from thebo with a violent surge of power, its Overlord''s Resilience activating.


    "Of course. A crowd-control immunity skill. You really are my lifelong nemesis," Orson muttered, rolling his eyes.


    At this stage, most high-level bosses had ess to crowd-control immunity abilities. But Lord-ss bosses took it a step further with faster cooldowns and longer durations.


    Even the wealthiest yers feared such mechanics. The moment a boss activated its immunity, most attempts at soloing it ended in disaster.


    "King Ma is preparing to unleash B-tier Dark Magic: Deathly Acid. Evade immediately!"


    Orson''s eyes widened as the boss opened its massive jaws. Dozens of acid blobsunched into the air, each sizzling with deadly intent.


    "Crap. This area attack range is way bigger than I remember. Three times bigger!"


    Flicking his staff, Orson conjured a Sr Shield to absorb the iing damage.


    -1,000!


    The acid hissed as it sttered against the barrier. Despite blocking a significant portion of the attack, the shield barelysted a second.


    "Ten seconds of this? No way anyone survives!" Orson cursed, retreating to the edge of the arena.


    He pressed himself against the wall.


    Acid rained down, but the narrow space near the wall was miraculously untouched.


    Breathing a sigh of relief, Orson whispered, "Guess some of the old tricks still work."


    But there was no time to rest.


    Ma rose into the air, ring at Orson with seething hatred. Green energy coalesced in the boss''s throat as it prepared to unleash a devastating dragon''s breath.


    "I can''t cast shields fast enough to block that¡­"


    Orson''s hands trembled as he realized how close he was to death.


    With a resigned sigh, he summoned Explosive Fireball and hurled it into the boss''s gaping maw, hoping to disrupt its attack.


    The fireball collided with the glowing energy¡ªand bounced off harmlessly.


    The boss''s immunity was still active.


    Orson''s stomach sank. "Five seconds left on the immunity. I''m toast."

 Chapter 54 54: Celestial Descent

    As the destructive dragon breath swept toward him, Orson''s mind raced with survival strategies.


    His eyes darted to a broken bridge not far away. Escaping the boss''s devastating attack seemed impossible¡ªunless he jumped off the cliff.


    It was a desperate gamble. The height alone would cost the boss 50,000 HP if it fell. For Orson, with his fragile HP pool, it would be certain death.


    Without hesitation, Orson hurled himself into the abyss.


    Falling¡­


    His body plummeted through the air, and Orson began counting silently.


    "Five seconds¡­ Four seconds¡­"


    Behind him, the terrifying green dragon breath followed relentlessly. Everything in its path disintegrated, the ground and walls cleaving apart as if struck by a divine de. Massive boulders rained down in pursuit, hurtling toward Orson''s rapidly descending form.


    It was a scene of utter annihtion¡ªno escape, no survival.


    As the ground rushed up to meet him, Orson suddenly whispered:


    "Ethereal Body!"


    A silver radiance burst forth from his body, illuminating the cavern like a fragment of the Bright Gxy itself, casting light across half the underground dungeon.


    Damage Immunity Activated!


    Fall Immunity Activated!


    Impact Immunity Activated!


    The green dragon breath swept through Orson''s position, but eerily, it passed straight through his chest.


    The boulders smashing into him disintegrated upon contact, reduced to dust in the wake of the divine power shielding him. It was as though he were under the direct protection of the gods themselves.


    Orson stood unscathed in the radiant glow, clutching a broken figurine in his hand¡ªthe source of the celestial brilliance.


    [Elven Queen''s Effigy]


    Effect: Ethereal Body ¨C Immune to all damage for three seconds.


    Orson exhaled deeply.


    Even as a damaged relic, the effigy remained an invaluable divine artifact. He couldn''t imagine how overpowered it would be if it were fully intact.


    Above, King Ma hesitated. The bone dragon''s sunken sockets narrowed in what could only be described as incredulity. It hadn''t expected the puny adventurer to survive.


    Furious, it unleashed another wave of dragon breath.


    "Damn it, why is everything dragon-rted in this game such a pain to deal with!" Orson spat, his annoyance bubbling over.


    Bone dragons weren''t true dragons. Most were undead constructs, created by powerful dark magic from high-tier dragons.


    Yet even in their degraded state, Lord-ss bone dragons were forces of nature.


    Dragon breath was equivalent to A-tier magic, with no cooldown and immense destructive power. A boss like Ma could easily spew out a dozen waves without running dry.


    Orson''s eyes glinted with icy resolve. Twirling his Fox n Mage Staff, he roared:


    "The me Dragon, drop it!"


    As Ma reared back to unleash its dragon breath, a fiery serpent materialized above it.


    BOOM!


    The me Dragon crashed onto Ma''s neck with crushing force, ck smoke spewing from the impact.


    The uncast dragon breath erupted within Ma''s throat, triggering a catastrophic bacsh.


    -100,000!


    A mournful wail escaped the bone dragon as a gaping, two-meter-wide hole opened in its neck. A massive chunk of its HP vanished.


    While dragons were near-invincible apex predators, their strengths often hid critical weaknesses. Dragon breath, though devastating, was a double-edged sword.


    Any interruption during its casting could cause severe bacsh, inflicting massive damage and applying a Weakness Debuff for one minute.


    The debuff halved all of Ma''s stats except its HP.


    Orson smirked. Ma, clumsy and inexperienced, was clearly unskilled at using its undead body.


    Real dragons, the ones Orson had encountered in his past life, were cunning beyond measure. They would activate immunity before casting dragon breath, negating its vulnerabilities.


    -50,000!


    The boss mmed into the ground, throwing up a cloud of dust. The impact triggered additional fall damage.


    The momentum sent Ma''s massive frame bouncing slightly off the ground. Orson seized the moment.


    "Explosive Fireball!"


    The fireball exploded against the boss''s chest, lifting it half a meter into the air.


    Orson followed up with precise basic attacks, keeping Ma airborne.


    To anyone else, this would be a ludicrous disy of control.


    Infinite Dimensions'' knock-up mechanics were notoriously tricky to exploit. Watching Orson juggle a massive Lord-ss boss would drive any other mage to despair.


    Combo Count: 5!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Combo Count: 10!


    As Ma''s immunity wore off, it became a helpless, battered wreck under Orson''s relentless assault.


    Back in his early days, when Orson had barely 0.5 attack speed, he could juggle the Dark Queen to death with basic attacks alone.


    Now, with a wide arsenal of magic at his disposal, the bone dragon was nothing more than an oversized punching bag.


    Orson''s chain of strikes sent Ma from a modest half-meter height to a hundred meters in the air.


    Combo Count: 200!


    Judging the boss''s remaining HP, Orson unleashed Quaking Stone Spikes.


    A massive rock spike shot from the ground, impaling Ma squarely in the chest. The poor creature was sent plummeting back to earth.


    "Die!"


    -50,000!


    The fall damage sealed Ma''s fate. The mighty Lord-ss bone dragon was killed by sheer gravitational force.


    "You have in King Ma. Experience gained: 80,000!"


    A system announcement boomed across the server.


    "Regional Announcement: yer Orgod has astonished the world by single-handedly defeating the legendary dungeon boss [Lord-ss: King Ma]!"


    "Rewards: Free Attribute Points +90, Skill Points +40, Reputation +20,000, Gold +100!"


    The world channel went silent for three seconds.


    IndomitableSolitude: "Soloed¡­ a legendary dungeon. My god!"


    Scarreddes: "How does anyone stop this guy? We struggle with regr bosses, and he solos a Lord-ss one!"


    Money Traveler: "Well, look who it is¡ªour guild master! Damn it, he''s showing off again. I bet he''s reading this and grinning like an idiot."


    Madman: "Bradley, stop yapping and recruit some members for the guild! I''m dering this now¡ªanyone with a grudge against Orgod, settle it with him. Don''t target me during the war!"


    Orson''s eyes twitched. These two clowns never missed a chance to roast him.


    Even the usually cocky big guilds like Dragon''s Kiss Guild fell silent.


    Challenging Orson''s feat now would only invite ridicule.


    Orson sighed and opened the guild chat.


    "Enough chatter. I''ve made a list of recruits¡ªcontact them and ask if they''re interested."


    Granting Bradley and Madman vice leader privileges, he sent them a carefully curated list of ten names.


    Bradley: "Wait, you''re inviting a Level 10 priest? You''re joking, right?"


    Orson: "No. These ten are non-negotiable. Handle the rest however you want."


    The listprised low-level, seemingly unremarkable yers. But Orson knew their potential¡ªthey would be the backbone of Godyer.

 Chapter 55 55: The Royal Tomb

    Orson decisively learned the new skill but refrained from upgrading it for now.


    While A-tier skills were undeniably powerful, their resource consumption was staggering¡ªfour times that of C-tier skills. Additionally, their upgrades came with stringent level requirements.


    But even at its base level, [Celestial Descent] had absurdly high damage, making it a trump card against all but the strongest yers.


    After vanquishing the final boss, Orson delved deeper into the underground dungeon. The elite minibosses scattered throughout were too good a resource to pass up.


    Testing his new skill wasn''t an option here due to the low ceiling and confined spaces, so Orson made do with his usual arsenal.


    He continued clearing enemies as he moved. For the lesser mobs, [The me Dragon] rained fiery death, quickly stacking his passive bonus.


    Perched atop rooftops and tforms, Orson picked off minibosses from a thousand meters away, systematically luring them out for quick defeats.


    Though these minibosses had high HP, their simple mechanics made them far easier than King Ma. From such a safe distance, they posed no threat to Orson.


    Two hourster, Orson stood at the entrance of the royal pce.


    "Warning: The pce is riddled with traps and hazards."


    Orson took a step forward, crouching low. A volley of arrows shot out from the pce''s interior, narrowly grazing his head.


    Pirs along the walls lit up with magical runes, and six stone serpents emerged, spewing deadly mes.


    The fiery beams swept across the corridor, leaving no safe zones¡ªany careless adventurer would instinctively retreat, triggering a trap that dropped them into a pit of des.


    Orson, however, remained motionless.


    The mes crept closer, but as they neared him, a small gap in their deadly sweep appeared. Calmly, Orson stepped through it, unscathed.


    "Die enough times, and you learn the way."


    Orson chuckled, recalling the countless times his team had been wiped out here. The healer reviving them on repeat had nearly broken down in frustration.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Inside the ornately decorated throne room, the absence of Ma left an eerie void. The majestic throne sat at the center, undisturbed.


    Pausing to gather his thoughts, Orson approached the throne and carefully pushed it aside, revealing a hidden trapdoor beneath.


    A spiral staircase descended into the depths. Orson crouched and slipped through the opening.


    "You have discovered the Royal Tomb of the Ascension Kingdom!"


    The system prompt appeared as Orson emerged into a vast, foggy chamber.


    Magic torches red to life, gradually illuminating the grand tomb.


    The air was thick with an unsettling silence, and a strange, unceable dread hung over the atmosphere.


    For most yers, especially those ying solo, this ce would be a nightmare. Orson, however, felt a familiar thrill¡ªhe loved exploring ancient ruins, always chasing the dream of unearthing god-tier Soul Seals.


    For him, the tomb wasn''t frightening; it felt like home.


    "What''s this¡­?"


    As the fog cleared, Orson spotted an altar at the chamber''s center.


    On it stood a massive ck coffin, nked by three smaller silver coffins as if paying homage to the one in the center.


    "Just coffins? Where''s the treasure?" Orson muttered, frowning.


    Still, his gaze sharpened as he approached the ck coffin. Using his Fox n Mage Staff as a makeshift crowbar, he pried it open.


    The heavy stone lid fell with a loud crash, sending dust into the air. Orson peered inside.


    No remainsy within. Instead, he found a set of dark purple-gold armor adorned with serpent motifs and an exquisitely crafted longsword.


    "Jackpot!"


    Excitement lit up Orson''s face. The armor and sword radiated power; they were at least high-tier purple items!


    But the moment Orson touched the sword, rust spread across its de like wildfire. In seconds, it crumbled to dust.


    "What the¡ª?!"


    Stunned, Orson watched as the once-glorious armor followed suit, disintegrating into nothingness.


    Frustrated but undeterred, Orson moved on to the silver coffins. Inside eachy human remains, but no treasures.


    "So the ck coffin belonged to Ma. After his transformation, he became the bone dragon¡­"


    Orson spected, piecing together the tomb''s story.


    Behind the ck coffin, Orson spotted a small treasure chest. Carefully, he opened it.


    "Obtained: [Heart of the Warlord] x3!"


    Description: The hearts of Ascension Kingdom''s greatest warriors.


    "Obtained: [Skyfeather Crystals] x5!"


    Description: Rare forging materials of immeasurable value.


    Relieved, Orson exhaled.


    He had feared the rare materials needed for his legendary weapon had been lost. To his delight, they were all here in the hidden tomb.


    It was a testament to how challenging crafting with the [Elven Gemstone] truly was.


    As Orson reached to im the treasures, the air shimmered. A cacophony of battle cries and screams echoed around him.


    Orson blinked, finding himself on a chaotic battlefield.


    Above him, an enormous shadow darkened the sky. A massive magical warship flew overhead, unleashing a devastating barrage of spells.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The earth trembled under the onught. Explosions and deafening roars filled the air as the warship''s cannonfire tore through enemy lines.


    Orson''s ears rang. Observing closely, he realized he was witnessing a memory¡ªa vivid recreation of a past battle.


    The soldiers bore the ck serpent emblem of the Ascension Kingdom, charging valiantly toward a distant foe.


    As Orson followed their line of attack, his breath caught.


    Their enemy was a colossal ck dragon, its wings so vast they blotted out the sky.


    [Dark Dragon King: Rebellion]


    Level: ???


    Orson''s blood ran cold.


    This was no ordinary foe¡ªit was a King-ss entity, a creature of myth and legend.


    In his past life, even the strongest dragon tamers only managed to control Domain-ss dragons. Compared to this behemoth, they were mere hatchlings.


    "The kingdom wasn''t consumed by self-immtion¡­ It was destroyed by the Dark Dragon King!"


    As Orson watched, four powerful figures aboard the warship charged at the dragon. Each wielded legendary weapons, their strikes cleaving the sky itself.


    Yet, even they were no match for the King-ss beast. One by one, they fell.


    Only a single survivor, a man wearing a crown, managed to flee.


    The Ascension Kingdom''s army was annihted.


    Its cities were ravaged by gue and curses spread by the dragon, leaving millions dead in a tragedy of apocalyptic scale.


    The scene shifted.


    Orson found himself in the royal pce once more, witnessing a broken King Ma return.


    His body twisted grotesquely as bone spikes erupted from his arms, his skin cracking under the curse of undeath.


    A priest offered him a glimmering red fruit. Ma consumed it, slowing his transformation, but the curse remained unstoppable.


    "A divine artifact?"


    Curious, Orson examined the fruit.


    [Fruit of the Tree of Rebirth]


    Quality: Divine Artifact


    Effect: Increases maximum HP by 1,000. Usable 0/3 times.


    Orson''s eyes gleamed.


    If Ma had used such an artifact, perhaps more could be found in the tomb.


    The vision ended as Ma sumbed to the curse. His servantsid him to rest within the royal tomb, clutching a mysterious ck rune stone.


    Shaken, Orson snapped back to reality.


    "This scene¡­ the amount of information is insane."


    Recalling the ck rune stone from the vision, Orson searched behind the coffin.


    "You have found a key to an unknown door."


    Effect: Unknown.

 Chapter 56 56: Somethings Off About This Dungeon

    "Could this be... the key to a dragon''s hoard?"


    Orson froze, staring at the uniquely shaped key in his hand. Its ck obsidian surface gleamed, and intricate, arcane patterns adorned its inverted triangr design. Experience more on empire


    In his previous life, he''d seen something simr auctioned off on the ck market. The item had fetched a staggering ten thousand gold coins before being snapped up by a wealthy yer. Rumors imed it had led the buyer to a dragon''s hoard, yielding an astronomical profit.


    Dragons in Infinite Dimensions were apex predators, synonymous with wealth and greedmon tropes in many games. Even the treasure of a low-tier dragon could bring unimaginable riches.


    "Could this key unlock the hoard of the Dark Dragon King Rebellion?"


    Suppressing his excitement, Orson stashed the key in his inventory.


    Even if the hoard remained elusive, the key itself was priceless.


    He turned back to survey the tomb but furrowed his brow. "Why does this chamber seemrger than before?"


    Far ahead, faint candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows along the western corridor.


    After thoroughly searching the current area to ensure nothing was overlooked, Orson set off toward the distant glow.


    The corridor stretched endlessly, each step echoing in eerie silence. Faint music wafted through the air¡ªa haunting melody, elusive and distant, yet strangely entrancing.


    "If the gods included this detail, it must serve a purpose," Orson mused, firing a test [Explosive Fireball] into the darkness ahead.


    The fireball illuminated the corridor as it hurtled forward. Momentster, the sound of gears grinding filled the air.


    ng! ng! ng!


    A barrage of traps unleashed from the walls¡ªspears, des, and falling stones crashed down in deadly waves.


    Beads of sweat formed on Orson''s forehead. "Good thing I didn''t just charge in¡­"


    But something felt off. Hidden treasures had already been secured¡ªwhy were there still traps?


    "This doesn''t add up," he muttered.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Deeper into the corridor, the candlelight faded, leaving Orson at the mouth of a three-way fork.


    The melody grew louder, its mournful strains echoing in the silence.


    The haunting tune carried a sorrowful, almost divine quality, unsettling in the deste corridor.


    But Orson felt no fear. "Three paths, but only one will be safe. The other two will definitely lead to death."


    Without hesitation, he fired off test attacks down each path.


    Two of the fireballs collided with walls after a few seconds, triggering deafening explosions as more traps activated. The entire tomb quaked with their release.


    "No sound from the left¡­"


    Smirking, Orson reinforced himself with nine protective shields before stepping confidently into the left corridor.


    Minutester, he found himself facing a glowing white barrier blocking the path.


    Orson fired a [Explosive Fireball] at the barrier. The projectile passed through without detonating, vanishing silently on the other side.


    After a moment''s consideration, Orson shrugged. "The worst-case scenario? I die and get sent back to town. Big deal."


    Steeling himself, he stepped through the barrier.


    The oppressive darkness lifted, reced by dazzling light.


    Orson blinked in disbelief. Before him stretched a stunningly lush valley, teeming with vibrant flowers and greenery. The air was alive with the sounds of chirping birds, and the entire area exuded an almost sacred tranquility.


    Turning back, Orson saw that the glowing barrier remained intact, still marking the exit. Yet this ce felt entirely disconnected from the tomb.


    "A pocket dimension?"


    His mind raced. Only spatial magic could create such an environment, and such feats required incredible power.


    In Infinite Dimensions, spatial and temporal magic were exceedingly rare. The teleportation arrays scattered across the empire were remnants of ancient times, with few NPCs or yers capable of replicating them.


    Temporal magic, meanwhile, was little more than a myth. Orson had never encountered anyone wielding it in his previous life.


    "For the Ascension Kingdom to have created a haven like this... their strength must have been immense."


    "You have entered the Ascension Kingdom''s Celestial Refuge."


    The system prompt appeared, leaving Orson stunned.


    "A hidden dungeon¡­ within a hidden dungeon?"


    Orson couldn''t help but feel impressed. "The gods really went all out this time."


    Though small, the dimension exuded a serene, otherworldly beauty. "Who''s ying that melody? Some kind of background music?"


    Curiosity piqued, Orson scaled a nearby hill for a better view.


    In the distance, a massive gray tree loomed over a field of flowers. Its gnarled branches bore withered, golden leaves, and a few crimson fruits hung from its boughs.


    "The Tree of Rebirth?"


    Orson''s heart raced. The red fruits resembled the ones Ma had consumed in the vision¡ªlegendary items capable of extending life.


    "Divine artifacts! Each one boosts HP by 1,000!"


    Eyes gleaming, Orson sprinted toward the tree.


    -200!


    Suddenly, a damage number shed above his head as he collided with an invisible barrier surrounding the tree. Rubbing his head, he examined the barrier.


    The six-sided fence around the tree shimmered faintly with magic, clearly a powerful ward.


    Nearby, Orson spotted an ancient harp resting on the grass, long since decayed.


    In that moment, a vision overtook him.


    A stunning woman appeared, seated on the grass beside the harp. She plucked its strings with delicate hands, her song filled with longing.


    Her beauty was otherworldly, her pointed ears and regal aura marking her as a high elf.


    "Wait¡­ that''s the Queen?"


    The system identified her as:


    [Earth Elf Queen: Lunar Grace]


    [Title: Ascension Kingdom Queen Consort]


    Orson''s jaw dropped.


    "Ma''s wife was¡­ her?"


    The elegance and ethereal charm of the elven queen left Orson momentarily dazed.


    "No way. How did that decrepit kingnd her?!"


    Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he muttered, "Thanks a lot, Bradley. Your dumb jokes about fat nerds are getting to me."


    The vision faded, returning Orson to reality.


    "This dungeon just keeps getting weirder."


    Refocusing on the Tree of Rebirth, Orson formted a n.


    Stepping back several hundred meters, he fired a series of [Explosive Fireballs] at the magical barrier.


    -1.


    The damage numbers were pitiful, a testament to the barrier''s insane durability.


    [Advanced Chaotic Barrier]


    HP: 3 Billion


    Defense: 10,000


    "Three billion HP? Seriously?"


    Despite its ridiculous stats, Orson noticed something promising: the tree trembled with each strike. Its fruits swayed precariously, as if on the verge of falling.


    "This could work!"


    Excited, Orson unleashed an even faster volley of attacks.


    Suddenly, the barrier emitted a low hum.


    Orson paused, realizing something was off. The barrier''s resonance changed, and his attacks began to reflect back toward him.


    He narrowly dodged, sweat dripping down his face.


    "Something''s wrong. There''s a hidden mechanic here!"


    A chilling thought crossed his mind. "Could the barrier actually be breakable?"

 Chapter 57 57: Chop Down the Sacred Tree!

    "Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La¡­ Damn! I think I''ve got it!"


    Orson felt a jolt of realization course through him. His mind shed back to the piano lessons he''d taken as a child at the orphanage.


    The six vertices of the hexagram¡ªcould they represent six musical notes?


    Combined with the ethereal melody echoing in his ears, it seemed the dungeon was guiding adventurers to harmonize across time with the Earth Elf Queen. Only by achieving this harmony could the unbreakable barrier be shattered.


    But one thing still puzzled him.


    Why had his earlier attacks been reflected?


    "Was it because I yed the wrong note?"


    Testing his theory, Orson unleashed a [Explosive Fireball] in the same direction as before.


    The moment the fireball hit the barrier, the fire vertex of the hexagram lit up brightly, while the other five dimmed.


    "Holy crap!"


    Orson''s eyes widened. "I''m a genius!"


    This proved his suspicion: each vertex not only represented a different musical note but also required a specific elemental attack to activate.


    Excitedly, Orson switched his basic attack mode to wind magic: [Wind de].


    It had been ages since he''d used anything other than [zing Burn], thanks to its synergy with his passive skills.


    The wind de ricocheted off the barrier harmlessly.


    "Still wrong¡­"


    Undeterred, he adjusted his angle and struck a different vertex. This time, a soft hum resonated, and the barrier disyed a faint damage value.


    -10.


    "It''s working!"


    Switching to earth magic: [Stone Spire], he struck the next vertex.


    The barrier shuddered, and the damage value increased: -50.


    By the time he hit the water vertex with [Water Bullet], the damage spiked: -250!


    Excited, Orson noticed three more fruits falling from the tree.


    These [Fruits of Rebirth] were worth a fortune on the auction market, each capable of permanently boosting HP.


    But Orson wasn''t content with just a few fruits.


    "No, I want the whole damn tree!"


    Orson''s ambition soared. His goal wasn''t just the fruits¡ªit was to uproot the entire [Tree of Rebirth] and haul it home.


    But as he prepared for the next round of attacks, he realized something was wrong.


    "Wait¡­ there''s a problem."


    He froze. Four elements activated sessfully, but the hexagram had six vertices.


    He was still missing Light and Darkness.


    Without attacks for these two elements, there was no way to break the barrierpletely.


    After a few moments, the timer ran out. The barrier rapidly restored to full health, resetting the entire sequence. The melody looped again.


    "Damn it!"


    Orson scratched his head.


    He could recruit other yers to help, but finding a Light or Darkness user would be challenging. Dark elemental jobs like Cursed Sorcerers were rare, often ostracized by the Empire due to their association with monsters.


    Even if he managed to assemble a team, how could he trust them to keep this sacred tree a secret?


    Suddenly, an idea struck him.


    "Bradley!"


    That idiot wasn''t just any yer¡ªhe was a Light-Dark Swordmage, a perfect fit for this puzzle.


    "Drop everything and join my party¡ªNOW!"


    Readtest stories on empire


    Orson shot Bradley a private message.


    Bradley, busy fielding public attention as the guild''s vice president, groaned. "Do you know how swamped I am? People are lining up to kiss my boots! I''m¡ªwait, what? A hidden treasure?!"


    "Yes, you idiot. Now get over here!"


    Bradley shouted to the guild channel, "Madman, I''m out. Hold down the fort while I help Orson with something big."


    Madman growled, "Fine, you smug jerk. Just go already!"


    As Bradley rushed off, a wave of female guild members bombarded him with protests:


    "Wait, don''t go! Add me on mobile!"


    "Bradley! You promised to help me grind!"


    Watching this unfold, Orson felt a chill. "Since when did we have so many girls in the guild? What''s going on here?"


    Madman chimed in bitterly, "Ladies, listen up¡ªBradley is a 280-pound neckbeard IRL. Save yourselves!"


    After finally dragging Bradley into the dungeon, Orson spent half an hour exining the mechanics. He even drew markers near the barrier to indicate the Light and Dark vertices, simplifying Bradley''s task as much as possible.


    But the n hit a snag.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Before even reaching the [Tree of Rebirth], Bradley fell victim to the pce traps¡ªfive times in a row.


    "Damn it, Orson! These fire-spewing rocks are cheating!"


    Each time Bradley respawned, Orson had to painstakingly guide him through the traps, all while suppressing his frustration.


    Two hourster, Bradley finally stumbled into the Celestial Refuge.


    "Holy crap!"


    Seeing the [Tree of Rebirth], Bradley''s jaw dropped. "You weren''t kidding¡ªthis thing is amazing!"


    Orson tossed him two [Fruits of Rebirth].


    Without hesitation, Bradley wolfed them down.


    "Whoa! My HP just shot up by 2,000!"


    Already boasting over 7,000 HP as an S-tier job holder, Bradley''s health soared to nearly 10,000, putting most tanks to shame.


    Orson handed him a third fruit.


    Bradley tried eating it but stopped midway. "Nope. Says I''ve hit my limit."


    "Same here," Orson muttered. He''d only managed two fruits himself.


    They spected the limit was tied to character level¡ªpossibly one fruit per 10 levels.


    With everything in ce, Orson barked orders.


    "Alright, follow my lead. Switch between Light and Dark as I call it. You''ve practiced this before."


    Bradley grinned. "Been dunked on hundreds of times¡ªlet''s get chopping!"


    Executing the n was trickier than expected.


    They failed repeatedly, either missing notes or ovepping attacks. The barrier reset several times, forcing them to start over.


    Finally, after multiple attempts:


    "Fire!"


    "Wind!"


    "Water!"


    Orson shoutedmands in rapid session.


    "Dark¡ªnow!"


    Bradley swung his Dark Sword, and the hexagram resonated, glowing with brilliant notes.


    "Light! sh!"


    Bradley''s Light Sword cut deep into the barrier.


    -6000!


    The barrier trembled violently, and a cascade of dried fruits rained from the tree.


    "It''s working!"


    Orson''s excitement grew as the n unfolded perfectly.


    The pairunched a relentless assault, matching their attacks to the melody.


    The [Tree of Rebirth] shook under the strain, shedding even more fruits.


    Bradley roared, channeling his sword''s full power. "Eat this, tree freak!"


    A massive burst of energy mmed into the barrier, shaving off a staggering 30 million HP in one strike.

 Chapter 58 58: The Tree of Rebirth

    Crash!


    With Bradley''s final strike, the sound of shattering ss echoed through the air. A dazzling light erupted from the previously indestructible barrier.


    "Did we seed?" Bradley muttered in surprise.


    "Looks like it," Orson replied, though his voicecked excitement.


    A fleeting vision of the Earth Elf Queen appeared, her tearful eyes carrying a serene smile. Her image dissipated like a gentle breeze.


    Momentster, the [Tree of Rebirth] began to wither rapidly. Its vibrant branches and leaves fell away, and the once-majestic tree started crumbling, rotting into fragments of decayed wood.


    "What the hell?!" Orson practically screamed, hisposure breaking. "That''s my golden goose!"


    The scene defied logic¡ªwhy would the tree crumble after they''d gone through the painstaking process of breaking the barrier?


    Bradley and Orson exchanged stunned nces. All their hard work seemed wasted.


    "Seriously, gods? You let us have the fruits but won''t give us the tree? What''s with the double standards!"


    A system notification popped up.


    "Congrattions! You have perfectly cleared [The Secret of Ascension]. Would you like to broadcast your achievement to the regional server?"


    "Use anonymous mode?"


    The message didn''t lift Orson''s mood.


    Clearing the dungeon perfectly was meaningless if the tree itself was gone.


    Orson had grand ns for the [Tree of Rebirth]. He''d envisioned transnting it to the guild''s future base, where its fruits would boost the HP of all guild members by at least 3,000.


    In the early stages of the game, where most yers struggled with low health, such a boost could shift the tide of battle and secure dominance.


    "This is bullshit!" Orson couldn''t help cursing.


    They''d managed to gather 20 fruits from the tree¡ªan incredible haul, no doubt¡ªbut it paledpared to the potential of cultivating the tree itself.


    The server broadcast followed shortly after.


    "Regional Announcement: yers Orgod and Money Traveler have demonstrated unparalleled wisdom, perfectly clearing the legendary dungeon [The Secret of Ascension]!"


    "Rewards: +10 Talent Points, +30,000 Fame, +200 Gold."


    The announcement shook the server.


    Earning 10 Talent Points was no small feat. Unlike attributes, talent points directly enhanced skills and could significantly amplify a yer''sbat potential.


    "Well, at least the constion prize isn''t bad¡­" Bradley, basking in the spotlight, tried to cheer Orson up.


    "Wait! Look¡ªthere''s something glowing in the wood!"


    Bradley''s words snapped Orson out of his disappointment. His sharp eyes spotted a faint green glimmer among the decayed wood.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "There''s treasure!"


    The two rushed forward. Without the barrier, the debris was easy to clear.


    In the center of the rubbley a small, vibrant sapling¡ªbarely the size of a pinky finger. Its jade-like texture shimmered, surrounded by an ethereal mist and faint magical runes.


    Orson carefully picked it up, his hands trembling with excitement.


    [Tree of Rebirth Sapling]


    Quality: Divine


    Description: A branch of the first tree in existence, reborn every millennium.


    Properties: Produces six types of divine fruits:


    - Fire: Life Fruit


    - Water: Mana Fruit


    - Wind: Agility Fruit


    - Earth: Resistance Fruit


    - Darkness: Critical Fruit


    - Light: Luck Fruit


    Cultivation Requirements:


    - Rootless Water


    - Heavenly Divine Soil


    Note: Without proper cultivation, the sapling will only bear Life Fruits.


    "Oh my god¡­ it''s a divine item!" Bradley yelled, his excitement turning into an unrestrained cheer.


    The potential of the [Tree of Rebirth] was staggering. The other fruits,bined with the Life Fruits, could grant a yer an unparalleled advantage in every stat.


    Orson took a deep breath, struggling to contain his excitement. The sapling wasn''t just a stroke of luck¡ªit was the start of a potential game-changer.


    Even more importantly, he knew exactly where to find the required cultivation items.


    "Rootless Water is in the Northern Desert Forbidden Zone. Heavenly Divine Soil is in the Imperial Capital, at the Holy Light Cathedral."


    Orson clenched his fists.


    Both locations were incredibly dangerous and far beyond his current capabilities. The Rootless Water was located in a fiery hellscape where anything unprepared would be incinerated instantly.


    The Heavenly Divine Soil, on the other hand, was guarded by the Holy Light Dragon¡ªa creature of immense power that protected the Empire''s most sacred treasures.


    Dragons in Infinite Dimensions¡ªbe they low-ranking or apex predators¡ªwere notorious for their overwhelming strength.


    Still, Orson had no intention of giving up.


    "One day, I''ll im those items." He carefully stashed the sapling in his inventory.


    With the dungeonplete, Orson and Bradley returned to the frozen ins outside.


    During their absence, the area had grown crowded. Dozens of yers had ventured into the snowy wilderness. Most had reached Level 20 and unlocked advanced sses.


    A few had yet to finalize their ss awakenings, holding out for hidden or superior options.


    As the two prepared to teleport back, amotion caught their attention.


    "What the hell, healer?! Are you trying to kill me?!"


    "Knight, calm down! My skill is a little... unique."


    "Unique my ass! Every time you heal me, my health plummets! Are you cursed?!"


    Orson and Bradley froze, watching the chaotic scene.


    A small party was locked in battle with three elite snow wolves. Their healer¡ªa petite, panicked priest¡ªwas at the center of the turmoil.


    Bradley rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "Is that priest¡­ dealing damage to their tank with healing spells?"


    Orson nodded, equally bewildered. "Yep. Their knight''s health is dropping every time she heals. I''ve never seen anything like it."


    The party was struggling despite having three awakened yers. The healer''s antics had turned a manageable fight into an uphill battle.


    Their knight chugged health potions desperately, cursing loudly:


    "You''re killing me here! Are you a healer or a serial killer?!"


    "Wait, wait!" the priest stammered. "My skill requires your HP to drop below 90% before it works properly! Just trust me!"


    The party''s archer growled, "Trust you? After this disaster?!"


    The wolves were in, but the party quickly turned on their healer.


    "I''ve never met such a god-awful priest in my life. Someone shoot her!"


    Panicking, the priest bolted. "Please, let me exin! I promise it gets better once my skill activates!"


    "Activate this!"


    The archer loosed a [Triple Shot], aiming straight for the priest''s back.

 Chapter 59 59: I Approve of This Teammate-Killer

    The attack from Double Cheese Fortress struck the small priest directly. But instead of taking damage, something baffling urred.


    +233


    +233


    +233


    The priest''s health didn''t drop¡ªinstead, it surged significantly!


    Double Cheese Fortress: "What the¡­ hacks?! Definitely hacks!"


    All five teammates stood frozen in shock. Meanwhile, Bradley pointed at the priest with his mouth agape.


    "Confirmed! This is absolute proof. I knew someone had to be hacking in this game!"


    Unconvinced, the team''s mage hurled a series of Wind des at the priest, but the result was the same¡ªhis health only increased.


    Zap! Boom! Pow!


    Spell after spellnded on the priest, but every single one healed him instead.


    Female Dorm God: "Stop hitting me! Please! I''m begging you¡ªI''ll die at this rate!"


    He stumbled as he fled, making his way toward Orson and Bradley.


    Bradley turned to Orson for instructions.


    After a moment''s thought, Orson said, "This priest has potential. Can you handle those five alone?"


    Bradleyughed heartily, brandishing his swords. "Ten or twenty wouldn''t even be enough for me to warm up!"


    He stepped forward, nting himself firmly between the priest and the angry party.


    Silver hair glinting in the icy light, Bradley''s face twisted into a devilish grin. With a flick of his hands, a gleaming Light Sword and a pulsating Dark Sword appeared in each hand.


    Orson chuckled, casuallymenting, "Looks like your tools got a bit¡­ longer."


    Bradley stumbled, nearly tripping over his own feet. He turned back with an awkwardugh. "Six feet tall, 18 centimeters¡ªI swear, I''m not exaggerating!"


    "You can''t go five minutes without lying, can you?" Orson snapped.


    Meanwhile, Double Cheese Fortress was fuming. "What''s the deal here? You can''t seriously be defending this guy! He''s been sabotaging our grind!"


    "Nothing personal," Bradley repliedzily, raising his dark sword, "but how about you try bullying me instead?"


    Double Cheese Fortress sneered. "So you''re a B-tier Magic Swordsman? Big deal. I''m a B-tier Light Ranger!"


    The Light Ranger didn''t wait for Bradley to respond. Swiftly pulling his bowstring, he unleashed a volley of Light Arrows, the glowing projectiles tearing through the snowy air.


    Bradley didn''t flinch. With a casual flick of his Dark Sword, he deflected the arrows mid-flight, reducing them to harmless particles.


    Blocked!


    The ranger blinked in surprise. "No way¡­ That attack does 700 damage, minimum. How did he react so fast?"


    A Storm Mage at the rear quickly followed up, conjuring a of cutting winds.


    Bradley smirked. Raising both swords, hebined them into a massive Light-and-Dark Greatsword.


    sh!


    With a single horizontal strike, he tore through the storm, sending a de of energy streaking toward the mage.


    Double Critical! -3200!


    A terrifying damage number appeared above the mage''s head as he crumpled into a pile of ash.


    The rest of the party stared in stunned silence.


    "Double crits?! What skill is that? I''ve never heard of Magic Swordsmen having something like this!"


    Bradley raised his massive greatsword and sneered. "Anyone else want to give it a shot? Come on, I''ll teach you how to respect your betters."


    Even Orson couldn''t help but mutter, "S-tier sses are so overpowered it''s disgusting."


    Bradley''s Double Crit ability, normally a high-level skill exclusive to dual-sword warriors, required absurd amounts of mana and a bit of luck to activate. Most warriors wouldn''t unlock it until at least level 30.


    But thanks to his S-tier ss, Bradley''s mana pool was so massive that he could spam the skill freely.


    The only drawback was the greatsword''s weight. Its cumbersome size significantly slowed both his movement and attack speed¡ªan Achilles'' heel in duels against skilled opponents.


    Of course, Bradley''s posturing made his weakness less obvious, and his opponents, already intimidated, had no chance to exploit it.


    "Recognize my tag? If you want to live, get lost."


    Bradley proudly disyed his Money Traveler guild badge.


    The Light Ranger froze in his tracks. "S-tier? And a vice president of Godyer? Let''s go, guys! We''re out of here!"


    The entire party scattered like frightened rabbits, vanishing into the icy tundra.


    "These noobs aren''t even a warm-up." Bradley sheathed his swords, puffing out his chest.


    "Big Bro, you''re amazing! Please, let me join your friend list¡ªI need a mentor!" The priest, Female Dorm God, was quick to butter him up.


    Bradley beamed. "What can I say? Stick with me, kid, and no one will dare touch you!"


    The priest eagerly nodded, showering Bradley withpliments until thetter was practically glowing.


    Orson finally interrupted their mutual ttery. "Do you have a Soul Seal?"


    Female Dorm God froze. Then, without warning, he bolted.


    "Quaking Stone Spikes." Readtest stories on empire


    Orson''s soft murmur summoned a wall of stone, blocking the priest''s escape.


    The small man tried mbering over butcked the agility to scale it. Frantic, he turned to find another route, only for Bradley to appear in his path.


    "Running away, huh? That''s not very polite." Bradley sneered, pinning him with his Light Sword.


    "Please! Mercy! If I die, leveling up will take forever!" The priest crumbled, hands raised in surrender.


    Orson''s tone was calm. "Rx. Just let me see the Soul Seal''s attributes. It''s bound to you, so there''s no way we can take it."


    The priest hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright, fine. But don''tugh!"


    He shared his Soul Seal''s information:


    [Left Hand of the Cursed King]


    - Grade: Heroic Soul


    - Passive Skill 1: Cursed Healing: Heals have a 50% chance to reduce the target''s HP to 90%. When this triggers, all teammates gain +90% to all attributes.


    - Passive Skill 2: Cursed Retaliation: If insulted by a teammate, steal 90% of their mana. If attacked by a teammate, steal 90% of their HP.


    Divine Commentary: Treasure your teammates. Avoid curses. Good luck!


    "This¡­ This is the most cursed Soul Seal I''ve ever seen." Bradley stared in disbelief.


    Orson pped slowly. "Congrattions. I thought my Super God-tier Soul Seal was strange, but yours takes the cake."


    Orson''s eyes gleamed as he smiled at the priest. "Join our guild. Godyer could use a priest like you."


    "Are¡­ are you serious?" the priest stammered, clearly shocked. "Didn''t you see what I just did? I''m practically a walking disaster!"


    "You''re exactly what we need," Orson replied confidently.


    The priest''s Soul Seal, despite its bizarre effects, was still Heroic-grade¡ªjust one step below Divine-grade. If used strategically, its +90% attribute buff could turn any fight in their favor.


    And as for the second ability?


    Orson chuckled inwardly. "If my teammates don''t die from my curses¡­ they''ll make me even stronger."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

 Chapter 60 60: Who Dares Take My Head?

    Female Dorm God came across his peculiar Soul Seal in the most unusual way.


    One day in the starter vige, he encountered an old fisherman. The elder, who also served as the vige''s pastor, loved fishing during his downtime. However, his luck was terrible. Nine out of ten times, he''d return empty-handed. When he did catch something, it was often bizarre¡ªcorpses or random magical beasts.


    The old manmented that he was cursed and poured his frustrations onto Female Dorm God, who naturally dismissed it as mere bad luck. As an experienced angler himself, he offered to show off his own fishing skills and help the old man out.


    Surprisingly, he also caught nothing. Just as he was ready to give up, he finally got a bite¡ªbut instead of a fish, he reeled in a jade arm. Terrified, he almost wet himself. Before he couldprehend what had happened, the arm fused into his body, granting him the Soul Seal of the Left Hand of the Cursed King (Epic Rank).


    When he turned back to ask the old pastor what was going on, the man had vanished without a trace.


    Bradley looked dubious. "Do you think I''m a kid? Epic Soul Seals just lying around for anyone to find? That''s the most ridiculous fairytale I''ve heard all day."


    "Swear to the gods! I''m telling the truth!" Female Dorm God protested, exasperated. "This stupid thing got me kicked out of dozens of teams. Reaching level 20 was pure torture."


    Orson couldn''t help but chuckle. Without understanding its properties, teammates would understandably misinterpret his Soul Seal as sabotage. After all, he nearly wiped his team earlier by "healing" the tank to near-death.


    "It''s usible," Orson said thoughtfully. "Soul Seals can manifest in countless ways, including through lucky encounters."


    He was a perfect example. Who would''ve thought a simple quiz could earn him a Super God-grade Soul Seal? Infinite Dimensions was filled with surprises.


    "I''ll send you a guild invite," Orson added.


    "Thank you, great one! I promise to follow you loyally¡ªuh, I mean, serve diligently!" Female Dorm God fumbled, hastily correcting himself.


    The trio made their way back toward Pondenorlin City.


    With just a few hours until the guild base wars began, the world chat was aze with recruitment ads. Large guilds had already secured their rosters, carefully selecting elite yers over level 20 who hadpleted their ss awakenings.


    Orson reviewed Godyer''s roster. To his dismay, only 50 members were present¡ªand most were casual female yers.


    It was clear that Madman and Bradley had a hand in this.


    Still, Orson wasn''t concerned. Infinite Dimensions had just begun, and a wave of professional yers would soon flood in. Many were still at low levels, and some were only just starting. Orson had his sights on future legends¡ªmaster tacticians and gamey prodigies capable of turning the tide of any battle.


    As they crossed into the Frozen Wastes, Female Dorm God suddenly shouted, "Why are there so many red names?!"


    The group halted. All around, red-named yers were gathering¡ªdozens, then hundreds, forming a small army.


    "Withdraw immediately!" shouted AskSword, the leader of a nearby guild. "Everyone from AskSword, leave the hunting grounds now. Hurry! The Saint yer Syndicate is here!"


    Hearing themand, fifty or sixty yers scattered, abandoning their farming spots.


    Casual yers cursed under their breath. "Those bastards again! All they do is kill and loot. What''s their problem?!"


    Despite their grumbling, everyone wisely retreated. No one wanted to mess with the infamous red-named mercenary group.


    Bradley sneered, unimpressed. "What''s the big deal? A few dozen red names, and they''re running scared?"


    As the red-named yers closed in, Orson''s eyes narrowed. Their movements made it clear: this wasn''t a random attack.


    Saint yer Syndicate was a mercenary group that thrived on chaos, offering "headhunting services" for bounties. Once they locked onto a target, even guild leaders and pro yers found it difficult to escape their relentless pursuit.


    "Are you Orson?" their leader, a 23rd-level rogue named Shura''s Will, stepped forward. His shadowy cloak and ruthless gaze exuded menace.


    "I am. Who hired you?" Orson asked, his tone calm.


    "That''s confidential," Shura''s Will replied, smirking. "But the bounty is quite generous¡ª5,000 gold for your head."


    Saint yer Water God, a water mage,ughed mockingly. "Hear that, ''Three-Time Champion''? Save us the trouble and delete your character now. Spare yourself the humiliation of being camped at the respawn point."


    Bradley sneered, stabbing his dual swords into the ground. "Come and get me if you dare!"


    "Enough talk," Orson said, hisposure unshaken. "Let''s get this over with¡ªI''ve got things to do."


    The confidence in his voice unsettled the syndicate.


    Female Dorm God, on the other hand, looked ready to bolt. "Uh¡­ should we run?" he muttered, taking a few steps back.


    "You''re surrounded," Bradley pointed out, gesturing to the yers cutting off their retreat. "Running''s not an option."


    Water God grinned maliciously. "Enough chatter. Kill him."


    The mage raised his staff, summoning a towering Tidal Surge aimed at the trio.


    Orson calmly stepped forward, conjuring a radiant Sun Shield. The wall of light effortlessly absorbed the attack, leaving him unscathed.


    "What the¡ªno damage?!" Water God''s confidence faltered.


    "Take care of the ones behind us," Orson said to Bradley. "I''ll handle the front."


    "What about me?" Female Dorm God piped up nervously. "Should I, uh, heal?"


    Orson waved him off. "No thanks. Just¡­ stay put."


    Bradley grinned, his swords glinting ominously. "My big sword''s been itching for a fight!" Heunched himself at the advancing melee yers.


    Arrows rained down, but Bradley''s expert swordy deflected most of them. A few struck true, but his nearly 10,000 HP made the damage negligible.


    Enjoy exclusive content from empire


    "Reversal sh!"


    His Light Sword unleashed three consecutive strikes, each stronger than thest.


    -880!


    -1,100!


    -1,300!


    The final blow sent a heavily armored tank staggering back, his 6,000 HP nearly gone. "What the hell is this damage?!"


    Meanwhile, Orson turned his attention to the yers attempting to nk them. He muttered a spell, summoning jagged Stone Spikes to block their path.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Five thousand gold for my head?" Orson smirked coldly. "Let''s see who''ll take it."


    A fiery dragon erupted from his staff, engulfing the stunned attackers.


    -1,160!


    -4,330!


    The battlefield turned to chaos as Orson and Bradley demonstrated why they were considered legends in their own right.


    Female Dorm God, watching from the sidelines, muttered to himself, "I''m just a secret weapon¡­ right? A secret weapon alwayses in at the end¡­"


    He clutched his staff tightly, silently praying he wouldn''t have to step in.

 Chapter 61 61: The Dragon Among Sheep

    The knight fought valiantly, activating a Taunt skill to boost his resistance and absorb iing damage.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" Bradley sneered, easily predicting his opponent''s every move, right down to the color of his underwear.


    With a horizontal sh from his Dark Sword, ck mist erupted on contact, inflicting a Curse of Weakness on the knight. His defense and critical resistance dropped dramatically.


    Bradley roared like a beast, the Dark Sword cursing his enemy while the Light Sword empowered himself. Another thrustnded a staggering 2,000 critical damage, instantly finishing the knight.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    SSHomeRun, a Saint yer Syndicate member, stood dumbfounded. "A Pdin... was one-shot?"


    Orson, standing nearby, smiled faintly. "Doesn''t matter if you''re with SSR or Dragon''s Kiss Guild, the fact is... you didn''t bring enough people."


    With a flourish of his staff, fire magic erupted into a zing me Dragon, which rained destruction upon the opposing yers. Screams filled the air as a wave of fireballs decimated their formation, turning the icyndscape into a fiery inferno.


    -1,100!


    -4,300!


    -4,300!


    Seven or eight red names vanished into white shes, respawning back at the city.


    Behind Orson, Female Dorm God gulped audibly. "That''s it¡ªI''m clinging to this team for life. Mom, I''ll never have trouble finding dungeon parties again!"


    "How is he doing this from 500 meters away?!" SSHomeRun stammered, cold sweat running down his back.


    "Earth Mages! Use slowing spells! Don''t let him escape!" he bellowed, charging with his team of elite assassins. He''d dealt with powerful yers before and knew their damage output could be insane. But he also knew that no matter how strong a mage was, they were helpless once an assassin got close.


    However, Orson remained motionless. His calm demeanor made his opponents uneasy.


    "Escape? Why would I run? We''re all red names here¡ªkilling you is just free profit for me," Orson said coolly, ignoring the Mud Trap spell beneath his feet.


    For Orson, mobility wasn''t necessary. He was, after all, a walking tower of death.


    The Saint yer Syndicate''s strategy was clear: a swarm of rogue yersunched a coordinated attack, their shadowy forms darting toward Orson from all angles.


    Most mages would panic in this situation. Being surrounded by even one rogue, let alone ten, was a death sentence. But Orson stood firm. He had prepared for this exact scenario.


    "Back off! Damn it, just die already!" shouted Bradley, trying to return and assist, but he was swarmed by melee yers intent on stalling him.


    "Stealth!" SSHomeRunmanded, and his team of assassins vanished in unison. The atmosphere grew deathly quiet, an oppressive killing intent lingering in the air.


    Saint yer Syndicate''s strengthy in their stealth tactics. Against smaller teams, they were a nightmare to deal with. Againstrger guilds, their stealth allowed them to retreat unscathed.


    ng!


    Weapons struck, but their attacks failed to prate Orson''s defenses.


    SSHomeRun''s frustration mounted. "It''s just... shields! Endless shields!"


    No matter how hard his team tried, every blow was absorbed by yet anotheryer of protective magic.


    Orson wasn''t just a powerful mage; he was an absolute fortress. His Sun Shield wasn''t enough alone, so he had preemptively stacked nineyers of shields before the fight began.


    "ded Rainstorm."


    Orson whispered the spell, and a torrential rain transformed into countless razor-sharp des, radiating outward in a 20-meter circle.


    -230!


    -230!


    The assassins were forced out of stealth as the rain inflicted consistent damage, breaking their invisibility and leaving them exposed.


    SSHomeRun''s eyes widened in horror. "A dual-element mage?!"


    Orson chuckled. "What''s wrong? Didn''t the person who hired you tell you what I was capable of? Or were you just baited into this?"


    The fatal w of stealth mechanics was now painfully obvious: any damage automatically broke the effect and put the skill on a long cooldown.


    "Break his shields! Do something!" shouted an exasperated assassin.


    Another rogue managed to shatter one shield, only to see a new one instantly rece it. The futility of their efforts was maddening.


    Orson invoked two more spells: Whisper of the Wind to boost his attack speed and Slicing Gale to push back the assassins swarming him.


    "Is he insane? A tri-element mage?!" SSHomeRun shouted, hisposure unraveling.


    Orson continued raining devastation upon them. His mana reserves showed no signs of depleting, despite casting multiple high-cost spells.


    "This... this is impossible! He hasn''t even used a single mana potion!" cried Saint yer Water God as he rushed forward with his team to provide support.


    Orson met his gaze coldly and sent a single Fireball flying.


    -800!


    Water God scoffed. "Not bad, but hardly unstoppable."


    Then the fire spread. mes engulfed his body, dealing relentless damage.


    -4,300!


    Water God screamed as he crumbled to the ground, incinerated by Orson''s passive burn effects. "How can a passive skill deal over 4,000 damage?!"


    Orson''s eyes gleamed as he surveyed the shaken rogues. "Had enough? Because now it''s my turn."


    SSHomeRun hesitated, torn between retreating and continuing the fight. Before he could decide, the ground trembled. A Stone Wall rose in a U-shape, trapping the rogues.


    Mud Marsh immobilized their feet, stripping them of their only advantage: mobility.


    "Four-element mage! He''s insane!" shouted one of the rogues, their spirits crushed.


    Orson began casting Explosive Fireball, methodically targeting each rogue.


    One by one, they fell.


    SSHomeRun watched helplessly, his face pale as Orson deliberately spared him, forcing him to witness his entire team''s demise.


    "Damn it... I''ll kill you for this!" SSHomeRun snarled.


    Orson''s grin widened, revealing his teeth. "We''ll talk about that next time. For now, though... we''re not finished."


    Meanwhile, Bradley was a whirlwind of destruction. Blood stained his ck armor as he tore through the front line, leaving a pile of bodies in his wake.


    His health, once near 10,000, had dropped by two-thirds, but his resolve only grew stronger.


    Without their melee protectors, the Syndicate''s mages and healers were defenseless. For them, it was nothing short of a massacre.


    As the battle drew to a close, Orson''s gaze shifted toward Pondenorlin City.


    Far off in the distance, atop the city walls, stood a man with a legendary bow in hand. His imposing figure made him stand out like a crane among chickens.


    Orson''s eyes narrowed. Who is that?

 Chapter 62 62: Dogs Barking

    Watching the distant battle unfold was none other than Usher, leader of the Dragon''s Kiss Guild.


    From afar, Usher and Orson exchanged cold, silent res. Though not a word was spoken, the mutual hatred was palpable, as if they each longed to tear a piece from the other.


    "Let''s go," Usher said calmly, turning away from the city walls with his entourage.


    "How strong is he?" Usher asked, directing his question to a Level 21 Archer d in unassuming blue gear, known as Strategic Trickster.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Very strong," Trickster replied, his expression grave. "Strong enough to make me question the game''s bnce."


    He continued, "Though I couldn''t determine his exact health, his confidence in facing a siege without flinching suggests his HP is higher than most first-tier mages."


    Usher nodded, his thoughts aligning with Trickster''s assessment. Most mages prioritized free attribute points in attack or mana, neglecting health. However, Orson, equipped with heroic gear, clearly surpassed the average mage in durability.


    "What about his other capabilities?" Usher probed.


    Strategic Trickster''s brows furrowed as he responded, "Top-tier in both skill and game awareness. Far superior to Ivy, especially in his use of abilities. It''s almost unbelievable."


    He borated, "I''ve seen Earth Mages use Quaking Stone Spikes, but none as precisely as Orgod. Hisbat intuition is extraordinary¡ªhe manipted the Saint yer Syndicate like children, luring their rogues into traps with surgical precision, leaving them no way out."


    "This is just a phase," snapped Ivy, irritated by theparison.


    Trickster remained unfazed, rifying, "I''m only stating facts."


    Usher''s face darkened. A proud man, he prided himself on skills approaching professional standards. Yet,pared to Orson, he felt almost amateurish.


    "I see," Usher finally said.


    Strategic Trickster smirked knowingly. A tactician with a decorated background in strategy games and analytics, Trickster had been personally recruited by Usher for this reason.


    "From the information gathered," Trickster exined, "it''s clear he possesses a God-tier Soul Seal. It enhances range and mana, though it''s unclear if it boosts attack or critical stats."


    "A God-tier Soul Seal!?" gasped Ivy and Skysher, their expressions shifting to envy and disbelief.


    Such an item was a coveted dream for all yers, yet its acquisition remained an unsolved mystery. Even Usher, with his immense wealth and connections within Infinite Dimensions'' official circles, had failed to uncover reliable methods for obtaining one.


    "Indeed," Trickster confirmed. "I''ve seen Lord-ss Soul Seals that boost mage range by up to 300 meters, but I''d estimate Epic-tier ones don''t go much higher than that."


    "Wait," Usher interrupted, his brow furrowing. "I understand the range boost, but what about his mana?"


    Trickster replied, "Based on his zing Burn talent''s passive damage output, his base mana is over 40,000."


    "Forty¡­ thousand?" Ivy''s voice quivered as she nced at her own mana stat: 4,000.


    And that was with her equipped in high-mana heroic gear. Orson''s unarmored mana pool was over ten times hers.


    "You''ve got to be joking!" Skysher shouted, grabbing Trickster by the cor. "Forty thousand mana¡ªhe has more than a boss?"


    Trickster sneered, brushing off the usation. "Believe me or don''t. Ask any Fire Mage for confirmation if you dare."


    "Enough," Usher barked, his icy tone cutting through themotion. Skysher grudgingly released his grip.


    "What precautions should we take against him? Exin everything," Usher demanded.


    Feeling the weight of Usher''s resolve, Trickster smirked knowingly. "Though he appears to master all four elements, his damage primarilyes from his fire talent''s passive abilities."


    He leaned in conspiratorially. "My advice? Stock up on fire resistance potions and gear. Force him into melee situations where his fire damage bes less effective. If we overwhelm him with sheer numbers, he can''t win."


    "Good. That''s what I intended," Usher said, nodding approvingly. From his inventory, he pulled out a green Soul Seal and offered it to Trickster.


    "This is yours. Join my guild."


    The gesture left the surrounding yers stunned.


    "Boss¡­ are you serious?" Skysher stammered, horrified. "That Soul Seal cost you 10,000 gold!"


    Ivy''s brows knit tightly as she added, "It''s a perfect match for your S-tier Anti-Magic Archer build. Giving it away is a waste!"


    Usher dismissed their concerns with a scoff. "So what? Orson wields a God-tier Soul Seal¡ªdo you think I''m any less capable?"


    In his hands, the Epic-tier Soul Seal seemed almost worthless. But to others, it was a treasure worth killing for.


    "I love doing business with decisive people!" Trickster eximed, eyes gleaming with joy.


    For this Soul Seal, he had willingly disbanded his own guild and joined Dragon''s Kiss Guild.


    Meanwhile, Orson was oblivious to how deeply his abilities were being analyzed. He was still looting the battlefield with Bradley.


    "That was brutal! Saint yer Syndicate almost got wiped out by just two people¡­"


    "No," another yer interjected. "There were three. That quiet priest might also be a hidden master!"


    "He must be! Anyone rolling with Orgod can''t be an ordinary yer."


    Hearing this, Female Dorm God blushed furiously, straightened his posture, and tried to look imposing. "I''m a secret weapon¡ªI need to exude confidence and avoid dragging Orgod down!"


    "Damn it, their treasurer escaped. Otherwise, we could''ve imed the bounty," Bradleymented, his voice tinged with regret.


    The Saint yer Syndicate had taken on a 4,000-gold contract to hunt Orson. Even if they failed, they''d pocketed at least a quarter of that amount as a non-refundable deposit.


    However, Infinite Dimensions'' current strict storage rules meant most yers, even red-named ones, carried their wealth and items in their inventory. Killing them was the only way to recover it.


    After some scavenging, the spoils amounted to only a few hundred gold and a pile of junk equipment.


    "They can''t have gone far. This money is our guild fund¡ªI''m not letting it slip away," Orson said, smiling faintly.


    "Still," Bradley said, frowning, "revival points have no imperial guards. They could just hide in the safe zone."


    Then the world channel erupted with insults.


    Saint yer Water God: "Fake match-fixer! Come on, you think you''re tough? Meet me at Pondenorlin City''s revival point!"


    SS Little V: "Everyone knows Orgod is trash who only bullies noobs. Against international teams, he chokes like a dog!"


    Saint yer Water God: "We''ll target your guild members next. Especially those cute little girls¡ªbet they''ll cry for mercy!"


    "I''ll butcher them!" Bradley roared, livid.


    The world channel soon became a cesspool of insults, with many yers joining the bandwagon to mock Orson.


    "How about we let them bark for a bit longer?" Orson said calmly.


    "Why?" Bradley asked, puzzled.


    Orson smiled mysteriously, holding up a Southeast Ward Fragment, the key to bypassing Pondenorlin City''s barrier. "Because we''re going hunting."

 Chapter 63 63: Apocalypse

    Bradley gave Orson a thumbs up andughed loudly. "You''re insane, boss!"


    "But... can you really hit them from here?" Female Dorm God asked, perplexed. Even with his bad math skills, he could estimate that the southeastern outskirts of the city were at least 2-3 kilometers from the respawn point.


    What is this guy, a mortar?


    "Pay attention, young man," Bradley said with a mischievous grin. "This is what it means to have the range of a God-tier Mage!" Heughed maniacally, recalling Orson''s incredible range when they fought monster hordes together.


    Grabbing Female Dorm God by the arm, Bradley rushed toward the city.


    They had a n. Bradley would ry precise coordinates, while Female Dorm God would collect the loot.


    A few minutester, Bradley spotted the Saint yer Syndicate members.


    These thugs were gathered near the healer NPC, spewing all kinds of vulgar insults. Even though their bodies had been blown apart in battle, their mouths were as sharp as ever. They were masters of stirring drama.


    The world chat was now littered with messages tarnishing Orson''s reputation, prompting even members of his guild to message him for rification.


    "Don''t worry about it," Orson said over the guild channel. "Everyone, head to Pondenorlin City''s respawn point. All the equipment and gold dropped will be split freely among you."


    Although confused, the guild members perked up at the mention of free loot. Many abandoned whatever they were doing and made their way back to the city.


    Meanwhile, the Saint yer Syndicate continued running their mouths.


    "Hey, Godyer yers! What''s up? Come give me a hug, sweethearts!" sneered Saint yer Water God, leering at some of the female guild members nearby.


    "Ew, this guy''s character is so ugly. His gear looks like old rags. I''m yucking from a distance!" one woman replied with disdain.


    "Totally. I only have eyes for our Kai-Kai. He''s the handsomest!"


    "Right? Kai-Kai''s not just good-looking; he''s super nice too. He even helped me farm monsters earlier!"


    Their chatter drew everyone''s attention to Bradley, who sat cross-legged like a model of masculine charm.


    "Damn it, don''t distract me!" Bradley scowled, pping away the yful hands of a few overly excited girls.


    "Wow! A true hero! So many admirers! I''m so envious!" said Female Dorm God, his inner creep slipping through as he drooled over the scene.


    "You idiot! Get ready to grab the loot!" Bradley snapped, giving him a swift kick in the rear.


    Not far away, Saint yer Water God mocked Bradley, standing smugly within the respawn zone''s healing aura.


    "Wow, such a tough S-tier warrior. Why don''t you just stay here forever? As soon as you step away, I''ll make sure to take good care of your girls!"


    "Is that so? How about you try staying online?" Bradley replied coldly. He knew better than to charge into the respawn area recklessly. The healing aura,bined with the sheer number of enemies, would spell certain death.


    The Saint yer Syndicate yers clustered in the respawn zone weren''t there by choice. If they left the healing aura, the empire''s guards would hunt them down on sight.


    Bradley''s voice came over the guild channel. "Coordinates: 132.37. We''re in position."


    Hearing this, Orson, stationed in the outskirts where he''d previously farmed mobs, issued a guild-wide warning:


    "All members, step back 20 meters to avoid coteral damage."


    "Seriously? He can hit from here?" Female Dorm God muttered in disbelief. A 2-3 kilometer range sounded more like the attack radius of a dragon boss than a mage''s spell.


    Bradley chuckled ominously. "If you want to stay alive, stand behind me. My buddy''s about to fire a wave of pure destruction."


    As the guild members nervously retreated, a Pdin named Iron Cavalry scoffed.


    "Look at this posturing. It''s all talk. Orgod''s just blowing smoke to cover his failure."


    "Shut your trap and watch," Bradley sneered. "Your opinion isn''t needed."


    "Fine. But mark my words: if we lose the guild battleter, I''m out."


    "Go ahead. Quit now. But if I see you again after, I''ll cut you down without hesitation," Bradley shot back, reminding Iron Cavalry of the five defeats he''d suffered in theirst duel.


    A gasp shattered the tension.


    "What in the... Comet Strike?!" cried Female Dorm God, his eyes glued to the sky.


    "What... is that?!" Iron Cavalry stammered, his face pale.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Above Pondenorlin City, a colossal meteor¡ªnearly 100 meters in diameter¡ªdescended from the heavens.


    The meteor burned brightly, its surface erupting with fiery sparks as it plummeted through the atmosphere. Its enormous shadow engulfed the respawn area, and panic spread like wildfire.


    "Fall back! FALL BACK!" Bradley roared, dragging two girls by the arms as everyone fled in terror.


    "Dude! Are you insane? You''re going to kill us all!" he bellowed into the guild chat.


    "Crap... why is this thing so terrifying?" Orson muttered to himself.


    He had expected Celestial Descent to summon a slightlyrger-than-average rock. Instead, the 2,000-mana spell had conjured an apocalyptic meteor.


    Those who witnessed the scene were stunned. This wasn''t just some AoE ability.


    This was doomsday incarnate.


    The meteor crashed down with a deafening roar, unleashing a cascade of shockwaves. Entire buildings were leveled, and the once-bustling respawn area became a fiery wastnd.


    Dozens of Saint yer Syndicate members were annihted instantly. Even bystanders were caught in the devastation.


    Orson''s sin value skyrocketed.


    Pondenorlin City quaked violently as if struck by an earthquake. The sheer destructive force was unfathomable.


    -4400!


    -4400!


    Ssh Damage: -1500!


    Ssh Damage: -1500!


    Thebat log scrolled relentlessly, disying over 400 damage notifications. The attack dealt massive direct damage, followed by countless physical impacts from shattered debris.


    The area looked like it had been struck by an S-tier forbidden spell.


    Orson stood in silence, grappling with the implications of what he''d unleashed.


    He realized that the physics engine of Infinite Dimensions had amplified his spell''s effects. Most Earth Mages would never achieve such devastation because their limited range restricted Celestial Descent''s potential.


    However, Orson''s unparalleled range allowed the meteor to gain immense speed through gravitational eleration. By the time it hit the ground, the resulting explosion sent thousands of fragments hurtling outward like shrapnel.


    This wasn''t just a spell¡ªit was a cmity.

 Chapter 64 64: The Will of the Battle Beast

    Orson removed the loot restrictions, allowing his guild members to freely collect the scattered gold.


    "Brothers and sisters, the boss is throwing us a money shower! Let''s go grab it!"


    "What are you waiting for? Scramble!"


    Bradley''s group fully embraced their inner bandits, diving headfirst into the treasure trove.


    "We''ve struck gold! This windfall is mine to inherit!"


    "Who the hell yanked my pants? Have some decency!"


    "I only grabbed 100 gold coins, and now you''re robbing me?"


    A few seemingly fair-skinned, delicate female yers turned feral. Before Female Dorm God could stash his coins, they pounced on him, looting him with gusto.


    Nearby onlookers were stunned.


    Godyer Guild''s behavior was outrageous, but what stung the most was that they weren''t included in the spoils.


    "Bunch of amateurs," Bradley sneered as he zipped past the chaos. "Coins are nothingpared to equipment!"


    Taking advantage of his superior speed, he sprinted straight for a purple piece of armor lying on the ground. Before anyone could react, he pocketed the Level 15 gear, easily worth 500 gold coins.


    Wild Gale, standing nearby, watched Bradley im the best loot. He felt a pang of jealousy but hesitated¡ªafter all, he was known as the "mentor of noobs" and didn''t want to ruin his reputation.


    Then he noticed the guild''s ethos: every man for himself.


    "Forget it! When in Rome..." Wild Gale grit his teeth, jumped onto Iron Cavalry''s shoulders, and dove headlong into the pile of items.


    By the time the dust settled, the spoils were entirely divided.


    Later, the guild gathered at a tavern in town. Money Traveler generously shelled out 20 gold to book the entire venue.


    "Today''s red-name hunting operation was a resounding sess!" Bradley announced, raising his mug. "As your vice president, I''d like to make three important points¡ª"


    Before he could finish, he noticed that no one was paying attention. Everyone was busy chatting, drinking, or feasting.


    "Fine, then!" Bradley grumbled, grabbing his drink as Iron Cavalry raised a toast.


    "Cheers! You made a killing, huh?" Bradley said, grinning.


    "Not bad, not bad..." Iron Cavalry replied with a sheepish smile.


    Bradley wasn''t the type to hold grudges. He joined Iron Cavalry, Wild Gale, and others in drinking games, quickly fostering camaraderie through shared antics.


    "Where''s the president? Is he still red-named and unable to enter the city?" asked a female alchemist, her curiosity piqued.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Most members had never seen Orson in person and were eager to meet the legendary triple-crown champion.


    With his apocalyptic meteor stunt fresh in everyone''s mind, even if Orson had three heads, they wouldn''t be surprised.


    Bradley smirked. "In Pondenorlin City, who dares stop my brother? Even the city lord would think twice."


    Just then, Bradley received a private message from Orson.


    He stood up and announced, "Wild Gale, the ce is yours for now. Gather everyone outside the city at the rally point in four hours for the guild war."


    Iron Cavalry frowned. "Wait, how are we supposed to fight? We''re barely staffed, and most of our members are crafters!"


    Still chewing on a roast leg of meat, Female Dorm God interjected, "My boss alone is worth a thousand men. I think we''re good!"


    Bradley nearly choked on his drink. He gave the priest a light bonk on the head. "Don''t work your boss like a mule!"


    Everyone burst intoughter.


    After logging off, Bradley called Orson.


    "Are you sure we can recruit enough members? Most of the top-tier yers have already joined the big eight guilds."


    "Don''t worry," Orson replied calmly. "Upload the video now. A lot of high-level yers are browsing the forums for guild war tips. Recruiting shouldn''t be hard."


    Bradley sighed. "Fine. We may not get two full battle groups, but a single 60-man group should be doable."


    After the call, Orson headed to the Redbeard Dwarf''s forge.


    The dwarf Veijander greeted him with an uneasy smile.


    "The Gray Dwarf King himself! What a surprise! Back already?" Veijander''s eyes darted nervously. He attempted to embrace Orson, but the mage sidestepped with a scowl.


    "You''ve submitted the forging materials."


    Orson ced the Heart of the Warlord and Ascension Crystal on the counter. "What''s the sess rate?"


    "Well... um... maybe... possibly..." Veijander stammered, eyes wide at the sight of such rare materials.


    System Notification:


    Holy Mirror Set overall sess rate: 40%.


    "Is this what you meant by ''100% sess rate''?" Orson''s face darkened. He resisted the urge to bash the dwarf''s head in with an ingot.


    "Well, uh... I didn''t expect you to survive the Bone Dragon..." Veijander chuckled nervously, chugging ale to calm his nerves.


    Orson''s eyes narrowed. "Oh, I see your game. You were nning to keep the Elven Diamond all for yourself, weren''t you?"


    Had he not followed his guide and uncovered the royal tomb''s hidden materials, the quest would have been a dead end.


    System Notification:


    You''ve uncovered the Gray Dwarf''s deception. You may demandpensation: choose between gold coins, a mount skill, or a purple weapon.


    Orson''s eyes lit up. He wasn''t short on gold, and purple weapons didn''t interest him at this stage. But the mount skill was intriguing.


    Mount taming wasn''t just a convenience¡ªit could turn beasts into formidable allies inbat. By the next stage of the game, yers who invested in this skill could tame creatures like dragons.


    "I''ll take the mount skill."


    System Notification:


    You''ve learned the skill: Basic Beastmastery.


    Orson feigned displeasure. "Just one lousy skill? Give me my materials back¡ªI''m done here!"


    Before the dwarf could respond, Orson opened his inventory and reimed the Elven Diamond, turning to leave.


    "W-wait! Don''t be angry! Let''s talk!" Veijander panicked, realizing he might lose his shot at working with such legendary materials.


    Nearby yers were stunned to see the fiery-tempered dwarf kneeling and clinging to Orson''s leg.


    "What''s happening? Veijander is actually begging?"


    "This guy''s got insane pull. He just made the toughest NPC in the game kneel!"


    System Notification:


    Veijander, filled with guilt, offers you the rare saddle Will of the Battle Beast as additionalpensation. ept?


    Orson grinned. "Now we''re talking."


    The Will of the Battle Beast wasn''t just a shy essory. It doubled taming proficiency gains, ignored ss restrictions for mounts, and even included a built-in war drum effect.


    In his previous life, this item had driven countless yers to grind for weeks on end, and its market value once skyrocketed to over 60,000 gold.


    And now?


    He got it for free.

 Chapter 65 65: The Highest Mountain

    "The sess rate is forty percent? Fine, as long as the Holy Artifact can be preserved even if the forging core fails."


    Orson''s expression softened. Seeing the dwarves groveling like this, he handed over all the materials to them.


    Veijander, with his shifty eyes, grinned and told Orson toe back in five hours to collect the equipment.


    "Let''s hope... it''s actually equipment by then."


    Orson had no choice. Going to the other side''s pay-to-win shop would require a blueprint, and the sess rate might not even be as high as the dwarves''. He could only gamble.


    Meanwhile, after logging off, Bradley contacted the Infinite Dimensions strategy forum''s moderator and spent 20,000 yuan to have the post titled [Orgod''s Melee Silk Spider Dungeon] pinned and highlighted.


    Of course, if Orson ever saw that shameless title, he''d probably explode in anger.


    The post didn''t attract much attention at first. After all, on the forum, half of the posts had tags like "Orgod" or "Three-time Champion," and when you clicked on them, you''d usually just see a pile of nonsense.


    Posts like this¡ªoutrageously shy and clownish¡ªrarely got much attention.


    However, only ten minutester, the first yer who finished watching the full video was sweating profusely, panting, unable to calm down, and could only curse to express his shock.


    Without hesitation, he shared,mented, and bookmarked it, trying to get more high-level mages toe and be "disgusted."


    ughter Wang Jung: "Your horse... the Dark Queen got hit with 956 consecutive attacks! Is this a boss fight? And the way it kept floating with basic attacks? This is a boss, not just a mob!"


    Mysterious opponent: "You''re getting the key issue. Archers can do it with their fast attack speed, but this mage has a basic attack speed. Who else could do this except that guy?"


    In no time, the post''s view count surpassed 100,000, likes exploded, and thements section was filled with yers going wild, expressing their admiration for Orgod, the "Ancient God" of Sword and Conquest.


    Bradley grinned, thinking the catchy title had worked. He left a message in the first post: "Wee high-level main yers to join [Godyer]. I, Money Traveler, eagerly await your joining!"


    "Want to watch streams and learn techniques? Check out [DonutWizard]!"


    "Exactly! SSR''s first fire mage DonutWizard can even solo 20-level bosses on stream. Orgod can''tpare!"


    Meanwhile, inside the SSR Club, top streamer DonutWizard, seeing thements under the post, felt his stomach churn. His face turned red, fists clenched.


    "Why is he so strong? Why can''t I do that? Why?!"


    At just 16 years old, with a still youthful face, he had be the symbol of SSR''s brutal mages. Not only did he have millions of followers on his streaming tform, but his fans even thought he might seed Orgod as the next big name.


    Even he had believed that Orson was just an early starter¡ªback when yers were still bad, which made Orson seem particrly impressive.


    But now, with this [Melee Post], DonutWizard had be aughingstock.


    Whenpared, his proud solo dungeon videos seemed to mock him for his ignorance.


    Just yesterday, DonutWizard had overheard Wedge and Smart Brother talking about how they had been ambushed by Orson.


    He had even confidently said: "Orgod''s only good for his gear and Soul Seal. Wait until my ss awakening, and I''ll avenge you!"


    The p in the face came too quickly. The video now was pure technique, with Orson''s wless "zombie-style basic attacks" and seamlessbos. With this level of precision, not just 900+bos, even 1900+ would be possible!


    "Annly? Why are you crying? Who made you upset? I''ll avenge you, sis."


    A beautiful, graceful woman walked over, gently patting Annly on the head with a softugh.


    "I feel like I''ll never reach his level. I''ve disappointed everyone, Riley."


    Annly became more and more upset, crying loudly, attracting the attention of half the club.


    "Haha, someone bullied you, huh? Who dares do that?"


    "It''s fine, bro will help you get revenge. Infinite Dimensions is still unfamiliar to us. Losing a few PvP battles is normal."


    A dozen SSR pros surrounded Annly,forting her not to be too upset. Even if she was bullied in Infinite Dimensions, they would get her back.


    "It''s him! It''s him!"


    Annly pointed to the screen with childish determination.


    The room instantly fell silent. You could hear a pin drop.


    Snow Dream, with a stiff smile, walked away. The professional yer who had promised to avenge Annly froze, awkwardly scratching his nose.


    "This... I''m not sure I can help you, young one."


    The simple name "ld" was well-known to them. Some of the older team members had even fought alongside this person.


    This was an insurmountable peak for SSR Club. They had watched as this man led SSR to unprecedented heights.


    "Don''t lose hope. With your talent, you''ll surpass him sooner orter."


    Annly was an important trainee in the club, so Wedge quickly came to her side.


    Smiling, she began analyzing the video frame by frame: "Look closely, his basic attack wobble is too obvious. This shows his technique has been neglected these years, and his positioning is wed¡ªlow tolerance, one mistake and the boss will crush him."


    "It really is! So his technique isn''t perfect after all!" Annly wiped away her tears, finally seeing a glimmer of hope in the darkness.


    Snow Dream stood by the window, absentmindedly lighting a cigarette, her beautiful, delicate face clouded with worry.


    Wedge, havingforted Annly, walked over to Snow Dream, asking for a cigarette and lighting it up.


    "What''s wrong? Still thinking about that man?" Wedge teased with a mischievousugh.


    Snow Dream avoided her sharp gaze, frowning and saying, "You shouldn''t be deceiving that kid. You''re putting too much pressure on him."


    "No, I''m just telling him what I see." Wedge''s face was beautiful, but there was a rare firmness in her expression.


    "Stop fooling me. His basic attack wobble isn''t an issue, it''s a technique to control the boss''s knockback height, intentionally done!" Snow Dream coldly exposed the truth.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "You''ve been with him too long, long enough to be assimted by his bad temper."


    Wedge maintained her smile, elegantly blowing out a smoke ring. She paused and then said, "You know, no matter how much you like him, in his eyes, there''s only that little girl. He never cared about you."


    Snow Dream''s heart tightened, a sharp pain stinging inside her.


    Wedge chuckled lightly: "Don''t forget, your father''s business went bankrupt, and who helped you find the money to cover the debts?"


    Snow Dream''s eyes widened in shock, her fists clenched. "How long are you going to use that to threaten me?"


    Wedge''s lips curled up in a seductive smile. "Silly girl, of course, forever. By the way, if I see you go easy on Orson again, I won''t let you off the hook."


    This warning,ing from Wedge¡ªwho always yed the role of the understanding big sister¡ªwas delivered with a calm that made Snow Dream''s blood run cold. Wedge could destroy her with ease, and even her parents would be dragged down.


    "Do you understand now?" Wedge smiled, her voice calm and cold.


    Snow Dream lowered her head, suppressing her emotions, her face unchanged. "I''m sorry, Wedge. I understand now."

 Chapter 66 66: The Secret of the S-Class Profession

    "I need to find time to renew the guard captain''s fee," Orson muttered as he appeared at the Mage Guild''s entrance. He quickly donned the Imperial Mage Robes, which were about to expire in less than twelve hours, and transformed back into Boss Bai.


    It had to be said, having a big red name tag was incredibly useful when disguised as Boss Bai. The patrolling soldiers greeted him warmly, unaware that this was a mage lord NPC, renowned among their ranks.


    "Listen up, the one-minute test is about to begin. All test participants, prepare yourselves."


    Inside the Mage Training Grounds, yers were lining up for their profession awakening tests. With the guild wars about to begin, many major guilds had poured into the training grounds, creating a crowded scene of over a thousand mages.


    The goal was to smash the training grounds'' magic crystals, then have them graded by an NPC magic instructor. D-ss was the lowest grade, and A-ss was the highest.


    Typically, achieving an A-ss profession required multiple retests, with final ratings given by the three Grand Mages of Pondenorlin. These were the elites, with profound understanding of the mage profession.


    For fairness across different mage specialties, it wasn''t just about raw output; the test also evaluated skills such as precision, delicacy, and mana control.


    "I''m speechless. We only have a 20-meter range, but the red crystal is over 50 meters away, and the target is so small. How in the world are we supposed to hit that?" one yerined.


    "Maybe we can try to break the blue crystal, but that''s not easy either. It''ll probably take at least ten hits to the head to break it."


    "This is too difficult... I should''ve yed a knight ss. I heard their tests involve charging on horseback and hitting a target to unlock a B-ss profession."


    Dozens of yers lined up on the training grounds, voicing their frustrations. The first round of the test was simple¡ªsmash the green, blue, yellow, and red crystals in one minute using basic attacks (in A).


    - Green crystals were thergest and easiest to hit.


    - Blue crystals were embedded in a mannequin''s head and required high precision.


    - Yellow crystals came in pairs, scattered on mannequins, and needed to be hit in sequence.


    - Red crystals, ced 50 meters away in a stone hand sculpture, were the hardest to hit, with many magescking the range to even try.


    The majority of yers lined up in front of the blue and yellow crystals. Anyone who broke the yellow crystal would advance to the next round and have a chance to unlock a B-ss profession. B-ss professions were not only powerful but also had the potential to make yers top-tier elites in Infinite Dimensions.


    Orson, standing among the crowd, surveyed the situation. The red crystal had the highest difficulty, yet over ten yers were attempting it. He guessed that these yers either had rare weapons that extended their range or, like him, were boosted by special Soul Seals. Otherwise, ordinary yers wouldn''t even be able to reach it.


    The test began, and yers started unleashing their skills. Soon, a few yers smashed the first two crystals, while others struggled to hit the red crystal, even with a suitable range.


    "How is this possible? Getting ten consecutive hits on the red crystal, is that even humanly possible?" one yer asked, clearly frustrated. He quit the test with a defeated expression.


    Orson wasn''t surprised. The mage profession was notoriously hard to master¡ªit was a major gold sink, and its operation was far more difficult than the archer or priest professions. Without weeks of practice, it was nearly impossible to pass the test.


    After a few rounds, only two yers seeded in breaking the red crystal. However, that was just the first round, and the following tests would be even harder.


    "What the hell? How did an NPC get in here? I didn''t hear anything about NPC mages needing to take the test!" one yer eximed.


    "Wait, it really is an NPC," another added, surprised.


    Boss Bai entered the training grounds, his test number in hand. He walked straight to the center of the arena and took his ce.


    "Well, well, someone finally noticed?" an old man in a tattered gray robe on the spectator stands murmured, his dull eyes gleaming with sharp intelligence as he quickly saw through Boss Bai''s poor disguise.


    "Old Terry, I want him," the old man said, showing a crooked smile that revealed a mouthful of yellowed teeth.


    "Heretic, who do you think you''re talking to?" a cold-eyed mage sharply retorted.


    "Heh, heretic or not, we''re all on the same side," the old man shrugged, then turned his gaze to a robed elder wearing a starry cloak.


    mebound, the elder, remained unmoved, saying calmly, "Even if he discovers the secret behind the test, I doubt he''ll follow you. No one will ept your methods."


    The old man''s smile faltered. "¡­Magic has no limits. There will always be those like me who strive for perfection."


    "Does anyone have anything to say about this? Is the game system malfunctioning? Someone get this NPC out of here!" a yer shouted in confusion.


    "Exactly. Saint yer Syndicate was hit by magic meteors and got wiped, giving Godyer the perfect opportunity to strike!" another yer added.


    The yers surrounding Orson stepped back, thinking this was some kind of trap. They didn''t want to risk their equipment getting destroyed.


    Orson took advantage of the situation, switching to in A Mode. He raised his hand,unching a Wind de at thergest green crystal, which lost one bar of health.


    "What''s he doing? Only breaking two crystals?" one yer asked.


    "Wait, that''s strange. When I tried, there were no patterns or markings appearing."


    Orson continued without hesitation. He switched to Stone Spire Mode, shooting two quick Stone Spikes at the yellow crystals, each hitting one precisely.


    Ding¡­


    The magic runes on the crystals began to glow brighter.


    And that was just the beginning. Orson remained calm as he tossed a Fireball at the hardest red crystal, 50 meters away. The ball hit its mark with remarkable precision.


    "Whoa¡­ that''s the power of an Imperial Mage! 50 meters, and still this fast!" one yer gasped.


    The red crystal shattered, and the whole statue seemed to tremble.


    Amid the shock, Orson repeated his actions with unwavering precision, triggering a magical roar that resonated across the training grounds.


    "What the hell¡­ this is the difference between yers and NPCs!" one yer eximed.


    "Hah, whatever. I could hit targets from a thousand meters if I had Al ss abilities," another yer scoffed.


    Every shot Orson took was on the mark, and the magic runes on the crystals gradually grew clearer, disying four faint, shadowy figures that seemed to project from the crystals themselves.


    "How¡­ how is he doing this?" the NPC mage beside the old man muttered in disbelief.


    ording to the S-ss Mage test rules, once an adventurer figured out that each crystal corresponded to four different elemental magic types, they would be able to hit them in sequence to trigger the test''s requirements, provided their uracy was at 70% or higher.


    But the man in front of them was hitting each target without missing, and it didn''t even seem like he was trying his hardest!


    Whispers ran through the crowd. The training grounds fell intoplete silence except for the continuing explosions of magic.


    Orson smiled knowingly. In his past life, a yer had uncovered this test''s secret, and the reward wasn''t just a S-ss hidden profession clue¡ªit was two!


    The first was the Mage Guild''s S-ss profession clue: Dual Elemental Mastery/Single Element Perfection, the Elementalist.


    The second was from the Chaos Sect''s S-ss profession clue: Four Element Mastery, the Chaos Mage.


    "Go tell them, the Mage Guild needs someone like him!" the NPC mage ordered his subordinates.


    The old man jumped to his feet, his eyes shing with a dangerous light. "This one''s mine! Anyone who darespete with me will see Pondenorlin City run red with blood!"


    With a sneer, the old man''s Six-Pointed Star magic circle appeared, radiating a strange dark-red hue. In the center of the circle, a Chaos deity could be faintly seen.


    "Old fool, what do you think you''re doing?" another mage demanded, as a gray mist covered the heads of all nearby mages.


    Everyone immediately took out their wands, ready to defend themselves.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "me Fosset, you''re leading him down the wrong path. You''ll only ruin him," mebound warned, calmly waving his hand. The holy light that followed instantly neutralized the chaos aura.


    A system notification appeared:


    You have unlocked a hidden profession clue.


    Option 1: Enter the Mage Guild''s council hall for a profession retest.


    Option 2: Leave the Mage Guild.


    Orson pondered for a


    moment and chose the second option, rejecting the invitation for the next round of testing.


    "You talk too much, old man. I know what I''m doing!" me Fosset sneered, turning to leave the arena, under the hostile gazes of the other mages.


    Orson looked back at the stands, then calmly walked out of the training grounds, sitting by the entrance to wait.

 Chapter 67 67: SSS Chaos Overlord

    The Mage Guild revered the six elemental gods, each representing one of the six basic elements of the world. Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, and Darkness were the six pirs upon which the guild''s power and teachings rested.


    In stark contrast, the Chaos Sect also worshipped elemental gods, but their focus was not on the traditional deities. Instead, they venerated the Chaos Mother, the mother of all six elements, believed to be the origin of everything.


    Because of this, the sect was considered a heretical and sphemous cult by many, with the Chaos Mother dismissed as a myth, a concoction of twisted imagination, by most traditional mages.


    Orson had no clear answer on whether the Chaos Mother actually existed or not. In his previous life, there were many who had tried to awaken the S-ss Chaos Mage ss, but all of them had failed without exception. Each attempt ended in failure, leaving the yers frustrated and confused.


    "You''ve got ambition, little one! A bright future ahead of you! Joining the Chaos Sect will be the best decision of your life!"


    Fosset, the elderly man with a face full of rotting teeth, grinned wildly at Orson. He promised him that, if he joined the Chaos Sect, he would be the strongest mage in the Infinite Dimensions world. When Orson finally mastered Chaos Magic, he would even be the next leader of the sect!


    It was a grandiose promise, one that sounded almost too good to be true.


    But Orson couldn''t shake the feeling that this old man was full of empty words. After all, the Chaos Sect seemed to be little more than Fosset himself, and even if Orson seeded in awakening his ss, he''d still be stuck with a lonemander title¡ªhe''d be a leader with no followers, no influence, no power.


    "Come with me, little one, and prepare to embrace the power of Chaos!"


    Fosset spread his arms wide, his eyes glowing with excitement. But the looks of disdain from the NPCs around them were hard to ignore. It was clear that Fosset had no standing in Pondenorlin City, and was mocked as an entric old fool.


    Despite his exuberant speech, Fosset couldn''t resist getting hands-on. He pinched Orson''s cheek like a butcher inspecting his goods and then proceeded to examine his hands, as if picking out prime cuts of pork. The whole interaction felt strange and awkward.


    "Enough of the nonsense. Lead the way," Orson said, his patience wearing thin.


    Fosset nodded enthusiastically and led Orson through a teleportation circle. Within moments, they arrived at a remote vige on the outskirts of Pondenorlin City.


    In front of a half-copsed building, Fosset raised his hand and grinned, "Building a ce for the sect requires a lot of money. Do you have any spare gold coins, little one?" His tone was almost too casual, as if he had done this a thousand times before.


    Quest 1: You need to provide funds to build a church for the Chaos Sect.


    "me Fosset requests several gold coins."


    A number input window appeared before Orson, but there was no specified amount listed. Only a vague prompt floated before him.


    Orson furrowed his brow, his mind racing. He entered 1 gold coin to test the waters.


    "me Fosset is starting to hesitate, questioning if you are the person he needs."


    Orson froze. Was this how NPCs worked? He had been ttered as the chosen one, yet now he was being judged based on a single gold coin?


    Frustrated, Orson entered 100 gold coins.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "me Fosset is beginning to lose faith in you, believing you aren''t devoted enough to the Chaos Mother."


    Orson nearly choked on his own irritation. He had never heard of other yers needing to pay fees to awaken their sses. This was absurd!


    And the old man''s greed was practically unbearable! If it were anyone else, seeing that 100 gold coins wouldn''t suffice, they would have probably walked away by now. But Orson, who had already mentally prepared himself for a financial bleed-out, couldn''t afford to back down now.


    "No wonder no one canplete this ss. It''s no surprise so many heroes have failed before," Orson thought to himself with a silent sigh.


    It was clear that the Chaos Mage was a high-cost, high-reward ss, and that meant only the rich and desperate would be able to even try.


    He gritted his teeth and reluctantly typed in 10,000 gold coins¡ªthe full 1 million. The amount was painful to part with, but it was necessary to keep progressing. Orson swallowed his hesitation and clicked "confirm."


    Clink, clink¡­


    A sum of 10,000 gold coins vanished from his inventory. Orson felt like his heart was bleeding.


    "Well done! You''re the heir I''ve been waiting for! The light of the empire, the hope of all humanity!"


    Fosset''s mood swung dramatically from skeptical to ecstatic, his face lighting up with joy as if Orson had just performed an extraordinary feat.


    "You havepleted S-level Chaos Mage quest 1."


    Quest 2: Raise four different C-level or higher spells to level 10.


    "I''ll give you three days. With your talents, this will be a piece of cake for you."


    After this, Fosset began leading Orson to see the statue of the Chaos Mother, but Orson wasn''t interested in statues or philosophical discussions. He sat down right where he was, ignoring the old man, and began furiously spamming skill points.


    "You spent 7 skill points / 4 gold coins, your magic leveled up to level 7."


    ¡­


    "You spent 12 skill points / 14 gold coins, your magic leveled up to level 10."


    Orson had been preparing for this moment for days, umting 380 skill points in preparation for a massive boost. He had nned for this all along, and now it was time to cash in on all that hard work.


    Quaking Stone Spikes reached level 10, unlocking Earthquake, a C-level Earth Magic spell that summoned two massive stone vines in a single strike. The cooldown dropped from 1 minute and 45 seconds to just 1 minute, and the spell became much easier to control.


    Whisper of the Wind reached level 10, unlocking Wind God''s Sigh, a spell that unleashed the power of the wind gods in a devastating gust.


    Chaotic Tides reached level 10, unlocking the Chaotic Tides spell, which could create unpredictable waves of destructive energy.


    Other than the already maxed Touch of the me Serpent, all of Orson''s elemental skills had reached level 10 and gained powerful awakening effects. The spells were now far more potent than before.


    "Done," Orson muttered as he stood up, brushing off the dust.


    "That''s it?!"


    Fosset''s jaw dropped in disbelief. Even the rarest magic apprentices hadn''t leveled up so fast. Orson''s speed was nothing short of miraculous.


    The prompt for Quest 2pletion appeared, confirming the task was finished.


    "Hmph, you do have potential, that''s for sure. I''ll give you three more days toplete this," Fosset said with a smug smile, handing Orson a scroll with the same sense of self-importance.


    "You have received the Fragmented Chaos Scroll."


    Orson opened the scroll, and a thick gray-brown mist poured out, as if an entire world was hidden within. As the mist dissipated, Orson saw a blurry figure seated on a stone tform, its features unclear but hinting at a humanoid head and serpent-like body.


    "You have unlocked the Fragmented Magic Talent Tree."


    Orson opened the talent page and found that the original magic tree had vanished. Instead, there was a fragmented skill tree, with only the root section visible. It contained just two talent skills, one of which seemed basic, while the other waspletely unknown.


    "Complete the awakening conditions, and you will temporarily be a junior Chaos Mage."


    "Awakening Conditions: Sessfully unlock the talent tree."


    Orson blinked in disbelief. After spending so much gold and skill points, all he got was this iplete mess?


    Wait¡­ temporarily be? Did that mean this ss was limited in time?


    He stared at the gray magic tree, his mind racing. A small note beside it read: "Because the Chaos Scroll is iplete, you need to recover the remaining two fragments within six months."


    Hell-level hidden quest triggered


    Quest Description:


    "Fragmented Middle Scroll: Obtain the Dragon King''s Horn and give it to one of me Fosset''s disciples in exchange."


    "Fragmented Lower Scroll: Obtain the Magical Eye of an Ancient Titan and use it as a trade item in the royal city''s ck market."


    "Once all fragments are recovered and the talent tree is unlocked, you will receive the SSS-level divine ss: Chaos Overlord."


    "Quest deadline: 6 months."


    "Abandonment penalty: You will not be able to awaken a new ss."


    The quest prompts kept popping up, but instead of feeling


    a rush of excitement, Orson was only filled with frustration. The Chaos Overlord ss sounded incredible, but the task ahead seemed impossible.


    A level 26 yer was expected to obtain a Dragon King''s Horn? How could a mere mortal ever hope to challenge something like that?


    And an Ancient Titan''s Eye? Those were the stuff of legends! The Ancient Titans were long extinct, and Orson couldn''t even fathom where he would find one of their eyes.


    "You bastard, I''m going to kill you!" Orson was seething with rage, ring at me Fosset for this shameless scam.


    Fosset, with his thick skin,ughed heartily. "I knew it! You are the one! My judgment has never been wrong!"

 Chapter 68 68: Whos More of a Scammer?

    Orson finally understood why this particr job ss had never been properly awakened.


    Hell-level difficulty!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    This was the second hardest level of a task in Infinite Dimensions, one that only those who could defy human limits couldplete. Most yers, even those in hardcore mode, never got the chance to touch it. The wealthiest and most powerful yers, even those who could afford to buy any information they needed, usually gave up on this S-ss job due to the ridiculous requirements, choosing instead to delete their ounts and start over.


    Dragon King''s Horn, Titan''s Eye¡ªthese super-saint materials sounded so fantastical, they felt more like a myth than reality.


    For these yers, with their vast wealth, they could buy any S-ss job, so why waste time grinding for these impossible materials?


    "SSS-ss job... Ugh, this is a nice pie in the sky."


    In Infinite Dimensions, most S-ss job yers appeared in thete game, like ShatteredCrown''s awakened Forbidden Sorcerer or Usher''s Divine Archer. As for 3S jobs, those were known as god-tier jobs, and though the website had mentioned them, no one had ever managed to awaken them.


    And now, Orson was faced with this impossible task. It was hard to tell whether tough or cry.


    "Damned chosen one!" Orson muttered angrily, feeling the urge to take immediate action and save the yers from this scam, so no one else would fall into this old man''s trap.


    However, just as he was about to act, the attributes of me Fosset popped up in front of him.


    Level 80, the same as Ice River, a Saint Swordmaster.


    His health wasn''t as exaggerated as Ice River''s, but it was still an astonishing 30 million. Orson''s fiery anger dissipated immediately when he saw the stats.


    "Fine, I''ll hold off. When my strength is up, I''ll be the first to wipe you off the map!" Orson cursed inwardly.


    Infinite Dimensions was a world where the strong dominated. If you couldn''t win, you had to back off. The truth was, thew of the jungle applied here, and even if he was getting scammed by this old bastard, Orson had no choice but to endure.


    "Activate Chaos Magic Tree. It will cost 15 talent points."


    A system message popped up, and Orson took a deep breath, calming himself. He knew that this job ss required a lot of talent points, so he wasn''t too surprised by the cost.


    It was a one-way street now. If he gave up on the task, he''d never be able to awaken the ss, which would essentially ruin the character he had worked so hard to build. He had no choice but to go forward.


    "Congrattions, you''ve be a Junior Chaos Mage!"


    The Chaos Magic Tree lit up, withyers of gray mist swirling around it, finally revealing the first basic talent: Chaos Magic Ball.


    Orson was surprised. Even after awakening an S-ss job, there was no world announcement. He realized it had to do with the iplete scroll. For now, this wasn''t truly the awakening of an S-ss job.


    "Is this an enhancement to regr attacks?" Orson wondered as he checked the talent description.


    [Chaos Magic Ball]


    Effect: Changes regr attacks to Chaos Magic Ball, where basic attacks/skills will carry the main attributes of water, fire, wind, and earth elements.


    - Water Element: Lifesteal, currently level 1: 1% lifesteal.


    - Fire Element: Burn effect, currently level 10: 10% burn (maxed).


    - Earth Element: Slow effect, currently level 1: 5% slow.


    - Wind Element: Attack speed boost, currently level 1: +0.2 attack speed.


    "This talent... is a bit ridiculous," Orson massaged his temples. He didn''t want to admit that this talent was overwhelmingly powerful.


    [Chaos Magic Ball] essentiallybined the benefits of four elemental types into one, allowing him to trigger four unique effects with each attack.


    If these individual talents were used separately, the effects would be pretty average¡ªexcept for the fire element''s burn damage, which was immense due to Orson''s high mana pool. But whenbined, it was explosive!


    The lifesteal from the water element, when raised to level 10, would provide 10% lifesteal. If he dealt several thousand damage per second, the amount healed could easily reach a few thousand!


    However, since this was a four-fold talent effect, each upgrade required 4 talent points. To max it out, he would need 40 points. Since zing Burn was already maxed, he still needed 30 more points to max this one.


    Orson looked at his second Chaos talent:


    [Chaos Chain]


    Effect: Fuses multiple elements together, giving a 0.5% chance to trigger a Chaos Chain. For five seconds, the target affected by the chain will take double true damage.


    "Double true damage..."


    "Well, I can''t deny that this 10,000 gold spent was a bit worth it."


    Orson chuckled awkwardly. It was hard to escape the "true fragrance"w. The downside was that it also required 4 talent points per upgrade, and the triggering probability was pretty low.


    He had only 10 talent points left, so he maxed these two talents.


    In total, maxing both would require 70 talent points. This wasn''t like gaining regr stat points, as each level-up only gave 1 talent point¡ªeven for an S-ss job.


    Most talent points came from special quests, and Orson had no doubt that he would be able to acquire them.


    However, the biggest issue was still the Dragon King''s Horn and Titan Eye.


    If he couldn''t get those within six months, no matter how much effort he put into improving his Chaos talents, everything would be for nothing. This was a high-stakes gamble¡ªif he won, he''d get a god-tier job; if he lost, he''d lose everything.


    "Whatever, I''ll go with it for now," Orson muttered to himself.


    "Good, good! My chosen disciple, as always, my judgment is impable!"


    me Fosset walked over with a grin and started fondling Orson''s face like he was examining a piece of meat.


    "Of course, who are you, the great sect leader?" Orson forced a smile, clearly irritated with the old man''s condescending actions.


    "Yes, yes, my young disciple, your future is in your hands. It''s up to you toplete the tasks within six months!" me Fosset grinned, leading Orson to the next part of his n.


    Orson didn''t care about the old man''s antics. Instead, he lifted his staff and fired a basic attack.


    The Chaos Magic Ballunched, a burst of elemental magic flying towards the dpidated church.


    Fire, water, earth, and wind exploded, triggering multiple effects at once.


    The half-copsed wall of the church crumbled.


    "What are you doing?!" me Fosset''s expression changed immediately, rushing over to stop him.


    Orson moved to the side, coldly smiling, "You wanted to repair the church, right? I''ll help you demolish it first so you can rebuild!"


    With that, two stone vines, powered by multiple elements, burst forth from the ground and began wreaking havoc inside the church.


    It didn''t take long before the entire church was in ruins, its foundationpletely ripped up. The scene was utter destruction.


    Orson wasn''t done yet. He summoned The me Dragon and set the vige on fire. The surrounding vigers rushed out, yelling and asking forpensation.


    "YOU!!! How dare you do this?!" me Fosset yelled in fury, his face turning red.


    Orson feigned innocence. "Sect Leader, don''t worry. The Chaos Sect is rich and powerful¡ªburning down a few houses is nothing! We need to clear space for the new church!"


    "YOU BURNED DOWN WHAT?!" me Fosset''s face turned purple.


    Orsonughed loudly, enjoying the moment. He knew the vigers couldn''t hurt him¡ªsince he hadn''t attacked any of the NPCs, they wouldn''t retaliate.


    "Only a few dozen houses? It''s nothing! The Chaos Church should be thergest and most luxurious in the Empire! Burning the houses is just making space for the new church!"


    Orson kept talking, burning down every building in the vige, making sure me Fosset knew that he was in charge.


    me Fosset was beyond furious, his blood pressure skyrocketing, as he futilely tried to manage the situation while vigers cursed him out.

 Chapter 69 69: Chaos Chain

    Madman: "Hey, buddy, you there? I''ve got a question about ss awakening."


    Orson was wandering around the vige, testing out skills on monsters. "I''m here. Did you unlock a hidden ss?"


    "Kind of," Madman replied. "I''m still debating whether to take it."


    "Why? Is it not good?" Orson was curious.


    Madman hesitated, then said, "It''s an S-tier ss, but it feels kind of¡­ sneaky. It''s practically useless in PvP. If it were you, would you take it?"


    Orson was puzzled. To his knowledge, no S-tier ss was weak, especially not for rogues. Being sneaky was in their nature.


    "Don''t tell me it''s another lockpicking ss?" Orson frowned.


    In their past life, Madman had chosen a lousy lockpicking ss that had tanked hisbat potential. Otherwise, his expertise as a rogue could have rivaled nk''s.


    "Hey! Don''t bring that up again¡­ Anyway, this time I didn''t pick the lockpicking one. But the beggar king gave me an S-tier hidden ss," Madmanined.


    "Okay, so what''s the unique feature?" Orson asked.


    Madman hesitated. "It''s¡­ stealing. The ss is called Master Thief."


    Orson''s jaw dropped. "Holy crap! Does the skill description say something like, ''Has a chance to steal from any living target, including bosses and NPCs?''"


    "Yeah! How''d you know? Isn''t there supposed to be very little information about hidden sses online?" Madman was confused.


    "I''ve studied ss guides pretty thoroughly," Orson quickly replied, trying to move off the topic.


    "Take it. Immediately. This ss, if used right, is insane!" Orson said decisively.


    The Master Thief S-tier rogue ss was renowned for its game-breaking potential. It could steal items from any target with a mere touch, ignoring level or power differences. The catch? You had to make physical contact with the target for three seconds.


    As proficiency increased, the sess rate went up. And against bosses, it could even steal their attributes. In some ways, Master Thief was stronger than many SS-tier sses.


    "Are you sure? Good thing I didn''t reject it outright," Madman said, still hesitant. After all, the three-second touch requirement sounded simple in theory but was hard to pull off. And if the target noticed the theft, the thief would suffer a severe stat debuff, making them easy prey.


    "Trust me. Take it now," Orson urged.


    Madman reluctantly selected Master Thief, but not without warning Orson. "If this ss turns out to be trash, I''m going to leech off you for the rest of my life."


    "You don''t know how lucky you are," Orson teased. Admittedly, Master Thief wasn''t a directbat ss and leaned more towards exploration. But with Orson''s support, Madman could use his skills creatively.


    With a smirk, Orson thought, If I threaten the target with a staff to their head while Madman ''steals,'' wouldn''t that basically be robbery?


    Madman interrupted his thoughts. "By the way, check out the auction house prices for magic resistance potions."


    "What''s up with them?" Orson asked.


    "You''ll see."


    Following Madman''s suggestion, Orson pulled up the listings. "A small fire resistance potion costs at least 50 silver? Are they robbing banks?"


    His jaw dropped further when he checked the fire immunity potions¡ªeach one cost a full gold coin! These potions nullified fire damage for 10 seconds and were crafted by yer alchemists at a mere 10-silver cost. In the past, during the first guild war, these potions only sold for 20 silver.


    He refreshed the list. A yer had just posted 100 potions, but within seconds, only 32 remained.


    "Are alchemists making that much money?" Orson wondered, questioning his gaming expertise.


    "Three or four hours'' works the guild''s alchemists 200 gold," Madman exined. "Haven''t you figured out who''s driving the demand?"


    "It''s me, isn''t it?"


    "Of course, it''s you! Who else has such ridiculous AoE damage, you freak!"


    Orsonughed. "So Usher came up with this as a countermeasure, huh?"


    Madman warned him, "If your damage output falters, we''ll be in trouble. We''ve got 120 frontline yers now, but they''ll still be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers. I''m betting at least four guilds will target us."


    "Rx. Just focus on preparations. Leave the overall strategy to me," Orson replied confidently.


    "Don''t me me if it goes south," Madman quipped, though Orson knew he''d yell the loudest during a fight.


    After the chat, Orson went back to hunting high-level monsters. With four hours to go until the dwarf cksmith delivered his equipment, he focused on raising his Soul Seal proficiency.


    The Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye still needed about 3,000 kills to hit 50,000 proficiency points and advance to the next level. Combining this with the Chaos Magic Ball would create devastating effects.


    As for the guilds buying out resistance potions to counter him? They might suppress his zing Burn effect, but he had three other elemental passives waiting for them.


    [Corrupted Antelope: Level 28]


    HP: 9000/9000


    Attack: 350


    Skill: Charge


    Orson targeted the beast andunched a Chaos Magic Ball.


    -820


    Slow!


    Burn!


    -4500


    Attack speed boosted!


    Life steal triggered!


    The corrupted antelope was engulfed in chaotic mes. Water element effects manifested as leeches, draining its life force. Orson''s status bar gained the Blessing of the Chaos Mother, amplifying his effects with multiyered buffs.


    "You''ve killed a Corrupted Antelope. +400 EXP."


    "You''ve killed a¡­"


    Regr monsters fell instantly to Orson''s attacks, while even elites barely survived two rounds of burning.


    He advanced toward the Swamp Banks, where Level 25 elite monsters, Corrupted Crocodiles, spawned. One crocodile with 30,000 HP emerged, its blood-red eyes locking onto him.


    This area was seldom visited. Without a strong tank, the clustered elites could wipe out a party.


    "Chaotic Tides!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Orson raised his staff, summoning waves of blood-red chaos energy. The crocodiles turned on each other, biting their kin. Damage numbers popped up in rapid session, chaossting twice as long as before. zing Burn triggered within the chaos, turning a control skill into an AoE damage dealer.


    As more crocodiles gathered¡ªup to thirty¡ªOrson summoned The me Dragon. The chaotic-infused creature spread destruction indiscriminately, its power amplified by gray chaos mist.


    Suddenly, a ck chain shot through the battlefield, binding one crocodile before splitting into dozens of links, ensnaring all nearby.


    "Chaos Chain," Orson muttered, watching in awe.


    At the chain''s center, a spectral figure of the Chaos Mother appeared on a tform. The crocodiles, as if possessed, swam towards her.


    True Damage: -1700


    True Damage: -9500


    ¡­


    The chains vanished in a sh, releasing a massive burst of true damage. Every crocodile in the area was in!

 Chapter 70 70: Roar of War

    "Is this talent really that terrifying?"


    Orson was stunned. Based on practicalbat, Chaos Chain wasn''t just a simple double true damage effect. It seemed to have a hidden effect of a two-second group drag.


    For a skilled mage, two seconds was enough to cast two rounds of spells, which could be decisive in PvP battles!


    The only downside was that for Chaos Chain, each level-up only increases the activation chance by 0.5%, and even at max level, the trigger probability only reaches 5%.


    Of course, in a 1v1 duel, this probability was a bit like gambling with your life. But in a chaotic battle, it could be quite frightening¡ªif you keep dealing damage at a high frequency, a single slip-up could lead to true damage/control that could kill you.


    The mutated crocs in the area were wiped out, and Orson continued to hunt for monsters. However, his speed was so fast that after clearing one round, he had to wait for the next spawn. Soon, arge empty zone appeared in front of him.


    "Too slow."


    The monster farming efficiency was much slower than expected. After a full three and a half hours, he had only killed 2,000 elite monsters, and his Soul Seal was still 700 short of leveling up.


    It seemed that the dream of leveling up his Soul Seal before the guild stronghold battle was shattered.


    However, if other yers knew how efficient he was, they''d probably curse him for days. For the current yers in this area, they''d be overwhelmed by the mutated crocs, and if they''re not careful, they''d get bitten to death by the crocs, who were excellent at crowd control.


    Looking at the time, there was still an hour before the battle began, and the guild members were starting to gather at the stronghold war preparation area.


    At the NPC''s gathering point, it was bustling.


    A massive group of yers blocked the main road, and there were ten different sub-areas with hundreds of thousands of yers getting ready for the battle.


    Bradley: "Damn, can you be a little more active as the guild leader? The people are almost here! We''ve got three level 20 elite squads ready, isn''t that awesome?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Almost done. My legendary weapon should be ready now," Orson replied.


    "Wait, what? Legendary weapon??" Bradley was shocked and immediately asked.


    Madman: "Damn! So you''ve been busy making a legendary weapon? What level is it?"


    God of Iron Cavalry: "Damn, you''re tough. How much did it cost? I''ll go make one too when I have time."


    "Just you? Go sleep, do you think legendary weapons are like cabbages? There are only nine on the weapon leaderboard, all owned by guild big shots," Bradley sneered.


    God of Iron Cavalry: "Don''t look down on me, everything is possible in Infinite Dimensions."


    Orson, hearing the ongoing bickering, didn''t want to tell them it was actually a legendary three-piece set.


    "Level 20... I mean, if I''m lucky, I should be able to take a legendary weapon into battle," Orson smiled wryly, uncertain whether Veijander had tricked him.


    Wild Gale: "Looking forward to your performance, Guild Leader."


    Texas Musk: "We need the melee king to lead us to victory!"


    Gingerbread House Gatekeeper: "Yes, with the melee king, taking down three or four strongholds will be a piece of cake. Please carry us!"


    "Melee King?"


    Orson looked confused.


    "Hehe, stop chatting, hurry up, you''re thest one we''re waiting for!" Bradleyughed mischievously.


    Many new faces had joined the guild, but Orson couldn''t ept the title they had given him¡ªhe wasn''t sure what went wrong.


    Orson entered Pondenorlin City, heading straight for the Dwarven cksmith''s shop.


    Standing at the door, Orson furrowed his brows because he noticed... the cksmith''s shop was closed!?


    "Shit!! Does this game have any normal NPCs at all!?"


    Orson was enraged, seriously doubting that the damn dwarf had failed in crafting and had run off with his Elven Diamond.


    Not willing to give up, Orson, filled with rage, kicked the door.


    It wasn''t even locked?


    Walking into the dark cksmith''s shop, Orson began feeling around: "You damn dwarf,e out and face me!"


    "Here already?"


    A tired voice responded. Orson froze, almost disconnecting in fright. In the corner, he saw a dark figure, nearly scaring him out of his wits.


    Upon closer inspection, it was that damn dwarf, Veijander.


    Turning on the magical light, the workshop became much brighter.


    Veijander looked exhausted, bloodshot eyes, chugging beer into his stomach.


    "Failed?" Orson asked, seeing his disheveled state. He had originally nned to confront him, but seeing Veijander in such a sorry state, Orson couldn''t bring himself to be angry. At least Veijander hadpensated him with the Will of the Battle Beast. Even if the crafting failed, he could always find more materials and try again. Eventually, he''d get it right.


    "Done."


    Veijander shook his head, crossed his short legs, and began an ultimate humble brag, "I didn''t expect it to be so easy. Maybe it''s because the equipment level is too low, and it wasn''t difficult for me."


    "Shut up," Orsonughed helplessly, letting out a long breath of relief.


    ording to Veijander, he had never crafted equipment with relics as the mainponent. His estimated sess rate was only 40%, but the actual crafting sess rate turned out to be 80%, likely due to the hidden properties of the relics doubling the chances.


    Veijander handed the equipment to Orson. It was a brilliant blue staff, slightly extravagant in design, with the Elven Diamond embedded at the tip.


    Holy Power Staff ¡¤ Holy


    Quality: Legendary


    Level: 20


    ss: Mage


    Spell Power: 600


    Attack Speed: 1.1


    Crit Rate: 15%


    Effect 1: Reduces skill cooldown by 30%.


    Effect 2: 20% chance to trigger two extra normal attacks/skills.


    Set Activation - Unique Awakening Skill: War Roar


    Effect: Consumes 1000 MP to grant allies a Roar aura. Within 10 minutes, critical damage is doubled, life recovery speed is doubled, and life leech increases by 5%. Cooldown time: 30 minutes.


    "This skill is quite powerful!"


    Orson''s heart raced. The staff perfectly inherited the attributes of the Elven Diamond, with top-tier base panel stats for its level.


    But the most insane part was the War Roar aura skill.


    Doubling critical damage¡ªif paired with Bradley, his double crits would trigger double crit damage, which would be incredibly frightening.


    Add in the Fox n essories, with the awakened skill Swiftness, reducing cooldowns by 10%, and the staff''s 30% cooldown reduction... the Roar buff''s downtime would be just a few minutes.


    It was a game-changer in group battles, greatly boosting the strength of guild members.


    For Orson, with his Fox n''s awakened skill Thunderp¡ª100% crit rate for one minute¡ªif stacked with the War Roar''s double crit damage¡­


    In just one minute, Orson was confident no guild could withstand his relentless assault!


    The other two pieces of Holy Power armor were also great, with stats surpassing his Fox n Robe and shoulder armor.


    The 20% resistances were raised to 30%, with significant increases in defense and health.


    However,pared to the legendary staff with the word "Holy" in its name, the armor clearlygged behind by more than one level.


    After equipping the new gear, Orson checked his character panel.


    Name: Orgod


    Race: Human


    Level: 27


    Spell Power: 920


    HP: 5700/5700


    MP: 49200/49200


    Attack Speed: 1.3


    Agility: 40


    Defense: 240/30% resist


    Crit Rate: 28%


    Range: 4922 meters


    Remaining Attribute Points: 350


    Remaining Skill Points: 100


    He spent the 350 attribute points he had umted, adding 180 points to attack power, bringing his panel attack to 1100.


    The remaining 170 points were distributed evenly between health, agility, and attack speed.


    Attack speed reached over 2.0, allowing him to attack twice per second. This high attack speed was beneficial for Chaos Chain, and the staff''s multi-strike effect required frequent damage output to trigger.


    Health increased to 6000,parable to an average A-level ss.


    Agility was raised to 60, with a 2% increase in crit rate, reaching a total of 30%.


    After putting on the new gear, Orson packaged and listed the three pieces of Fox n Mage Set for sale in the auction house.


    After finishing these tasks, Orson opened the cksmith''s door and prepared to meet up with the guild members.


    However, just as he opened the door, his expression changed slightly as he saw several old acquaintances from the SSR guilds blocking his way.


    "Sorry, Orson. You won''t be able to participate in this stronghold battle."


    Wedge smiled at him, but there was a flicker of coldness in his eyes.

 Chapter 71 71: Caught Again

    "Orson? I don''t know him, get out of my way!"


    Seeing the SSR group, Orson waved his hand impatiently, pretending to be "Boss Bai" and pulling some distance between them.


    "We''ve been tracking you for a long time. We saw you change your disguise outside the city. Stop acting," Wedge said with a lightugh, calmly staring at him, with no immediate intention to act.


    Orson''s expression shifted slightly; it seemed like they had some kind of leverage. Given the output he had disyed so far, he could easily send the SSR group to the respawn point, but Wedge, being the scheming woman she was, wouldn''t be unaware of this.


    "Master, I think you''ll disrupt the bnce of this battle, it''s better if you don''t participate," Snow Dream stepped forward, speaking calmly.


    "Master?"


    Orson furrowed his brows and chuckled mockingly. "I''m not worthy to be your master, Snow Dream, the main member of SSR and the annual Neer King."


    Snow Dream''s cheeks flushed. She had risen through the ranks of SSR all thanks to Orson''s personal guidance. But she knew she had deeply hurt him¡ªher involvement in the match-fixing scandal was undeniable.


    Snow Dream didn''t respond, but her silence, still maintaining the confrontation, clearly showed where her loyalty stood.


    "Why waste time talking to him? Let''s just move already!" Reaver snorted, wearing legendary armor and speaking with the confidence of someone at the top.


    Orson''s eyes turned cold, and with a smirk, he said, "I''ve told you, not only will I participate in this base battle, but I''ll make sure you don''t capture a single point."


    Orson waved his hand and casually removed his imperial robe disguise.


    Reaver''s face changed in an instant, his voice filled with shock. "The number one on the legendary weapon list, it''s in this bastard''s hands?"


    To surprise his old foes, Orson had chosen to remain anonymous on the gear leaderboard, but now, it seemed there was no need for secrecy.


    "Not just the legendary weapon; he''s also wearing two pieces of armor."


    Wedge''s face turned serious as she noticed Orson''s gear¡ªtwo other legendary items, the 20-level Power Sanctum Shoulder Pads and the Robe, also ranked number one on the armor sub-list.


    Currently, a single legendary piece was worth a fortune. SSR wasn''t one of the wealthiest guilds in Infinite Dimensions, with only two legendary items in total¡ªone in her hands (the staff) and the other on Reaver''s body (the battle armor).


    Not to mention that Orson had a full set of three legendary items, significantly enhancing his practicalbat abilities.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "The Power Sanctum Legendary set with the Fox n Hero set, 3x3 double-activation skills... I could walk all over Pondenorlin City with these," Orson said, exuding confidence.


    "Who dares to stop me?"


    Orson''s tone remained emotionless, and as he walked out of the cksmith''s shop, his aura became so powerful that it left the SSR members feeling suffocated.


    "I dare!"


    A loud shout came from behind Orson. He turned cold as he saw a level 20 thief trying to sneak attack from behind.


    "Just one person?"


    Orson''s mind raced. Although the SSR group was powerful, they had already experienced total team wipes before. So why would a single thief dare to sneak up on him? Something was off.


    Orson activated his Sun Shield to block the attack. The thief''s damage was ineffective.


    The thief, known as "Gold Farmer No. 17," grinned, suddenly feinting a move and quickly throwing a concealed weapon.


    This trick was nothing to Orson. He easily predicted the flying trajectory of the weapon with a single basic attack.


    But, unexpectedly, after his attack hit the weapon, the Chaos Magic Ball shot straight through it and struck the thief.


    Critical Hit -1900!


    Burning -4800!


    "Gold Farmer No. 17" was easily killed.


    Orson raised an eyebrow. The hidden weapon had struck him as well, but instead of simply dissipating, it grew like it had a life of its own, rapidly expanding into a pair of white shackles that tightly locked his hands.


    This felt oddly familiar... wasn''t this the magical inhibitor shackles he had been bound in before when he was caught by NPCs?


    [Warden] Special Skill: [Mana Seal Cage] Triggered!


    You will be unable to use any attacks, items, or skills for 20 hours.


    Orson''s heart sank as the message appeared, his face showing a hint of confusion. "The Thief Hidden ss [Warden]? One of the worst 20 hidden sses in Infinite Dimensions?"


    The [Warden] ss was indeed weak, with a mere E-rank rating. Not only did it offer little in terms of stat boosts, but its special skill, [Mana Seal Cage], could only be used once in a lifetime.


    Orson had seen this ss on the forums before and had thought it was basically useless. Anyone who picked this hidden ss was essentially throwing away their chances.


    Orson shook his head. "Infinite Dimensions doesn''t have bad sses, just bad yers who don''t know how to make use of them."


    "Not bad, just go talk to the management for your characterpensation," Wedge said, gesturing toward the thief''s corpse, which had already been deleted by the yer.


    "Hahaha¡­ finally caught you? Try to call for backup again, you arrogant bastard!"


    Reaverughed maniacally, confident that, no matter how strong Orson was, he was now trapped and helpless.


    "We''ll tell Annly about this great news. Let that fool enjoy it for a while," Reaver sneered.


    "What top-tier magic user? The so-called Phoenix guy, now reduced to a chicken ready for ughter?"


    "Shut up, show some respect, guys. We owe our current SSR to him, don''t forget," one of the SSR membersmented.


    Orson remained calm despite their taunts. He had dealt with far worse in his past. After all, he had once been ndered as a match-fixer, enduring the wrath of millions of online trolls.


    "Using my teammates as pawns just to trap me for 20 hours," Orson smiled grimly. "Nice strategy."


    Wedge was no stranger to dirty tactics. She had been the one who framed Orson for the match-fixing scandal. Without cunning, she couldn''t have pulled that off.


    "Since you''ve managed to form your own guild and have all this good gear, you must be pretty wealthy by now?" Wedge smiled sweetly, a victorious glint in her eyes.


    "Your sin value should be over 5000, so we should get a lot of good stuff from you."


    Reaver, his bloodlust evident, eyed Orson as he drew his dual des and stepped forward to finish him off.


    Suddenly, a sharp wind de sliced between Orson and Reaver, creating a jagged line on the ground.


    Reaver red, "Are you crazy?"


    "Watch your mouth, Reaver. We agreed only to trap him and stop him from entering the base battle. Are you nning to go back on your word?" Snow Dream''s voice was stern, as she raised her staff.


    "Fake, hypocritical bitch, get out of my way!" Reaver shouted, ignoring Snow Dream''s warning as he charged toward Orson.


    "I said, no!"


    Snow Dream''s voice was ice-cold as she summoned a gust of wind. The [Wind Envoy] ss ability activated, greatly enhancing herbat strength.


    "Sorry," Wedge gave a signal to her teammates, and six high-level yers positioned themselves in front of Snow Dream.


    "Still lying to me? Wedge, do you even have any credibility left?" Snow Dream''s face turned pale as she red at Wedge.


    "This is serious. I''ll exin everything to youter." Wedge''s expression turned hard, signaling Reaver to act.


    "Ha, still talking about credibility with this woman. Pathetic."


    Orson didn''t show any fear as Reaver charged at him. With a cold look, he nced at Snow Dream and said, "Stop pretending. Our rtionship ended the moment you joined the match-fixing scandal."


    Snow Dream''s face drained of color. His words hit her like a lightning strike, shattering thest vestiges of hope she had.


    "Son of a bitch, die!!!"


    Reaver roared, his dual des glowing with enchantments as he swung them in a devastating arc.


    Orson''s lips curled into a smile, and just as the dual des were about to strike his face, he waved his hand. "Sorry, we''ll see each other in 20 hours."


    In the blink of an eye, Orson vanished from the battlefield, forcibly disconnecting from the game.


    "Vanished? How is that possible?"


    The SSR members stood frozen in shock. They couldn''t understand why a yer could disconnect mid-battle like that.


    Even if someone pulled the plug on their game system, their character would remain in ce for five minutes as a penalty to prevent yers from using disconnections to avoid death penalties in battles.


    "Damn it, that idiot didn''t inflict enough damage to trigger abat state."


    Wedge''s face darkened as she quickly realized what had


    happened. She hissed, "Get the gold farmers to stand guard at his respawn point. The moment he logs back in, we kill him!"

 Chapter 72 72: What If I Die?

    Sigh... this is relentless.


    Orson sighed and opened the game pod door, stretching his stiff limbs. After being immersed in the game for so long, even the support from nutrition fluids couldn''t fully make up for the difort.


    He was ustomed to the world where reality and virtual reality blended together. But the world of Infinite Dimensions always gave him a false sense of perfection, like a beautiful thing that was easily shattered. yers in Infinite Dimensions could die without consequence, but the real world, where the blending of the two worlds urred, was far more fragile.


    It was just dawn outside. Orson stretched, heading to the fridge in his vi to grab a bottle of milk for some quick energy.


    The vi provided by Radiant Shuttle had a beautiful view. Orson stood by the pool, enjoying the sight of the rising sun. The warm sunlight on his face made him feel at peace.


    Before long, Bradley started spamming messages nonstop.


    Orson walked into the house and grabbed his phone.


    "I swear... Orson! Can you be a bit more reliable? We''ve all been teleported to the Savage Mountains, where are you?" Bradley''s frantic voice came through the phone.


    Orson smiled and replied, "Well, I''ve been red-carded and sent off. You might have to handle the base battle without me."


    "What!? What did you do this time?" Bradley was startled and angry.


    Orson exined what had happened earlier, and Bradley cursed loudly, insulting Wedge and the rest of the SSR team thoroughly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Don''t worry, it''s not toote. I''ve been offline for 20 hours, and the base battle willst for a full day," Orson reassured him.


    Bradley paused for a moment. "Wait, the portal guide will disappear in an hour. After that, you''ll have to walk to the Savage Mountains. Are you sure you can make it in four hours?"


    "It should be enough. You guys just do your best. Even if you can''t reach me, I''ll still be watching your live stream," Orson replied.


    "You''re not nning to watch us fail, are you? Madman said at least four or five guilds are going to target us. Even though Bradley''s strong, we''ll be outnumbered," Bradley said, sounding worried.


    The base battle for Infinite Dimensions was a major event of the year. The game''s publishingpany, along with major global streaming tforms, would be broadcasting live, marking the rise of top guilds from various regions. Over 500 million viewers were expected!


    "Well, if we fail, so be it. Each death gives us 500 bucks, and each kill gives 1000 bucks. Let''s make it count, and empty out my pockets," Orson teased, eager for the chaos.


    Orson figured that since he couldn''t participate in the battle directly, it would be a great chance to train the guild members. Godyer was still mostlyposed of neers, and fighting in actual battles was the quickest way for them to improve.


    "That''s the spirit! If I''m going to die a hundred times, I''ll do it for you!" Bradley cheered up instantly at the thought of the reward.


    After breakfast, Orson decided to text Sienna. He heard she was feeling better today, so he decided to take her out and watch the base battle together.


    As he was on his way to the hospital, themercial district was filled with giant posters promoting the Infinite Dimensions base battle.


    Infinite Dimensions, the battle never ends!


    This ordinary Saturday morning had already overshadowed almost all other entertainment events.


    Getting out of the ride-hailing car, Orson spotted Sienna standing in her casual clothes. Her perfectly delicate face and slender figure were drawing attention from passersby, almost like a celebrity.


    But her face was unnaturally pale, which worried Orson. The day of her surgery was drawing nearer, and he didn''t want to think of any bad oues. He could only force a smile, trying to push his worries aside.


    "Hey, your brother''s here."


    Orson reached out, about to call out to her, when suddenly, an excruciating pain shot through his right eye again¡ªthe same shback from the other world he had experienced before!


    The pain was so intense that Orson almost passed out. He braced himself against his knees, trying hard not to fall down.


    Is my eye going blind?


    Gritting his teeth, he cursed under his breath, pulling up his phone''s camera to check his eye. A faint blue light swirled over his eyeball, and for a moment, Orson thought it was just a hallucination.


    "You can see me, right¡­"


    "Aren''t we both walking the same path..."


    A voice echoed in his mind, and suddenly, a ck-haired young man appeared before him, covered in blood, yet wearing a bright smile.


    The figure appeared to move through pedestrians, and in the next second, he stood in the middle of a blood-soaked battlefield.


    A thick ck mist filled the battlefield, and the young man let out a maddened scream: "You pests, die! Die! DIE!"


    He wielded a ck battle spear and hurled it into the ck mist. A brilliant light exploded, and the ground cracked beneath it, causing a deafening roar!


    Orson''s heart raced as he recognized the creatures in the mist¡ªhuge, terrifying Heavenly Demons.


    He had seen these creatures before, they had ughtered countless trial-takers.


    Thousands of Heavenly Demons were wiped out by the ck battle spear, and a ray of hope broke through the darkness. But before long, even more demons appeared, crushing the flickering hope.


    "You... Who are you?" Orson tried to speak, but no words came out.


    The scene grew even more terrifying. The young man, knowing his time hade, still wore a cruel smile.


    Then, with a swift motion, he gouged out his left eye, followed by his right eye.


    Two silver beams of light shot into the sky, temporarily pushing the demon army back.


    Next, the young man knelt on the ground and reached into his chest to pull out his heart, shedding blood tears as he softly whispered, "Find the gift I left for you. Take my hope with you, and live..."


    "Hello? Bro? Are you okay?"


    Sienna''s concerned voice snapped him out of his trance. The hallucination vanished instantly.


    "Why are you crying?" Sienna tilted her head at him, taking out a tissue to wipe his tears.


    Orson gave a self-consciousugh, wiping away the tears, but still feeling a strange, burning sensation, as if his left eye was linking two different dimensions.


    "No, nothing. Let''s walk in the park first, and then watch the game."


    Orson smiled, trying to regain hisposure.


    "I want ice cream. You buy it for me."


    "You can forget about that, you''re having surgery in a few days."


    On the way to the park, Orson felt distracted. He kept thinking about the young man he had seen.


    Who was he? Why did he say they were "walking the same path"?


    Could he also be someone who was reborn like him?


    But the young man''s attire was nothing like a modern person''s.


    It was all too strange. Too much of a coincidence.


    The Super God-grade Soul Seal he had obtained was called Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye, and it was his left eye that caused the pain and hallucinations.


    Orson began to suspect that he might be merging with his character from the game.


    For others, this would sound like something out of a science fiction novel. But for someone who had experienced a fusion event before, it wasn''t that surprising. It was just a matter of time.


    After all, the existence of Infinite Dimensions itself was already something unbelievable.


    Orson absently reached out his hand, trying to cast a Chaos Magic Ball...


    "What are you doing? Just don''t eat it if you don''t want to!"


    Sienna, walking ahead, got a smack on her bottom and turned around with a face full of embarrassment, ring at Orson.


    Then, with a quick motion, she kicked him from behind.


    The twoughed and yed around like usual in the park.


    Orson couldn''t help but smile at her carefree attitude. It was hard to imagine how he had gotten through the five years of his past life.


    On the park bench, Orson bought her some cotton candy andzily basked in the sun.


    Sienna suddenly got up, tossed the stick away, and shamelessly leaned into his arms. Orson shot her a look. "Got something to say? Stop trying to be cute. No ice cream for you!"


    "Big brother, what would happen if I didn''t make it?"


    "Didn''t make it? What are you talking about?"


    Orson was momentarily caught off guard, but Sienna propped herself up and seriously stared at him, saying, "I mean, if the surgery fails, and I..."


    "Fail?"


    "Yeah, as in... kick the bucket!" Sienna rolled her eyes and pouted.


    Orson was momentarily speechless. He tried to avoid this heavy topic by feigning anger, but Sienna wouldn''t let him off the hook. She looked at him seriously, saying, "Can you promise me you won''t give up on yourself? You have to live well."


    Orson didn''t know


    what had gotten into her, but he had a strong feeling that this silly girl had some premonition of what wasing.


    "I promise you, okay...?"


    "Ahh! I knew it, you''re going to throw a tantrum!"


    When Sienna saw the change in his expression, she immediately jumped up and ran off.


    Orson sighed helplessly and looked at her retreating back, silently thinking, No matter if I''m reborn once, ten times, or a thousand times... I won''t let you die in front of me again.

 Chapter 73 73: Will Orson Dare to Fight?

    The Savage Mountains were vast and wild.


    In the US battle zone, there were three battlefields, over a thousand guilds, and ny-nine territories up for grabs. This was not just a battle¡ªit was a bloodbath, a bloodied feast.


    Who would im the throne and be the king?


    Who would dominate Infinite Dimensions?


    At the center of the esports stadium, giant screens disyed the battle live, with a crowd of onlookers gathered in a small area. Orson and Sienna found a seat together.


    "OMG! Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s Usher kills over a hundred enemies in less than an hour!"


    "Just a six-man team, do they really n to take down a guild-controlled stronghold?"


    On the screen, Usher, holding a golden bow, looked like the legendary archer Hou Yi descending to the mortal world. He shot an arrow, and a magical light burst forth, sending the front-line tank yers flying with immense force.


    At a distance of a hundred meters, Usher managed to target the leader of the opposing guild within a mass of yers.


    -900!


    Crit: -1800!


    Crit: -1800!


    ...


    Four arrows in one second, a force to be reckoned with. He even killed the Viper guild leader in one shot!


    "An S-ss Saint Archer is incredible! I heard this hidden ss is just as powerful as a dual S-ss hidden ss!"


    "That attack speed is terrifying, it''s over 3.5! He not only knocked back a tank shield wall, but the arrows also have ssh damage, hitting four mages and leaving them crippled!"


    Thementators exchanged nces, clearly impressed, but this was expected. Usher had spent an entire day and immense resources creating a full set of level 15 legendary gear.


    Dragon''s Kiss Guild was a powerhouse, backed by a top-tier financial conglomerate, and naturally, it had be the darling of the Infinite Dimensions official live broadcasts. The stream was mostly showing Dragon''s Kiss Guild attacking strongholds.


    "Kill them!"


    Usher''s expression was cold as he pointed at two advanced guilds under the Viper banner.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    There were only six of them, but they had the ambition to conquer the world of Infinite Dimensions, supported by overwhelming strength!


    "Death Hail!"


    Ivy, d in her hero armor, swung her blue magic staff. The six-pointed magic star shimmered with a cool blue glow.


    A cold aura filled the air as a st rang out. Ivy cast her B-ss spell, Death Hail.


    Hundreds of huge snowballs fell from the sky, immediately knocking down arge group of enemy yers.


    Skysher led a charge, breaking through the enemy lines with his cavalry tank. The two worked together in perfect coordination, their offensive power overwhelming Viper guild members like wheat being cut down.


    "How are we supposed to fight this?!"


    The Viper guild leader had just been revived by a priest and was immediately knocked down again, his teammates dropping like flies around him.


    He wasn''t badly equipped either, with three pieces of hero-tier armor, but in terms of both skill andbat power, the six opponents easily crushed them.


    "Retreat... retreat! We can''t take Dragon''s Breath Fort, damn it, they''re all top-tier god-level yers!"


    Other guilds, originally nning to target Dragon''s Breath Fort, saw the overwhelming strength of Dragon''s Kiss Guild and immediately changed course, attacking other strongholds instead.


    "Usher and his six-man team have secured Dragon''s Breath Fort! Not a single soul dared to challenge them!"


    "Spending 10,000 reputation points to build the outer wall was a smart move."


    "This is a stronghold that''s easy to defend, difficult to attack. Dragon''s Kiss Guild has thoroughly prepared, and no other guild will break in."


    "Yes, but clearly Usher''s ambitions don''t stop here. Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s other members are heading to the First Battlefield. The strategy guide shows that the First Battlefield has the most strategic value."


    Usher, dressed in brilliant silver legendary armor, stood proudly on top of the stronghold. With the influx of reputation points, the once barrennd began to turn into a wooden city.


    "I''ll leave this to you. Strategic Trickster, don''t disappoint me. I''ve got some scores to settle with Godyer." Usher spoke indifferently.


    "Don''t worry, I''ve got this. Anyone who dares approach will die," Strategic Trickster responded confidently. The epic rank Soul Seal had boosted his power to the point where a single bow was enough to intimidate any guild trying to steal the stronghold.


    The live stream cut to the First Battlefield!


    Dragon Mountain stronghold, said to be the site of an ancient battle in Infinite Dimensions, was once ruled by a Dragon Emperor, giving it its name.


    "Damn it! No matter how many I kill, there''s always more! How the hell are we supposed to win against this?!"


    A voice cursed loudly, leaving thementators stunned. The yers watching the stream burst outughing.


    "Unbelievable, Money Traveler, the Light-Dark Swordmaster, killed 134 enemies¡ªhigher than Usher!" onementator eximed.


    "He''s so strong! A melee yer managed to kill more enemies than a ranged one!"


    In the chaos of Infinite Dimensions, front-line melee fighters were always the most disadvantaged profession. Their short reach made it hard to hit fragile enemy yers, and they also had to absorb damage for the team.


    But Light-Dark Swordmaster was different. With skills that extended further than most melee characters, his dual crit abilities made him a deadly threat even to tanky yers.


    Dragon Mountain stronghold was one of the threergest strongholds with the most resources, and Madman spared no expense in deploying his forces here.


    Even Godyer was turning heads, with Bradley leading the charge. Thanks to their top-tier gear, they wiped out two guilds in one hour and took control of the stronghold.


    Meanwhile, the remaining lifestyle yers, under Madman and Wild Gale''s leadership, tried to steal other strongholds to prevent Dragon Mountain from falling into enemy hands.


    Money Traveler sat on arge rock, looking down at the crowded enemy forces. At least three guilds were closing in on him, and the pressure was mounting.


    His Bloodthirsty Captain set was already stained red, its passive ability, Endless Bloodlust, increasing his lifesteal with every kill.


    "Bro, don''t move, I can''t heal you anymore," the priest called out.


    Bradley stood up, evading the healing spell. He shot the priest an irritated look. "Hurry up with that curse, I''m going back in!"


    The priest, d in the hero set Orson had given him, looked formidable, but the goat next to him was puzzling.


    "Okay, bro."


    The priest sighed, casually casting Healing on the goat, the green light shining brightly.


    He then cursed Bradley with a healing debuff.


    -999


    He healed the goat again, cursing Bradley again, reducing his health further.


    The goat, though seemingly ordinary, was actually a neutral creature the priest had picked up on the roadside. In Infinite Dimensions, neutral creatures had terrifying health, with over 300,000 health points, making them perfect "sacrificial" targets for triggering the Cursed King ability.


    This strategy had been developed with Bradley: once the priest''s curses started to work, they could greatly reduce the chance of failure and keep Bradley alive for longer.


    Once Bradley''s health dropped to 90%, other healers would top him off.


    This allowed Bradley to cut through enemy lines without any trouble. He was a one-man army, no one could stop his devastatingbat power.


    "Iron Cavalry: Something''s wrong. These guilds aren''t fighting each other. They''ve joined forces, haven''t they?"


    Below Dragon Mountain, three guilds had formed a 500-yer medium-sized army, all of them ring at Bradley.


    "Damn it, this S-ss is ridiculous. We''ve lost half our men. It''ll be ten minutes before we respawn."


    "Don''t panic! They''ve only got one Money Traveler to deal with. The rest are trash."


    "Orgod isn''t here either. This fake match organizer''s guild¡ªeveryone''s stepping on them."


    The enemy guilds had turned red with rage, seeing their massive losses in the battle. They hadn''t expected to lose so many men, especially with Orgod absent.


    "Kill them! Godyer must fall!"


    The leader of the attacking army shouted as hundreds of tankers charged up the mountain,unching their final assault.


    "Just you guys? Get out of my way!"


    Bradley, his health restored, leaped from the rock, like a thunderstrike in the middle of the enemy formation. His twin des were enchanted, and his killing spree was unstoppable.


    "Stop showing off, you fool, I''ming!"


    Iron Cavalry yelled, charging with his guild members to support Bradley, doing their best to secure the entrance to the stronghold. Otherwise, the enemy''s numerical advantage would soon be overwhelming.


    Bradley was ughtering his way through enemies, with no one being able to stand against him. But he was also being focused by the enemy''s


    backline DPS, and his health fluctuated dangerously.


    "This is awesome!"


    He consumed a Resistance Potion, feeling the pressure lessen. His des fused together as he activated Great Sword Mode, standing still and absorbing health from every hit, like an immortal god of war.


    Suddenly, a sharp arrow shot toward him. Bradley''s face turned pale as he tried to block it with his sword.


    ng! He was pushed back a few steps, but that golden arrow split into five midair, each one homing in on him.


    -600


    -600


    ...


    The split arrows caused 3,000 damage in total, sending Godyer''s priests scrambling to heal him, nearly losing their strongest fighter to a single shot.


    "Not good, Usher''sing! Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s army is on its way!"


    Bradley''s eyes narrowed as he saw a thousand-man army approaching in the distance.


    "Dragon''s Kiss Guild!"


    "Dragon''s Scale!"


    "Dragon''s Soul!"


    The names of five different guilds, all beginning with the word "Dragon", were now part of Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s sprawling empire.


    Usher, riding a ck steed, looked like a demon lord descending upon the battlefield. He shouted, "Let Orsone out and fight!"

 Chapter 74 74: Orgod Has Logged In

    "I, Usher, offer him a chance to duel me one-on-one. If he wins, I will leave with my team immediately."


    Usher stood with an aura of unmatched dominance. His expression was like that of a noble prince, and the way he spoke exuded confidence, as if victory was already within his grasp.


    "Despicable bastard!" Iron Cavalry''s voice rang out in anger.


    "Usher, I''ll f**k your sister!" Bradley cursed vehemently. He knew exactly what Usher was doing¡ªtaking advantage of the fact that Orson wasn''t online, making it look like Orgod was too scared to face him in battle. This was all just to create the illusion that Orgod was inferior, even though everyone knew otherwise.


    "Oh? Seems like the Triple Crown Champion has his moments of fear. What a shame," Usher shook his head and waved his hand, raising his divine bow high. "Kill!"


    "Kill! Kill! Kill!" The sound of themand echoed, and Usher''s thousand-man battle squad surged forward with overwhelming momentum, their presence so intimidating that it felt like it would break through the screen and leave viewers in awe.


    Madman, who had the authority tomand, quickly recognized the iing threat and sent Bradley a message to retreat. "We need to fall back to the Fengqi stronghold. We can still fight there."


    "I''m so pissed off! I''ll personally chop Usher into pieces!" Bradley roared, his anger evident.


    "Calm down, Bradley. The game has just begun. We''ll turn things around once we find the right opportunity," Madman replied, trying to steady him.


    Bradley took a deep breath and swung his enchanted greatsword, cutting down any enemies in his way. With Iron Cavalry and others, they swiftly retreated to their stronghold, then moved down a side path to escape.


    "Ha! Running without a fight¡ªeveryone, remember this is the style of Godyer!"


    "Such trash! How dare they upy Dragon Mountain? Pathetic!"


    "Make way for Usher! Dragon''s Kiss Guild is here to dominate!"


    Amidst the ridicule andughter, the guild that had previously surrounded them cleared the way, willingly handing over the stronghold to Dragon''s Kiss Guild. At that moment, it seemed like the number one yer in Infinite Dimensions had already been decided.


    "Let''s take a look at the live chat."


    "Yeah, thements are about to be hrious."


    "Godyer is a guild founded by a former champion, but they''re gettingpletely crushed in this battle. I didn''t expect the Triple Crown Champion to be missing, though."


    Twomentators, with malicious intent, began to stir the pot, their faces filled with disdain.


    "LOL, the Godyer leader isn''t even online for the stronghold battle. 66666!"


    "F*ck Orgod, I thought that trash was going to rise, but looks like I was wrong."


    "Haha, maybe the eSports association banned Orgod, the strongest of Godyer."


    The broadcast team worked hard to keep the chat moving, and the screen was flooded with an avnche ofments. The crowd erupted into harshughter.


    Orson, who had been silently analyzing the situation, was suddenly interrupted when Sienna reached out and covered his eyes, not wanting him to see the ongoing ridicule.


    "It doesn''t matter. Let themugh if they want to. I don''t care," Orson said calmly, brushing Sienna''s hand away with a gentle smile.


    Sienna, visibly frustrated, huffed. "I don''t know who they are, but stronghold battlesst all day. Just because they''ve taken the lead doesn''t mean they can hold it."


    "Besides, there are five strongholds around Dragon Mountain. It''s not a good thing that they''ve taken this one first," Sienna added, her voice full of conviction.


    Orson smiled knowingly. Though Sienna didn''t have time to y the game, she kept up with the Infinite Dimensions forums and had a keen insight into stronghold battles.


    The fighting continued, with Dragon''s Kiss Guild, SSR, ughter, Moonlight Guild, and other top-tier guilds shining brightly on all three battlefields. The live streamers knew exactly what the audience wanted to see, so they asionally cut to scenes where Bradley and his team were getting beaten up.


    Despite their excellent equipment and tactics, Bradley and his team couldn''t withstand the overwhelming numbers. They would often take a stronghold, only for multiple guilds to attack them within ten minutes.


    During this time, Bradley had killed over four hundred enemies, ranking first in kills, but he had died more than ten times. Several times, he had been left stranded without being healed by their little priest, Stewart.


    When a yer dies repeatedly, their respawn time increases, which made Bradley and the team even more vulnerable.


    Orson watched quietly, knowing that constant failure could push people to their limits, ultimately bringing out their true potential. The battles served as an excellent training ground.


    "Hit and run. We retreat, and when theye after us, we''ll hit them again. If they won''t leave us alone, we''ll make them go mad!" Madman had had enough. His strategic training kicked in, and he used ssic guerri warfare tactics¡ªhit the enemy hard and then retreat, only to circle back when they least expected it.


    Godyer''s members scattered, forming smaller groups to harass the other guilds. After taking a stronghold, they didn''t get greedy. Instead, they would retreat, wait for their enemies to take the bait, and then ambush them.


    At the same time, they racked up kills to gain merit points, which could be exchanged for rare items. This "hit-and-run" strategy was infuriating to their enemies, but there was little they could do to stop it.


    Madman understood that this strategy wouldn''t allow them to hold a stronghold for long. If they stayed inside, they''d be targeted by Usher and other guilds, and without the strength to stand firm, they couldn''t make any progress.


    "Godyer is done for. The stronghold battle ends in eight hours, and they haven''t even captured one point. The game''s already lost for them," a yer from another guild taunted.


    "Triple Crown Champion? More like a clown. He''s too scared to even fight in a stronghold battle. He should go back to ying Infinite Dimensions."


    "Even if he does show up, what can he do? Infinite Dimensions is not like Sword and Conquest. His time has passed."


    As the barrage of hatefulments continued, it felt like "today" was the day the "haters" had been waiting for.


    Sienna''s face turned bright red with anger. She was so upset that she couldn''t even eat her food. She quickly paid the bill and urged Orson, "Hurry up and go back. I want to see you win. If you lose, you''d better watch out, I''ll beat you up!"


    "Alright, alright, no need to push me," Orson said with a helpless smile. He still had some time before his magic seal could be broken, but he couldn''t argue with the girl''s persistence. He sent her back to the hospital and returned to his vi.


    He brewed some tea, took a bath, and everything seemed peaceful. Orson wasn''t in a rush at all. He even made himself a bowl of instant noodles before lying down to sleep.


    Beep, beep, beep...


    The rm clock went off, and Orson washed his face, prepared himself, and entered the game pod right on time.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Looks like... we''re about to lose."


    Madman''s voice sounded tired, and he hated to admit it, but it was the truth. The three battlefields and ny-nine strongholds had been fiercely contested. He had led his team to every single one, and while everyone had earned plenty of merit points, they hadn''t captured a single stronghold. Without a stronghold, all their efforts were for nothing.


    "ShatteredCrown: ''In thest 30 minutes, you guyse to the Wangtian Pond. I''ll give it to you.''"


    Madman was surprised. He knew the King Family was allied with Orgod and had taken two strongholds already, but he didn''t expect them to be so generous.


    "Madman: ''Even if I ept, that guy won''t.''"


    "ShatteredCrown: ''Why not?''"


    "Madman: ''He''s too proud. I might ept, but he won''t.''"


    ShatteredCrown had nothing to say in response. After all, with Orgod''s pride, he would never ept something like that without a challenge.


    "I''ll try breaking through elsewhere," Madman sighed.


    Most guilds had already reached a consensus: if they captured any stronghold, the guild next to them woulde to their aid in defense. Godyer was being treated like an enemy. No one wanted them to grow stronger.


    "F**k!" Bradley swung his sword through a massive tree, venting his frustration. He wore a golden title above his name, "Thousand-Kill Enemy," a prestigious title for ying over a thousand enemies, but he couldn''t enjoy it.


    "I''m about to lose it. I think I''m just going to wash up and go to bed," the God of Iron Cavalry muttered, yawning.


    Just as everyone was on the brink of despair, a familiar notification sounded.


    Beep...


    "Your friend Orgod is now online."


    A sudden surge of energy spread through the group. Orgod had logged in.

 Chapter 75 75: The Crimson Lizard King

    "If you don''te soon, we''re done for!" Bradley eximed with excitement, immediately shouting in the guild channel.


    Madman: "Can you even make it in four hours? Most of us have died seven or eight times already, and the revival penalty is going to be long."


    "Don''t panic. Go find a stronghold and hold it down as best as you can, just try to stall until I get there."


    "Alright! We''ll go all in!"


    Madman exhausted all his tactics, unable to find hope for aeback, but he believed in the unpredictability of a certain ''crazy'' yer¡ªhe was confident that Orson would have something up his sleeve!


    "Everyone, stop AFKing! Quickly check the mini-map and gather at my position!"


    Madman shouted with all his might. He had never taken such a big hit during his time in military school; he couldn''t swallow his frustration now!


    Texas Musk: "I don''t know what to say. What use would a few people be?"


    Iron Cavalry: "To be honest, we should wait for the next stronghold battle. There''s no hope now."


    "Shut the hell up! Iron Turtle, you coward! If you''re afraid, just leave now!" Bradley retorted angrily.


    Upon hearing Bradley''s outburst, the other guild members fell silent.


    Iron Cavalry, though, looked helpless. They were stuck in an entirely passive position, and now, even with the guild leader online, morale was at an all-time low. They knew that if they showed any sign of weakness, multiple guilds would jump on them.


    "Don''t worry, Bradley. Let''s follow the guild leader''s instructions¡ªjust hold a stronghold if we can," Madman said, trying to calm Bradley down. They had to make the most of this one opportunity.


    Madman: "Don''t lose heart. The guild leader has said it¡ªwhether we die or kill, we still get paid. You really want to miss out on that?"


    At these words, a smile appeared on the faces of Iron Cavalry and the others.


    That''s right!


    Even if they died, it wasn''t a loss. There was no point in dwelling on whether they''d be crushed or not.


    The Godyer members quickly went into action. Meanwhile, Orson appeared in front of the cksmith''s shop.


    "You have triggered the hidden quest¡ªThe Untold Legend!"


    "Find the Holy Soul Seal: Heavenly Spirit''s Right Eye."


    "Find the Divine Soul Seal: Titan''s Heart."


    "Clues: Unknown."


    "Failure Penalty: Unknown."


    Orson was taken aback as soon as he logged in. A new quest had appeared in his task list¡ªThe Untold Legend.


    "This is impossible!"


    Orson''s scalp tingled. He hadn''t been online recently, and had not gone through any special events¡ªso how did he trigger the follow-up quest for the Super God-grade Soul Seal?


    And on top of that, this was one of the highest difficulty quests in Infinite Dimensions! Was this something even a yer couldplete? Orson felt suspicious.


    An unease began to gnaw at him, especially considering the scene earlier that morning¡ªthe ck-haired boy had said it was a gift for him.


    "Damn! This bastard really logged in!"


    "The Magic Suppression Cage effect should have worn off. What do we do?"


    "Quick, inform Ziyue the guild leader¡ªThe match-fixer''s back online!"


    A few barking voices interrupted Orson''s thoughts as he noticed more than ten SSR gold farming guild members standing around him, not even participating in the stronghold battle.


    These were just like the gold farmers from his past life¡ªyers from SSR who weren''t valued by the guild. Their purpose was simply to serve the big shots and ensure they had food on their te.


    Orson knew well how hard the gold farmers worked, and he didn''t want to make their lives any more difficult.


    "We outnumber him, who cares! Let''s do this!"


    "Is that the former pro yer? The one I hate the most is these pro gamers!"


    To Orson''s surprise, these yers¡ªseemingly not fearing for their lives¡ªpulled out their weapons, eager to fight him.


    "Can''t me me for this," Orson sighed lightly.


    The front-line knight raised his shield to block damage, while the back-line priest was ready to heal. Several archers also took aim, unleashing a barrage of arrows to try and lock down his movements.


    Two earth mages began casting spells to slow him down. Orson shrugged, clearly uninterested in dealing with their antics.


    He cast Chaos Magic Ball, and it collided with the knight''srge shield. The four elemental effects triggered.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Crit Damage Reduction -1400!


    Burn -4700!


    Dead.


    The under-equipped knight was easily dispatched, even with his shield up. The Chaos Magic Ball''s burn damage still got through.


    The gold-farming guild members gaped in disbelief¡ªone basic attack killed a B-tier Holy Knight?


    Orson casually waved his hand, and a dark red Chaos Star materialized. He summoned a me Dragon, and as the Holy Power Sanctity Staff glowed, two more me Dragons emerged from the magic circle.


    "Double skill split?! Every single skill has full damage?"


    All the yers who witnessed this scene were left in shock. Three me Dragons descended, sweeping through the area, sending everyone within a 50-meter radius flying.


    Hundreds of fireballs flew in the air, ruthlessly shredding any living targets.


    "Is that... Orgod?! Why is he not participating in the stronghold battle? He''s so damn strong!"


    "What a waste. With such power, he doesn''t even dare to step onto the stronghold battlefield. Now the whole inte''sughing at him."


    Some bystandersmented as they watched him turn and leave.


    Orson walked out of Pondenorlin City. Since the teleportation NPC had vanished, he could only choose to run through the map.


    The map of Infinite Dimensions was vast, and the Wild Mountains were located on the border of the Light Dragon Empire. Without a teleportation array, even running for ten hours would still not be enough to reach it.


    So... Orson decided to fly there instead!


    Death Mountain, level 30 elite monster area.


    Orson climbed to the peak, where a cluster of winged lizards appeared before him.


    Crimson Lizard: Level 30


    HP: 50,000/50,000


    Attack: 750


    Skills: Bite, me Ball


    These creatures had red heads, and their necks could releaserge areas of me balls when they attacked. They were adept atunching surprise attacks while flying.


    Several Crimson Lizards spotted the intruder and screeched as they stood on the cliff.


    Orson raised his staff, and Mud Pit cast a slowing effect. Two stone vines formed a crisscrossed dome, trapping the small monsters and preventing them from flying.


    With an attack speed of 2.0, Orson fired off two basic attacks per second. He cast Chaos Magic Balls, easily clearing out the Crimson Lizards.


    Suddenly, a low growl echoed as a muchrger lizard, twice the size of the regr ones, flew above Orson.


    This giant lizard pped its wide greenish-white wings, sending the smaller monsters fleeing. It exuded the intimidating aura of a sky ruler.


    Crimson Lizard King: Level 30


    Elite Creature


    HP: 300,000


    Skills: Rapid Speed, me Controller, w Rip


    The Crimson Lizard King opened its mouth and spat a brown sticky liquid. Before the liquid even hit the ground, it turned into a terrifying fire pir. The heat caused the ground to crack.


    Orson smiled calmly. The skill was simr to the Dragonkin''s signature breath attack¡ªjust much weaker.


    He activated Whisper of the Wind, summoning a me Dragon.


    The Crimson Lizard King reacted quickly, dodging the me Dragon''s strike and circling overhead, attempting to incinerate Orson.


    Orson sidestepped the fire pir, and with the aid of Whisper of the Wind, began kiting the creature.


    Frustrated, the Crimson Lizard King charged down, using its w Rip skill.


    "Wind God''s Sigh."


    Waves of green energy spread, and the wind quickly intensified, forming a green whirlwind that pulled the Crimson Lizard King from the air.


    Smash Damage -20,000!


    The Crimson Lizard King crashed to the ground with a scream. Orson immediately backed up and continued hitting it with basic attacks.


    A gray chain appeared, and Chaos Chain triggered, delivering double true damage for five seconds!


    True Damage Double Crit -2,200!


    True Damage Burn Double Crit -9,300!


    Under the berserk damage, the Crimson Lizard King was reduced to low health.


    At this point, Orson suddenly stopped and summoned a blood contract, which appeared in mid-air like a magical contract.


    This was part of the Basic Beastmastery he obtained from Veijander¡ªbasically, it was a Beast Taming Contract.


    Seeing the blood contract, the Crimson Lizard King let out an angry roar. It spouted a fire pir to destroy the contract before it could fully materialize.


    "Your Beast T


    aming level is too low. The sess rate for taming an elite boss is under 3%."


    The system message appeared, but Orson didn''t avoid it. He activated two Sr Shields to block the damage.


    The higher the level of the monster, the harder it was to tame. Orson had anticipated this, but he had the patience to exhaust the Crimson Lizard King.


    "Mounting Tool No. 1, you''re not listening."


    Orson shrugged helplessly, pulling back and waiting for the Crimson Lizard King to passively recover its health.


    When it reached 20,000 HP, Orson hit it with a basic attack. The Chaos Fire spread, and the giant lizard howled in pain.


    Another blood contract flew toward it, only to be destroyed again.


    This continued for half an hour, and the Crimson Lizard King was left with no mana, yet it still couldn''t pose a threat to Orson.


    "Mounting Tool No. 1, this is yourst chance. Make the most of it."


    Orson''s patience was wearing thin. If it didn''t work, he would just tame a smaller elite monster, where the sess rate was higher.


    The blood contract appeared again. This time, the Crimson Lizard King hesitated. As a me Controller, it had been tortured so much that its body was scorched, with no good flesh left.


    It was humiliated but had to admit: the human in front of it had the strength to crush it!

 Chapter 76 76: Despair

    The Blood Contract glowed brightly and entered the Crimson Lizard King''s head, causing its health to rapidly regenerate.


    "Congrattions! You have sessfully formed a Beast Contract with the Crimson Lizard King!"


    A gray Beast Icon appeared on Orson''s interface, indicating the unlocking of his Battle Beast feature.


    Looking at the Crimson Lizard King, now docile like a silly goose, Orson took out a rare saddle from his bag: Will of the Battle Beast.


    The saddle was pitch ck, with a war g of the gray dwarf king and four ancient battle drums hanging from it.


    Orson mounted the Crimson Lizard King, and as he did, the sound of drums rang out, stirring the blood of anyone who heard it. The voice of a ghostly fireboy echoed in the air, creating a perfect bnce of grandeur and ferocity.


    "Here Ie."


    Opening his mini-map and marking the Wild Mountains, the Crimson Lizard King soared into the air, spreading its seven to eight-meter wingspan, and with a swift whoosh, it flew over Death Mountain.


    First Battlefield¡ªThe Godyer guild fought fiercely. Under Madman''smand, the defense line of the guild World Dominators was torn apart.


    Bradley snapped to attention, raising his sword and roaring: "Damn it, let''s kill them!"


    Iron Cavalry, Wild Gale, and other melee yers quickly followed, charging into battle against the three hundred strong guild members of World Dominators.


    With the help of the small priest''s curse healing, Bradley''s stats doubled, and he dove into the enemy ranks like a thunderp, cutting through them like a force of nature. It was no exaggeration to say he was unstoppable!


    Madman led his Assassin Team¡ªa group of twelve¡ªin stealth, sneaking into the enemy stronghold to target the enemy''s backline DPs, who were hiding behind their tanking yers.


    The World Dominators guild wasn''t weak, but they were facing a group of lethal yers.


    The top ten Rookie Kings, led by Iron Cavalry, were all notorious kill machines from various MMORPGs. Every yer was a skilled technical expert, and they weren''t afraid to fight more than one enemy at a time.


    "Real men don''t run! Let''s have another fight!" The leader of World Dominators shouted as he and his surviving troops retreated, but not before dering that Bradley and his guild should wait for them.


    Bradley and his team smirked. "These guys are obviously running to call for backup."


    This wasn''t the first time it had happened. Variousrge guilds had attempted to encircle them in the past. They never left them an escape route.


    "Hold the line," Madman sighed. With just two and a half hours left in the stronghold battle, they still hadn''t seen Orson''s return. Even though they shouted in the guild chat, there was no response from him.


    "Hold until the end, we''ll get the revived yers toe to Chaos Rampart as quickly as possible," Bradley said.


    At this point, their only option was to hold out¡ªthey had no other choice!


    "Whoever''s gear broke,e over here to get it fixed," Madman shouted.


    In the stronghold battle, no equipment or experience would drop upon death, but if a piece of equipment was repeatedly attacked, it would eventually break, requiring repairs at the cksmith.


    Twenty or so yers gathered around, and Madman couldn''t help but sigh. "I don''t have that much gear left. Here, just take these."


    With that, Madman tossed a bunch of blue-quality items out of his bag, at least ten pieces.


    "Gold? Vice guild leader, you''ve been dropping gold?"


    Arge bag of gold coins came flying out as well. The yers were momentarily stunned, but Madman quickly snatched the bag back, coughing awkwardly. "Uh, forget you saw that!"


    "Seriously? You really know how to steal? No wonder their backline was dying so slowly¡ªI thought you were looting stuff," Bradley messaged privately, cursing Madman for being underhanded.


    Madman: "Shut up, I''m just practicing my skills for my Master Thief ss. It''s all for leveling up."


    Madman clearly felt guilty. The S-rank Master Thief ss was notorious for being hated by others, so he didn''t want to draw too much attention to it. If they weren''t in the middle of a stronghold battle, he would''ve gone after the World Dominators'' guild leader, who had purple equipment earlier.


    "Damn it, we''re finished!"


    "With this many enemies, are they here for the stronghold battle, or just to wipe us out?"


    In just ten minutes, enemies from three guilds had surrounded Chaos Rampart. World Dominators yers, who still had survivors, were also among them.


    "Where''s Orgod? Tell him toe out and face me!" A woman''s voice caught Madman''s attention, and he frowned.


    "What''s going on? Who are these people from the L&H Guild? Why are they here to attack us?"


    ElderEsctor: "I''ve been holding onto my grudge since that rookie vige incident. I''ve been waiting for this day!"


    "Ugh¡­ Orson, what the hell did you do? This woman really holds a grudge, doesn''t she? Is she counting that rookie vige incident?" Bradley groaned.


    "Haha, ElderEsctor is getting stronger and stronger. How could we not be there for the street rat hunt? The SSR vanguard guild is here!" ThunderStrikeughed.


    "Damn it! SSR is here!"


    The guild members froze, and the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    SSR was a household name in the US, one of the top esports clubs. yers who made it into SSR were all elite-level pros, a far cry from the previous guilds they''d fought.


    Madman''s expression changed. His strategy of winning with fewer numbers heavily relied on the fact that their main fighters were seasoned veterans.


    But against SSR, he felt somewhatcking.


    "Why are there so few of you?" ElderEsctor scowled at Wild War, as SSR had only brought one small battle group, with yers only in their early twenties.


    "Don''t worry, the main forces are still behind. After we take the fourth stronghold, the guild leader will join us," Wild Warughed.


    "The fourth stronghold¡­"


    The Godyer guild members sucked in a breath of cold air. They hadn''t even secured one stronghold, while their opponents had already taken four!


    While SSR couldn''t match the financial power of the top guilds, their numbers were overwhelming, with almost all members being pro yers, each with far superior battle skills than regr yers.


    Sieging and taking down ordinary yers was basic for SSR members.


    "Why aren''t they attacking immediately?" The small priest asked weakly.


    Madman stared into the distance, his face grim. "Those bastards are stalling for time. They want to wait until thest minute of the stronghold battle and crush us, leaving us with no time tounch another attack."


    "Where the hell is Orgod?" Madman privately messaged Orson again.


    "How many enemies are there? Are SSR and Dragon''s Kiss Guild here?"


    Orson, who had been silent for some time, finally responded. Madman''s face changed. "SSR has brought a small team, but their forces¡­ there are probably about 1,100 of them. What the hell did you do to make so many people want to kill you?!"


    If Orson had been there, Madman might''ve been tempted to strangle him.


    Thinking back to the initial n where they expected four enemy guilds, Madman now wished he could p himself.


    At least seven guilds were already against them, and more were gathering!


    "That number isn''t too bad. I didn''t do anything really, honestly¡­ maybe it''s just my charm," Orson sent back with a "thinking seriously" emoji.


    "Shut the hell up!" Madman cursed.


    On the other side, Orson was dealing with a tricky situation, which was why he hadn''t been able to respond right away.


    Having a flying mount was every yer''s dream, but the skies of Infinite Dimensions were far more dangerous than the ground. A moment of inattention could cost you your life.


    Riding the Crimson Lizard King, it seemed unbeatable in the sky, but in reality, it was still vulnerable.


    As he reached the edge of the Wild Mountains, he was ambushed by a Bloodline Dragon.


    Though it was just an elite monster, it was level 50 with 200,000 HP¡ªfar stronger than the Crimson Lizard King.


    Orson retaliated, but just as they were fighting, a massive Leviathan Beast appeared.


    This creature, resembling a giant whale, was thousands of meters long, covered in monstrous white scales. It inhaled and lightning crackled, as if it could devour the sky itself.


    The Leviathan Beast casually devoured the Bloodline Dragon with one bite, then shot through the sky with a sh of lightning, disappearing from view.


    Orson was drenched in cold sweat. The Leviathan Beast was a beast of domain-level power¡ªording to the lore, it


    had once been a pet of the ancient Titans.


    Meanwhile, back at the First Battlefield, a white-robed woman riding a white horse entered the Chaos Rampart, and the crowd erupted into cheers.


    "S-Rank Spirit Priestess! No wonder SSR can dominate, they''ve only lost less than ten yers so far."


    "US Region''s top priest, no way Orgod is on her level."


    "My goddess, how can she be so beautiful?"


    The one who arrived was Wedge, leading SSR''s battle group!


    Wedge, already a high-profile esports star with immense beauty, drew the adoration of fans, especially the "hardcore" ones, who rushed to take photos with her.


    Wedge smiled gracefully, handling the fans with poise, greeting each person and posing for pictures.


    "The game is nearing its end, has Orgod logged in yet?" a gentle voice asked.


    "My God, are you kidding me¡­"


    The Godyer guild members felt a chill run down their spines, and then Dragon''s Kiss Guild and SSR appeared together in the distance.

 Chapter 77 77:Bradley Cant Stand It

    "Everyone knows, Orgod''s notorious deeds¡ªhe may havee from SSR, but his existence is nothing but a stain on SSR''s reputation."


    Wedge''s face was full of sorrow, and this scene was broadcast to the national audience, causing everyone to empathize with her.


    With a sigh, Wedge softly spoke, "The eSportsmunity doesn''t need the false glory he brings, and neither does Infinite Dimensions!"


    "Well said, Wedge!" Continue your journey with empire


    "Anyone standing with Orgod is insulting US eSports. Godyer members, quit the guild!"


    At the same time, an announcement appeared for everyone to see, and Usher coldly spoke: "Does Orgod dare to face me in a fair battle? Just beat me, and I''ll give you a stronghold."


    Usher and Wedge rode side by side, looking like an inseparable couple, truly an enviable sight.


    They exchanged a smile, their acting skills wless.


    "I''ll protect Orson''s honor!"


    "Sorry, Madman. I can''t take it anymore."


    Bradley clenched his sword with a determined expression, tears welling up in his eyes. Only he truly understood how much Orson had endured over the years.


    Madman wanted to stop Bradley from stepping in, but he didn''t know what to say.


    Their goal wasn''t just to crush Godyer¡ªit was to destroy them mentally, to expose Orgod for what he truly was, and make him the enemy of all yers¡ªaughingstock, a clown!


    "I''ll fight you!" Bradley suddenly shouted, his voice full of momentum, resounding across the battlefield.


    "Bradley, go!"


    "Maybe he has a chance against Usher!"


    The Godyer members perked up. Even though Usher was equipped with a full set of level 15 legendary gear and was an S-rank Holy Archer, Money Traveler''s stats, who had earned the title of "Thousand Kills," were no slouch either.


    And they had a hidden trump card!


    Female Dorm God''s Soul Seal, [Left Hand of the Curse King], would boost Bradley''s attributes beyond everyone else!


    "Usher''s not that easy to deal with. In previous battles, he hardly fought, but his kill count has already passed 600."


    Madman muttered to himself, his expression serious.


    If Usher were just a rich yer, that''d be fine, but his skills were at a near-professional level.


    "Light and Dark Swordmaster, 1 on the kill board?" Usher stared over, shaking his head, "You''re strong, but you''re not the opponent I''m looking for."


    "Do you think you can challenge Orgod? First get past me!"


    Bradley jumped forward and charged straight into the battlefield. His impressive movement speed stunned other guilds.


    Madman: "Stay close and fight, don''t let him kite you! Be careful!"


    "I got it." Bradley chuckled coldly, his boosted stats giving him great confidence. If they were mobbed, they had no chance, but a one-on-one duel might just allow them to hold their ground.


    "Say something! Dare you face me?" Bradley pulled out his dual light and dark swords, getting into an aggressive stance. His "Thousand Kills" title shone above his head.


    "Usher, don''t underestimate him! This guy just took down twenty of us in one go, almost killing with a single blow!" WD''s guild leader warned.


    Usher looked back at him indifferently, his eyes full of disdain. Skysher scoffed: "Don''tpare my boss to you trash."


    "Fine, then don''t go back on your word. The stronghold belongs to us." WD''s leader gritted his teeth, saying, trying to suppress his anger.


    "Of course, I always keep my word," Usher said with a faint smile.


    This was a garbage stronghold at the edge of the first battlefield, but Usher didn''t care. His purpose was clear: topletely obliterate the so-called Godyer guild and ruin Orgod''s reputation once and for all.


    "I may have influence in the army, but in this game world, I''m the true god!" Usher sneered inwardly.


    Usher elegantly dismounted from his horse and took up his golden bow: "Still not giving up? Fine, I''ll indulge you."


    "You''re not in the best shape, are you? Since it''s a fair fight, let me help you out."


    Wedge smiled and waved her staff to cast: "Mana Dispersion."


    Bradley was shaken as two beams of light enveloped both him and Usher, removing their buffs.


    "Damn, that sneaky woman! This is bad!"


    Madman and Female Dorm God exchanged looks, cursing under their breath. They had hoped to use the curse buffs to mess up Usher, but Wedge had seen through it.


    Usher wore all level 15 gear, while Bradley''s [Bloodthirsty Warlord] set was 20-level, but legendary equipment at level 15 outssed 20-level hero gear.


    Even though both were powerful S-ranked yers, Usher was level 24, and Bradley only 21¡ªBradley was at a disadvantage in terms of level.


    "Trying to y mind games? You''re still too young."


    Reaverughed mockingly, noticing the sharp drop in Bradley''s movement speed, meaning the ck debuff on him was strong.


    Bradley''s face darkened, and he tightened his grip on the sword. Even though the buffs were gone, it didn''t shake his confidence.


    He charged at Usher, knowing that his only chance to win was to force the opponent into a close-range fight!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Golden Split Arrow!"


    Usher grinned and used the golden bow''s awakened skill. This was the skill that had previously caused Bradley so much trouble.


    Bradley charged forward at full speed, staying calm when the golden arrow came for him. With sharp focus, he swung his dark sword to block it.


    Swish!


    The arrow split into five mid-air, and all five came straight at him again.


    "Reverse sh!"


    Bradley quickly shed three times with his holy sword, the divine light dazzling as his speed exceeded his normal limit.


    The three split arrows turned into dust, and he leaned forward, dodging one arrow while using his high health to tank thest one.


    -900


    Usher raised his brows. Bradley''s ability to block the arrows surprised him; previously, he had never blocked a single one.


    "Such thick health!"


    Usher felt uneasy. 900 damage, and Bradley only lost a sliver of health? This was abnormal!


    Onlookers gasped, watching as Bradley, with a murderous expression, charged at Usher. He swung his sword.


    -700


    "Damn it, no crits! Legendary equipment really is broken!" Bradley cursed.


    "9800 health? That''s even higher than the tank knight''s!"


    "How is a guy in a purple set have so much health? Did he put all his points into health? But his damage isn''t bad either. He just hit Usher for 700!"


    Skysher and the others were stunned, realizing that this guy was no joke.


    "You''re actually good, I''ll admit that. But you''re not the opponent I''m looking for." Usher said calmly, stepping back, trying to create some distance.


    "Run, damn you!"


    Bradley swore, using his Wind Thunder Step to keep up with Usher''s speed.


    "Lion''s Cleave!"


    "Deadly Strike!"


    "Crush Magic Combat Art!"


    In a short time, seven or eight skills came down on Usher, a dizzying array of attacks.


    "This guy... how many skills does he have?"


    "Even if he has the money to buy skills, how does a warrior with limited mana use so many skills?"


    The crowd was in shock. Though many of Bradley''s skills missed, he still took a lot of damage from Usher''s counterattacks.


    "Fancy tricks, all useless."


    Usher backed off casually, his agility over 200 points, able to perform unbelievable dodges and maneuvers.


    "You don''t understand anything."


    Bradley''s eyes shed with killing intent, undeterred by missing his skills.


    Usher''s face changed slightly as he realized something was wrong.


    His movement speed was much higher than Bradley''s, but he couldn''t shake him off¡ªhe was being relentlessly pursued and dragged into sustainedbat.


    "He''s using skill-based movement... this guy! He might actually win!"


    Madman was stunned, realizing that Bradley, despite his previous cluelessness, had actually figured out how to handle Usher''s attacks.


    "Light and Dark Unite."


    Bradley''s eyes sharpened.


    He closed in on Usher,bining his swords into one massive sword and unleashing his ultimate skill!


    The terrifying cross-shaped sword beams were unstoppable.


    Double Crit -1400!


    Double Crit -1400!


    "What the hell... is Usher about to be killed?!"


    "Never seen anything like it. This white-haired swordsman is so strong!"


    Even in legendary gear, this kind of damage was enough to overwhelm anyone, even Usher of Dragon''s Kiss Guild!


    Usher''s expression froze as he was forced to retreat.


    Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s leader was killed?!


    The yers were all stunned, unable to believe their eyes.


    Bradley stood proudly in front of Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s army,


    shouting: "Who do you think you are, challenging me and Orson?! Damn you!"


    "I... I must be hallucinating?"


    "Why... are there three Ushers?"


    Before Madman and the others could cheer, a cold voice came from behind Bradley:


    "Is this how you think you''ve won?"

 Chapter 78 78:A Hundredfold Revenge

    Bradley turned stiffly, his eyes wide with shock. Usher''s body was still on the ground, but now there were two other Ushers standing beside it.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Holy Archer Technique: Holy Clone."


    Both Ushers spoke in unison, their faces calm with smiles. "To force me to use my hidden skill, you should be proud."


    "This¡­" Bradley was speechless, his face pale.


    Two identical golden bows locked onto him, and the storm of arrows forced him to stand still, unable to escape.


    With a furious roar, Bradley tried to resist, but in the end, he couldn''t escape death.


    Usher looked at the fallen body with a smile. "Wedge, please revive him. He doesn''t seem to have learned his lesson."


    Wedge raised her staff coldly and revived Bradley, but his health was only at 10%.


    Bradley cursed, "Damn it, Usher¡­"


    "Still not convinced? Then let''s continue." Usher''s cruelty left Godyer''s memberspletely dumbfounded.


    "This is what happens when you go against Dragon''s Kiss Guild!"


    The battle announcer gloated, and yers from other guildsughed mockingly.


    Another priest revived Bradley, only for him to be shot down by two more arrows¡­


    "Kible but not humiliated! You bastard, go save Bradley!"


    Madman''s eyes turned red with fury. Though Money Traveler often stole his girls, Usher and the others'' actions were downright despicable.


    "This is too much! This isn''t a fair fight!"


    The small priest and others were livid, and even knowing they would die, they charged out of the stronghold with Madman.


    At that moment, a golden text shed, interrupting everyone''s actions. It was an area-wide announcement.


    "If you can win in a fair duel, it will be your skill."


    "But if you stand by and watch my brother get bullied, I, Orgod, will return the favor a hundredfold!"


    The sound of monstrous roars reverberated, and everyone''s faces changed in shock as they looked toward the horizon.


    Boom! Find exclusive stories on empire


    Boom!


    Boom, boom, boom!


    The sound of war drums rumbled from a distance, with a primal, ancient feel.


    The drums seemed toe from ancient times, and as the frequency increased, they began to resonate with the heartbeat of the listeners... boom, boom!


    In an instant, an overwhelming sense of oppression swept across the entire first battlefield!


    "The Three-Time Champion¡­ Orgod!" Someone in the allied army shouted, and everyone''s faces were filled with surprise and fear.


    That man, he had arrived!


    Despite being alone, it felt as though he brought an army of millions, just because he had once built an esports dynasty. That was all!


    "Where are the haters now? Speak up!"


    "Why are the haters quiet now? Aren''t you good at talking trash?"


    "666... Orgod''s entrance isn''t ordinary, but what can he do?"


    "Oh, the fake match king is here to save the day. I''m so scared!"


    On the live stream of the stronghold battle, the barrage ofments flooded the screen, and the battle reached a new peak!


    A dragon-like creature flew by, with a person standing on its back. His appearance sent the audience into a frenzy, and whether they were haters or fans, everyone was ecstatic.


    The Three-Time Champion, missing for 22 hours, had appeared at this very moment!


    Such a dramatic scene left even the threementators stunned.


    "A flying mount???"


    "Holy crap, that''s a level 30 elite boss! He actually tamed it as a battle beast!"


    "The battle beast feature isn''t unlocked until level 35, but how is he already using it at level 26? If this isn''t cheating, I''ll eat shit upside down!!"


    On the first battlefield, the yers surrounding Godyer went crazy.


    While most yers were struggling to run around on foot, and only a few wealthy yers could afford mounts, this guy above had not only a flying mount but a flying battle beast!


    Usher''s expression shifted, and he frowned at Wedge. "This is what you said, he can''te?"


    "I said, theoretically he couldn''t."


    Wedge furrowed her brows, just as shocked as everyone else. She had no idea how Orgod had done it, even taming an elite boss.


    "Take that bastard down. This isn''t his ce to show off!"


    ElderEsctor from L&H Guild, who had a grudge with Orgod, smirked at him, "You dare kill my beloved ElderEsctor? I''ll show you what happens when you mess with me. It''s just one person, don''t you dare do anything about it?"


    The other guild members snapped back to reality. They were so many, with the main forces of SSR and Dragon''s Kiss Guild supporting them.


    No matter how strong Orgod was, he was still just one person plus a boss¡ªwhat was there to fear?


    Hundreds of magic beams and arrows shot toward the sky. Orgod remained calm, and Crimson Lizard King pped its wings, rising to over 200 meters.


    As expected, most of the attacking yers had limited range, and once their attacks exceeded the range, they missed, losing their uracy.


    "Damn, a flying battle beast... he really knows how to use it!"


    Madman couldn''t help but smile in admiration as Orgod toyed with the enemy''s hundreds of ranged DPS yers.


    "You can''t change anything by yourself, Orgod."


    Usher said.


    Wedge added, "That''s right. This game doesn''t need your involvement, and SSR doesn''t need someone like you. Please show some self-respect."


    "Coordinates: 321.82, Dragon''s Kiss Guild formation," Bradley suddenly shouted.


    "What do you mean by giving coordinates?"


    Ivy looked confused, and Skysher shook his head. "We have so many people, no matter what tricks he pulls, today Godyer will be disbanded!"


    "Coordinates: 266.133, L&H, WD, and a gathering ce for random yers."


    Bradley ignored them and continued reporting coordinates.


    Bradleyughed loudly, adopting a heroic tone, and shouted again, "Old bro, go ahead and shoot at me!"


    "Got it, good job, you idiot." Orgod replied with a smile, shaking his head.


    Then, his expression turned serious, and the dark red hexagram rapidly expanded.


    Usher and the others looked up and saw a strange red glow emanating from it, making it hard to breathe.


    "Isn''t this the technique that wiped out Saint yer Syndicate?" Usher''s eyelids twitched as he sensed danger.


    People from Saint yer Syndicate had imed to be wiped out by an unknown attack, but from the analysis of the skillset, Usher strongly suspected it was Orgod.


    "Spread out, everyone, spread out!" Usher shouted,manding his guild to stay as far away from the hexagram''s coverage as possible.


    "It''s toote."


    Orgod''s voice seemed like a death knell, spreading across the battlefield.


    "Godfall¡ªHeaven''s Descent!"


    Orgod''s long hair fluttered wildly as his staff became a star-like light, glowing intensely, and his magic power boiled.


    "Fall¡­ Meteorite!!!"


    A massive meteorite, wrapped in chaotic mist, fell from the sky with sparks and lightning.


    Seeing this, even without their guild leaders''mands, the yers below instinctively began to scatter in fear.


    "Don''t panic, everyone gather around me!"


    Wedgemanded.


    Thebined forces of SSR and Dragon''s Kiss Guild quickly gathered around her, and over a hundred shield bearers raised their shields to protect the rear.


    "Divine Blessing."


    Wedge chanted, and holy light enveloped everyone around her. This magic was also A-level, greatly reducing iing damage for a short time.


    "You''re really unlucky. Even with 20% dual-casting, you still ran into this."


    Orgod smiled slightly. The Holy Spirit Priest was strong, butpared to him, she was still far behind!


    His eyes glowed with intensity, and with a flick of his hand, he dominated the battlefield!


    Before the first meteorite hit the ground, a second one appeared. This time, even Wedge''s face changed.


    Then, the third meteorite appeared from the chaotic hexagram. Wedge felt a chill run down her spine as a hint of panic shed in her eyes.


    Even though she had immense confidence in her protective skills, could they really stop this kind of quasi-curse level attack?


    "What the hell is this? How do you y this game? Even if you exploit a bug, it''s not this terrifying!"


    The yers from the other guilds didn''t have a Holy Spirit Priest to help, and over a thousand yers were terrified, running like ants on a hot pan, desperately trying to escape.


    This level of magic attack, how was it any different from the ss-level forbidden spells described on the official website?


    If they didn''t run, they''d be dead for sure!


    "Keep shouting, then. Shout it out loud."


    Orgod said calmly, ruthlessly striking L&H Guild as his first target.


    ElderEsctor: "What the hell is this bastard doing¡­?"


    Boom!


    A deafening explosion sounded as the meteorite shattered into countless fragments,


    scattering in all directions. yers screamed as they fell to the ground in an instant.


    Hundreds of damage numbers scrolled across the screen, and at least two hundred L&H yers were killed either by direct hits or by the scattered debris.


    Orgod''s achievement points skyrocketed, and in just one encounter, he climbed into the top 100 of the kill leaderboard, his ranking rapidly rising!


    "Come get your revenge. Do you insects even deserve it?"


    Orgod sneered, looking indifferently at L&H Guild.


    The ants are dead, the giant doesn''t need to care.


    The second meteorite crashed into the SSR Dragon''s Kiss Guild alliance. Under the protection of the holy light, the meteorite didn''t shatter, but most of the damage was blocked.


    Seeing this, Orgod smirked. He quickly sped up the third meteorite, crashing it into the first one. The collision erupted with a burst of blinding light.


    Boom!


    The two meteorites exploded, sending chaotic fragments in all directions, recklessly harvesting the lives of the enemies.


    Over two thousand yers from several guilds were hit, and less than half survived!


    This was still the result of the meteorites''rge size and long descent time, which gave many yers a chance to escape. Otherwise, hardly anyone would have lived.


    Madman: "This is getting crazier each time. I''m stunned."


    Female Dorm God: "My godbro is invincible! Ha ha ha! SSR''s thighs, I''m hugging them!"


    Iron Cavalry: "Looks like¡­ we''ll be dying the resignation for now."


    Wild Gale: "This yer is unbeatable. No matter how many times he dies, watching this firework show is worth it."


    Godyer''s members collectively swallowed. To them, Orgod wasn''t even human anymore. His output was so overwhelming that even NPCs would be stunned!


    When the dust settled, the battlefield was filled with souls flying about, a scene reminiscent of tadpoles searching for their mother.


    "Eh? This didn''t kill them? What the hell!" Madman screamed in frustration.


    To their surprise, Usher and Wedge hadn''t died.


    The elite members of their guild were badly injured, but they quickly recovered, with no serious damage to the core of their army.


    Orgod wasn''t surprised. He sighed lightly, "Level dropped by five, skill effects doubled. The Holy Spirit Priest is really annoying as long as she''s willing to rebirth with experience."

 Chapter 79 79: In My Name

    "Wasn''t she level 24? How is she only level 19 now?"


    Madman looked at Wedge, who looked a bit worse for wear, puzzled.


    In fact, when the Meteor Strike hit, Wedge made a bold decision.


    She deliberately removed all her equipment protection, allowing Usher to shoot her down with one arrow.


    Then, she used her Holy Spirit Priest''s exclusive skill to revive, at the cost of losing five levels, temporarily boosting all her attributes by two times. This allowed her to barely survive Orgod''s berserk output.


    "This is A-level Earth Magic, Celestial Descent, arge-scale AoE effect."


    "Even though I don''t know how he managed to replicate two identical skills, I can tell the cooldown for this one is very long."


    Wedge''s mental fortitude was impressive as she immediately analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent''s skills.


    "Take this opportunity to strike! The S-ss Light-Dark Swordmaster idiot is dead, and it''s just Orgod now¡ªthere''s no way they can turn things around!" Reaver said in a low voice.


    "Yes, it''s better that some annoying pests died, we can still take a stronghold," said DonutWizard, holding a red staff, looking disdainful.


    The other SSR yers nodded. They were ambitious, and if they took five strongholds, their achievement would be enough to rival Dragon''s Kiss Guild!


    Apart from the other guild yers who were fleeing, they still had over a thousand members in their alliance, each one a battle-hardened elite. This force was enough to tten any guild in the first battlefield!


    A mere Godyer guild remnant was nothing to fear!


    "Riley, what do you think?"


    Wedge''s sharp gaze turned to Snow Dream, who had been silent since the stronghold battle started, but her kill count was already up to five hundred.


    Snow Dream looked up at the dragon shadow in the sky as if talking to herself, "He doesn''t do things without confidence. His appearance means he''s ready."


    "Confidence? On the first battlefield, I am the confidence!" Usher snorted coldly.


    SSR''s members exchanged confused looks, but Usher slowly said, "I''m disappointed in you all. You''re not better than me."


    "Damn it, can''t you speak properly? Without our guild leader, you would''ve been crushed by a meteor!" Reaver snapped angrily.


    "Shut up, Reaver."


    Wedge coldly interrupted and then smiled sweetly at Usher. "Not being able to trap Orsonpletely was my mistake, but I believe Usher''s methods and foundation will make it a minor issue."


    After hearing these words, Usher''s expression softened. He looked at the SSR members indifferently. To him, these professional yers were merely tools to be used.


    In the SSR guild channel:


    Reaver: "This bastard is no different from Orson, an arrogant fool!"


    DonutWizard: "Forget it, stop talking. No need to argue with the rich, foolish masters."


    ¡­


    "Currently, yer range is limited. Does Usher have any tricks to take him down?"


    Wedge asked curiously, her face showing a naive smile, while Snow Dream cursed under her breath.


    Wedge was not only scheming but also exceptionally good at disguising her true intentions. Her coy, charming demeanor was hard for most men to resist.


    Usher remained calm, ignoring Wedge''s yful tone, and snapped his fingers. "How is the progress on the barrier?"


    "Boss, we''re almost ready!"


    A female yer from Dragon''s Kiss Guild answered, nked by three other 20th-level mages.


    With most of Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s battle members over level 23, these lower-level members stood out.


    "A-level Hidden Profession, Barrier Master?"


    Wedge''s eyebrows furrowed. She had researched this profession but couldn''t get any solid intel. It seemed Dragon''s Kiss Guild had four of them!


    ording to the Infinite Dimensions setting, the Barrier Master ss had mediocre offensive and defensive stats, making it almost useless for solo yers.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    However, Barrier Masters could set up magical barriers that not only provided mass defense but could also trap enemies and continuously damage them.


    The only downside was that setting up a barrier took time, and the best solution was for multiple Barrier Masters to work together.


    "Barrier Magic: Fury of Winter."


    The female Barrier Master chanted, and the other three followed suit. A frosty hexagram enveloped the battlefield, and four light curtains rose, causing snowkes to swirl and the temperature to plummet.


    "Damn, why is it snowing?"


    Madman reached out to touch the snowkes, and immediately took 50 damage as his arm began to freeze.


    "Great, now Barrier Masters havee out." Orson stood on top of Crimson Lizard King, with his Sun Shield above him like an umbre, blocking the snowkes.


    "Crimson Lizard King''s flight altitude is reduced due to the effect of the barrier."


    The light curtains began topress, and Crimson Lizard King''s flight height began to drop, now limited to about 100 meters above the ground. Orson raised his hand and sent a simple attack.


    MLSS!


    "This barrier is restricting movement, with frostbite and slowdown effects," Orson muttered, frowning.


    The battlefield began to shrink, and Crimson Lizard King''s movement was severely restricted, unable to go much higher than 100 meters.


    Usher sat calmly on his ck steed, raising his hand to signal Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s SSR alliance to enter the barrier.


    "Boss is amazing! I knew there was a reason we had so many Barrier Masters. I didn''t expect them to be used like this!" Skysher eximed.


    "Usher really is something," Wedge said with a smile, and the SSR members were all a bit surprised. They had always looked down on wealthy yers, but this man seemed different.


    His intentions were clear¡ªhe wanted to limit Orson''s range and stop him from being able to act freely in the air.


    "How do we deal with this? This damn barrier is still draining health. We''re stuck!"


    "Can''t break the barrier? We''re done for, they''re going to crush us!"


    Madman and the others tried attacking the barrier to no avail. Their faint hope was extinguished.


    Under the cover of Fury of Winter, the Godyer members trapped inside the stronghold couldn''t escape the barrier, and the enemy had them trapped.


    However...


    Orson smiled indifferently. Once the barrier was set, even the Barrier Masters couldn''t disrupt it for a short time.


    Thus, this became not just their prison but also their opponent''s.


    Orson descended to the ground and stood at the front of his team, raising his staff. "Fight to the death!"


    "Fight... to the death!" Madman hesitated but then shouted loudly.


    "Damn Bradley, can''t you yell louder?" Bradley shouted while running around the map.


    "Shut up, Bradley, you don''t know what''s going on, don''t talk nonsense!" Iron Cavalry angrily retorted.


    The Godyer team watched the massive allied forces before them, their heartbeats quickening, but their voicescked confidence.


    Orson didn''t me them. They only had about two hundred members, many of whom were casual yers, and only two small elite teams.


    They thought they couldn''t win, which was a reasonable conclusion for normal yers.


    But Orson... wasn''t a normal yer!


    As they neared the thousand-meter mark, Usher suddenly halted his advance. He raised his golden bow high, exuding a kingly aura.


    "With the name of the Saint of Archery, I burn thest of my holy blood to grant the archer the vision of the eagle!" Usher proimed loudly, his voice as powerful as a dragon''s, stirring the crowd.


    Wedge immediately responded, saying, "With the name of the War Saint Crocker Hale... I grant the warrior eternal strength!"


    ...


    Stay updated through empire


    Four beams of divine light descended from the sky. The two guild leaders spent 20,000 prestige points to activate their guild buffs.


    Warriors +300.


    Archers: Crit/Range +20%.


    Mages: +1000 Mana.


    Cavalry: +300 Defense.


    "Oh my god, this is it. This is the ultimate move. No way that tyrant who can wipe the whole map in seconds will have any chance of winning!"


    Seeing this, the audience got goosebumps. Under the divine light, the Dragon and Sky alliance roared like a tsunami, spreading far and wide.


    "Hm? Trying to stack buffs against me?"


    From a distance, Orson''s face took on a strange expression. Madman and Female Dorm God eagerly looked at him.


    "Not much prestige, so let''s save it. I''ll spend 100,000 points first," Orson said lightly.


    "100,000 points?"


    Everyone was stunned. All of thembined didn''t have 100,000 points of prestige!


    "Consume 3,000 prestige points to gain the blessing of the War Saint. Pfft, what trash."


    Orson opened the guild battle skills panel, and when he saw thest buff, he smiled. "This one works."


    A crazy battle intent surfaced on Orson''s face, and a voice from the realm of gods and demons echoed across the first battlefield!


    "The Eternal, Unyielding Fire of Vengeance."


    "In my name, Orgod!"


    "Burn all enemies that dare challenge us and forge an evesting empire!"


    Blood-red halos appeared around everyone, and Madman and the others gaped in shock. All their attribute panels surged as the slow debuff from Fury of Winter disappeared.


    Texas Musk: "Leader, this is too obvious!"


    God of Iron Cavalry: "Seriously, turn it off already, it''s too fake!"


    "Global announcement: [Godyer] Guild Leader Orgod consumes 100,000 prestige points to gain the guild buff: The Supreme Dynasty!"


    "Within one hour, all guild members'' attributes will increase by 50%, negative states like stuns, slowdowns, and knockbacks will be nullified, and everyone will be granted one full health revival chance."

 Chapter 80 80: Blood and Fire

    yer G: "???? Can someone tell me what just happened?"


    yer H: "A hundred thousand reputation... Who still says Orgod isn''t a game designer, I''ll lose it!"


    yer K: "My stomach hurts fromughing, this guy really can''t let go."


    ...


    The world channel was flooded with "question marks," as the hundred thousand reputation points were burned in an instant, leaving everyone stunned. Some guild leaders still fighting on the battlefield were left in confusion, unable to understand Orgod''s desperate struggle.


    From every angle, even with the high-level guild buffs added, Godyer''s chances of winning still seemed slim.


    Usher''s expression changed. He had underestimated Orson''s determination to hold the Chaos Domain, and coldly said, "It''s like an ant trying to shake a tree. What difference does it make if a bunch of trash yers get their attributes boosted?"


    "Don''t underestimate it. This is a full-attribute boost, enough to turn casual yers into main fighters," Wedge reminded him.


    Usher said nothing more, dismounting with a cold, murderous aura on his face. "Charge! tten them for me!"


    The thousand-strong army surged forward toward the Chaos Domain with a deafening war cry, their momentum formidable.


    "What are you waiting for? Everyone, get in there! Rip off Wedge''s clothes!" Madman shouted, his tone creepy.


    "Yeah! I''m going to have a close encounter with her!"


    "Go! Cut them down, let Bradley die in peace, let him rest easy!"


    "Wait! He''s not dead yet! Hold on, don''t kill him all the way!"


    A group of yers began making lewd calls. Bradley, hearing this, cursed loudly in the channel, but no one paid him any attention.


    Dancing Giant Boobs: "Who can kill those female mages on the other side? I''ll send private photos to the top three, let''s go!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Little Bean: "I''ll take selfies, who wants them? Kill two and you''ll get them! Smash them!"


    Madman: "I love you, babies!"


    The Girls: "Get lost, pervert!"


    Madman: "..."


    Orson was stunned. A group of female yers was actively "offering themselves," and their shouts were even fiercer than the male yers''. The crowd was full of passion, seemingly ready to tear their enemies apart.


    Godyer abandoned their base defense andunched a brutal melee attack!


    What tactics? What strategy? It didn''t matter anymore!


    Killing one enemy was a victory, killing two would earn them bragging rights in the guild. Why not go for it?


    "I''m speechless. You guys are the real big brothers," Orson thought to himself. What kind of yers did this guild recruit? Howe no one here was as righteous as he was?


    With that, a The me Dragon appeared 800 meters away, crashing into the enemy lines, disrupting the alliance''s formation and acting as a vanguard for his berserk teammates.


    "Magic Immunity Potion!"


    Usher snorted coldly. The thousand-strong army moved in unison, collectively drinking potions to counter Orson''s passive burning effects.


    "Fire magic immunity? Well, sorry to disappoint, I''m a Chaos Mage."


    Orson''s eyes shed with a spark, and the violent mes surged. With a flick of his wand, a death spell was cast, summoning two stone dragons that erupted from the ground. They knocked over more than ten melee yers, throwing them to the ground, inflicting deadly fall damage.


    Wedge''s face turned cold, as a storm of magical des began to descend from the sky. The alliance was temporarily stalled in the heavy downpour.


    "Magic Dispersion."


    She waved her legendary staff, instantly removing the negative buffs.


    "Mud Pit."


    Orson''s cold voice rang out, and arge area of swamp covered the battlefield, trapping SSR''s yers once again. He continued to stand 800 meters away,unching in attacks on designated targets.


    -1700!


    Critical hit -3400!


    ...


    "The damage is insane, I can''t take it anymore¡­"


    Even though the alliance had guild buffs and Wedge''s Holy Spirit Mage resistance boosts, the frontline knights were still struggling to hold up against Orson''s amplified output.


    In the blink of an eye, six melee yers had fallen.


    On the other side, God of Iron Cavalry and Wild Gale began to fight back.


    Wild Gale, with his unmatched skill, took on three enemies at once, killing three in a row, his eyes red with battle lust.


    Iron Cavalry mmed hisrge shield, creating a powerful gravitational pull that drew enemies in from all directions.


    The backline mages and archers desperately cast their skills into the crowd, and even though the enemy priests were healing quickly, the concentrated fire from all directions was still overwhelming.


    "Dragon''s Kiss Guild has such great equipment, how can they not hold up?"


    "They''re finished. The damage ratio is 1:5pared to Godyer¡­ no, even higher!"


    Spectators in the crowd were shocked, unable to believe their eyes. Despite the overwhelming advantage in numbers, the two powerful guilds were being crushed under the relentless assault.


    "They''re too scared of Orson. All their attention is focused on him. It''s no surprise they''re charging ahead, ready to be wiped out," onementator helplessly exined.


    "Not good! The guild leader''s position has been exposed!"


    An SSR knight suddenly panicked. Wedge, who had been safely surrounded in the center, saw all the melee defenders fall around her.


    "Protect Wedge!" Reaver yelled, leading his people to try and block the gap.


    "Seeking death." Orson snorted coldly, activating Whisper of the Wind, further enhancing his attack speed and casting speed.


    With the full attribute boost, he had truly be a spellcasting machine gun!


    A barrage of Chaos Magic Balls, mixed with several Splitting Explosive Fireballs, rained down on Reaver and his team.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    -1600!


    Critical hit -2650!


    ...


    Wedge''s expression froze. Even her healing aura couldn''t save Reaver from this terrifying output, which exceeded all her expectations.


    As soon as she used Resurrection to bring Reaver back, the sound of nking iron chains could be heard.


    Gray chains began to rapidly spread from Reaver, and the Chaos Mother was seen floating on a stone tform.


    Chaos Chain triggered!


    "Spread out, don''t cluster together!" Wedge quickly shouted, sensing the impending danger.


    "I can''t move..." Reaver panicked, as his teammates were also bound by the chains, and were being forcibly dragged toward the stone tform.


    True damage double crit -5000!


    True damage double crit -5000!


    Thud! Thud! Thud...


    Orson timed the moment the magic immunity potion wore off, and surrounded by chaotic mist, he struck. Almost every basic attack took down a yer''s head, and no one could stop him!


    "I wonder how many levels you have left to lose."


    Orson''s eyes turned cold as he nced over the battlefield. The disadvantage in numbers had been temporarily mitigated by the powerful buffs, but he needed to add fuel to the fire!


    "Facing thebined might of multiple guilds, are you content with this?" Orson shouted.


    "No, we''re not!"


    "I''ll kill them all! What trash guilds! Die, die, die!"


    "We only have one life, oh no, now I have two! My life''s worth more than theirs, I''ll crush their nuts!"


    The Godyer yers shouted and fought fiercely, their attacks growing more savage with every passing moment, much to Orson''s amusement.


    "Today! Let all our enemies hear our name and tremble!" Orson dered.


    "We are invincible!"


    "Godyer is invincible! Godyer is invincible!!"


    Orson roared, his killing intent overwhelming. The Elven Diamond shimmered with an eerie light as his followers cheered and raised their fists.


    Activating the legendary awakening skill: "War Roar!"


    Double crits + Lifesteal ¡ª once again, thebat strength of the Godyer yers was fully restored!


    Godyer''s yers were fierce, and they never ran out of words. They were battle-madmen, crafted by Orson to be a de that stabbed deeply into the hearts of their enemies!


    They were an unstoppable flood, and they were the Godyer warriors who would dominate the battlefield!


    "Disappear before my eyes."

 Chapter 81 81: The Final Card

    Orson coldly murmured, his eyes sharp as knives as he red at Wedge, Usher, and the others.


    Above him, arge chaotic hexagram glowed, signaling that Celestial Descent had finished its cooldown.


    "Interrupt his casting! Quickly!" Wedge nearly screamed, her voice betraying her panic. For the first time, she seemed rattled.


    Her Holy Spirit Resurrection was still on cooldown. She couldn''t even imagine what would happen if that next strike hit.


    "Snow Dream! Annly! Kill him!" Wedge yed her final card. Amid the chaos, Snow Dream and DonutWizard appeared behind Orson.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "You''re dead, Orson."


    Meanwhile, Usher, standing a hundred meters away, drew his bow with a menacing aura, ready for the killing shot.


    "You''re not invincible, Orson!"


    DonutWizard''s gaze burned as he stared at Orson, his body surrounded by raging fire magic, as though he had be one with the mes. His limbs had transformed into fire elementals.


    "S-ss Hidden Job me Mage! The only S-ss in the Mage Guild who''s awakened this job!"


    "With the ability to break defenses and inflict burn effects, all defensive skills will be shattered!"


    "A-ss Hidden Job Storm Mage, the strongest in single-target output!"


    "And there''s Usher, the S-ss Saint Archery Master. Orgod''s done for!"


    The tables turned. Over a hundred million viewers were on the edge of their seats. This was no longer a mere yer vs. yer match¡ªit was like a battle between gods, something yers could never hope to achieve!


    Madman: "Shit! How did we miss someone? Get the human meat shields up front!"


    Before he could even finish, the yers rushed to the front, instinctively using their bodies to block the iing attacks for Orson.


    However, all of this had been calcted by Wedge. With the distance so great, they couldn''t possibly get there in time to defend.


    Just then, Orson''s cold voice echoed across the battlefield: "I, Orgod, the leader of Godyer, always keep my word!"


    "Those who insult my brothers will pay back a hundredfold!"


    "Those who deceive me¡ªdie without mercy!"


    "Those who betray me¡ªwill never be used again!"


    Sacred Relic, the Immortal Soul Body!


    Orson''s body turned translucent, entering an invincible state for the next three seconds!


    Three powerful projectiles pierced through Orson''s body, but he didn''t fall. Multiple miss notifications appeared as the attacks went through him.


    Orson leapt into the air. Crimson Lizard King roared, its skill activated, and it flew with doubled speed!


    Countless attacks passed through him, but in that moment, Orson was the demon lord that ruled the battlefield!


    "Invincible... Why is he invincible?"


    DonutWizard''s eyes widened. B-ss Fire Magic¡ªEndless Explosive me¡ªpassed through Orson, and the mage and his summoned beast charged toward him.


    "He''s hiding some sort of treasure, but the stronger the immunity, the shorter its duration must be."


    Snow Dream''s eyes hardened as she quickly deduced Orson''s state change. Orson hadn''t even looked at her once. The tant disregard made her heart cold. Snow Dream finally realized where she stood.


    "Stormwind Wings."


    Snow Dream soared into the air, using her control over the wind element to create two teal wings behind her, intercepting Orson''s dive from above.


    Her staff continued to sway as she softly chanted: "Wind''s Protection!"


    Crimson Lizard King roared, breathing a destructive fire pir, but a wind wall appeared in front of DonutWizard, blocking all of the Crimson Lizard King''s damage.


    DonutWizard reacted quickly, igniting a fiery shockwave beneath him, dramatically increasing his movement speed, and using the opportunity to pull away from Orson.


    "You betrayed me¡ªdie."


    Orson''s heart was as cold as stone. His Sacred Power Staff raised a finger, and a Chaos Magic Ball was fired, predicting Snow Dream''s flight trajectory.


    Snow Dream quickly used a fire resistance potion, but just as she did, Orson''s attack hit her midair.


    "I know, how could I not know¡­"


    Snow Dream''s body mmed heavily into the ground. Thanks to the Stormwind Wings, she was only badly wounded, not dead.


    She knew she was no match for Orson, so she decided to leave the killing blow to DonutWizard and Usher, the two S-ss hidden jobs.


    Snow Dream looked up at the cold man, her emotions a whirlwind¡ªguilt, but also anger.


    Her tactical goal had been achieved. She had bought enough time for Immortal Soul Body to end.


    Another Chaos Magic Ball mmed down.


    "Riley, sister! Orson, you bastard! I''ll burn you alive¡­" DonutWizard yelled in fury, but he was powerless to stop it.


    Without any surprise, Snow Dream was killed with a tragic smile on her face.


    "You could have helped me," Orson sighed softly.


    In his previous life, when Sienna was critically ill and in need of money, Snow Dream was the first person Orson turned to for a loan. Yet, she refused without mercy. Orson never understood why, as the amount of money was barely a problem for her.


    In his past life, Orson couldn''t understand the reason behind her refusal.


    But in this life, he didn''t need to understand!


    The Spear of Fate, wielded by his own hand, was the true path to bing an emperor!


    "I, An Yu, challenge you to a one-on-one fair duel! You SSR scum, do you dare to ept?!" DonutWizard shouted, his eyes burning with intensity.


    The only reply was one word: "Scram."


    S-ss me Mage DonutWizard was indeed strong, but having reached the peak of Fire Magic years ago, Orson didn''t care. He immediately fired The me Dragon.


    DonutWizard, known as "the second Orgod," was confident in his operations. With a snort, he sidestepped The me Dragon''s attack range.


    Heunched an Explosive Fireball toward Orson.


    Orson remained expressionless, firing an Explosive Fireball of his own. The two fireballs collided mid-air and exploded.


    DonutWizard smirked. "The Three-Crown King is nothing special."


    Two fire phoenixes then shot out from his staff¡ªB-ss Fire Magic¡ªPhoenix Seeking the Emperor. The spell could lock down the opponent''s movements and, when merged, it was a deadly single-target kill.


    But soon, DonutWizard was shocked. Orson charged directly at the two fire phoenixes, and damage numbers popped up above his head.


    B-ss Fire Magic was strong, but Orson absorbed the damage with his Triple Sr Shields, only losing less than two hundred health.


    "This¡­ almost no damage?!" DonutWizard gaped in disbelief.


    Orson sighed. "When your stats are clearly superior to your opponent''s, no one cares about the finer points of technique."


    With 6000 health points, Orson tanked the damage. He raised his staff, triggering the double-split effect.


    Thud, thud, thud! Three hits, even DonutWizard''s magic immunity potion did nothing.


    The pure damage overwhelmed him!


    Critical hit -1100!


    Orson frowned as a golden arrow pierced through his Sr Shield. Even with the shield''s protection, the damage was significant.


    The archer from a distance was none other than Usher.


    "Don''t rush, your turn is next." Orson''s hand flicked, and Chaos Magic Ball bounced, turning the golden arrow into ashes.


    +333


    +333


    ...


    Orson casually threw another Explosive Fireball into the chaos. Wherever itnded, no grass would grow. Waves of enemy yers were incinerated!


    With the Battle Roar and Passive Fireball enhancements, his lifesteal surpassed 10%, quickly replenishing the health lost.


    In the middle of the chaos, when a violent mage possesses lifesteal for the group, he no longer functions as just a ranged DPS but as a bomb, thrown into the enemy lines to heal as he fights.


    At any given moment, the surrounding enemies would be a source of blood for him to feed on.


    "Damn, so aggressive! This is amazing."


    "The guild leader''s like a dog-head hunter, I just damaged them, and he took all the kills! What''s the point of getting an assist?"


    "Everyone, ignore the leader, let him go die... He can''t die anyway, with all his lifesteal!"


    Madman and the others were furious, seeing their kills snatched away by Orson. They stopped caring about the guild leader''s life and started mercilessly pounding the remaining, barely surviving enemies.


    Orson smiled contentedly. Before him stood a pack of warriors ready for battle, in their most desperate moment they had finally undergone their transformation. This was the result he had wanted.


    "Kill!"


    "Focus fire on Orson!!"

 Chapter 82 82：Chasing to the End（1）

    Wedge dropped herdy-like disguise, her voice hoarse and desperate as she screamed for the full-on focus fire, determined to kill Orson at any cost!


    A massive barrage of skills poured toward Orson. The intense concentration of attacks made him realize that even with his lifesteal, he would be instantly obliterated.


    His countermeasure was simple and direct¡ªhe decisively jumped off Crimson Lizard King.


    Orson had calcted this perfectly. He knew that yers would be killed by the focus fire, but Crimson Lizard King, as a level 30 elite boss, could still tank this level of damage.


    "Are you kidding me? The guy''s really done for? Get the war god to save that idiot!" Madman said in a daze, watching as Orson fell from the sky.


    With a fall of a hundred meters, any other yer would have been killed.


    Orson remained calm. Using his precise control, he treated his Sr Shield as anding pad, then unleashed a barrage of fireballs to slow his descent, sessfullynding on the ground.


    He looked up, and dozens of SSR yers surrounded him.


    "Wedge, are you ready to reset your level?" Orson stood firm, his gaze locked on Wedge.


    "Don''t think you''ve won. Do you really think we only have this many people? Help is on the way. Get ready to die!" Wedge sneered coldly.


    "Help?"


    Orson raised an eyebrow and smirked.


    Orson raised an eyebrow. The SSR and Dragon''s Kiss Guild sub-faction had many yers arriving for the fight, but not all of them. After all, the three battlefields were vast, and it was impossible for all the yers who had previously taken over the outposts to not have defenders. Those yers could indeed be called reinforcements.


    However¡­


    "I dare say, your wish will be in vain."


    Orson smiled indifferently, continuously attacking the melee yers who came too close. They were no match for him, and in an instant, everyone within a twenty-meter radius was swept clean.


    "Protect the leader!" a Temr Cavalry yer shouted in panic.


    "Is she your mother? Why do you love protecting her so much? Come here and fight me!" Madman sneered, leading his assassin team. Using the double Warrior''s Halo buff, he pinned down a group of Temr Cavalry yers, preventing them from retreating to support the Saint Spirit Priest.


    "The world is still undecided. Orson, I admit you''re a formidable foe, but in the face of capital, your efforts are nothing but futile struggles," Wedge said coldly.


    "Is that so?" Orson replied casually.


    "Falling Sky Strike!"


    Wedge refused to sit idly by,unching several holy beams to ambush him.


    Orson moved leisurely, dodging effortlessly. With each step, holy light would explode behind him, yet it was always a split second too slow to hit him.


    The Saint Spirit Priest''s bnced attack and defense was indeed formidable, but it had a fatal w: its casting time was too slow. Against a magician of Orson''s caliber, it was like trying to wield a big de in front of Guan Yu.


    "Wedge!"


    As Orson spoke, The me Dragon smashed down once again, and some SSR backline yers rushed to try and block it for Wedge.


    "Now, this is what I call a futile struggle," Orson said with a mocking smile.


    "Earthquake!"


    Two stone dragons, controlled by Orson, suddenly converged, transforming into a makeshift stone coffin that trapped a group of SSR''s damage dealers inside.


    Roar!


    With blood sttering everywhere, Crimson Lizard Wyatt charged in.


    Without the protection of the Cavalry Temr''s frontlines, these ranged yers, no matter how well-equipped, were just food for the Crimson Lizard King.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The beast rushed into the stone coffin, swinging its ws wildly, tearing through the group and sttering blood as it killed madly.


    Combined with The me Dragon''s fireballs, Orson effortlessly shattered Wedge''s protective spells and turned the enemy into a cold, blood-stained crucifix.


    Orson stood atop the crucifix, surveying the battlefield. Wedge, who had never imagined being humiliated in such a way, found herself once again trapped in the dilemma of whether to resurrect or not.


    "Leader, we''ll be there in two minutes! Please hold on!" a voice shouted from the SSR guild channel. Wedge clung to the hope like a drowning person grasping for a life raft.


    In the distance, the SSR and Dragon''s Kiss Guild alliance reappeared, with over a thousand yers. Given the intensity of the battle, these reinforcements were enough to tip the scales of victory!


    "We... We''ve won!"


    Both Usher and Wedge had the same thought at that moment.


    At the same time, the four Barrier Masters of Dragon''s Kiss Guild had depleted their mana, and the Winter''s Fury barrier copsed.


    The reinforcements outside rushed into the battlefield, aiming to deliver the final blow to Godyer!


    ---


    "Damn it, are they really trying to take us down when there''s no one left at the back?!"


    However, just as Usher and the others were reveling in their supposed victory, an enraged shout interrupted their dreams. A dual-wielding berserker warrior charged straight at the iing reinforcements.


    1v1000!?


    The Godyer yers froze. Could Money Traveler, no matter how powerful, really be capable of such a feat?


    Usher broke into a satisfied grin, but itsted only half a second.


    "Who dares hurt my master? I''ll skin them alive, hang them out in the sun for an entire year!" A mage wearing the Fox n Mage Set screamed, and behind him, a seemingly endless line of yers followed.


    Empress of the Moon: "Looks like we came at just the right time. This is getting interesting."


    ughterDemon Emperor: "Hahaha, the Four Major Guild Alliance, Usher, where are you going to run now?"


    Reinforcements from The King Family arrived with a thousand-man team!


    The Moonlight Guild brought in five hundred!


    The ughter Guild arrived with another thousand-man team!


    Nearly three thousand yers appeared, each one a seasoned veteran of the battlefield, and these were just a fraction of Orson''s backup!


    "Not good... The Sky Demon Fortress is under attack! There are too many of them, we can''t hold them off!"


    "Wind Rain City is in urgent danger, we only have sixty people left! Leaders, pleasee back!"


    "Dragon''s Breath Fortress is under siege, if we don''t retreat now, I''ll have to give up the outpost!"


    ¡­


    In the next moment, SSR and Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s channels were flooded with distress signals. Usher stood frozen in ce,pletely caught off guard. The richest yer in Infinite Dimensions, the so-called number one, was suddenly helpless.


    "How¡­ how dare they offend me?"


    "They shouldn''t have dared offend me!"


    Usher muttered in disbelief. The DK Group was massive, and the powers behind otherrge guilds should have known better than to provoke them. But now, at this very moment, over a dozen guilds had gone into a frenzy, pushing through the Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s taken outposts in the second and third battlefields.


    This was without a doubt, a huge piece of news!


    "I never expected such a huge change in thest hour of the outpost battle... this shouldn''t be happening!"


    "They must have nned this out on the fly. Usher monopolized nine outposts, and this pushed other guilds to their breaking point. They''re willing to team up with Godyer just to take him down!"


    "So they''ve been saving their strength all along, waiting for this moment? Twenty hours of battles, and it turns out it was just warm-up?"


    In the live stream, the threementators were drenched in sweat. Compared to the events unfolding in the final hour, the previous twenty hours of fighting had been nothing more than a warm-up.


    "My god, what''s happening here?"


    "Are we going to wipe them out? Could it really happen...?"


    The sudden shift in the situation left even Madman and the others stunned. On the other side, ShatteredCrown, Empress, and Demon Emperor had already started their charge.


    This was a carefully nned counterattack!


    "You, lost."

 Chapter 83 83: Chasing to the End（2）

    "You lost."


    Orson''s lips curled into a sinister smile as he rode Crimson Lizard King, weaving through the crowd towards Usher.


    On his way to the battlefield, Orson hadn''t been idle. He had anticipated that SSR and Dragon''s Kiss Guild would target him, so he sought out Empress and ShatteredCrown. The three of them quickly devised a n, using the other guilds'' dissatisfaction with Dragon''s Kiss Guild to set up a huge strike.


    Under normal circumstances,rge guilds usually fought on their own, and it was rare for any guild to truly unite to take on Dragon''s Kiss Guild. After all, DK Group''s financial and manpower resources were far beyond their reach, and even fighting a one-on-one or a three-on-one battle against them would be futile.


    But now, there was someone who stood up to shatter their undefeated reputation.


    That person was Orson. Leading just over 200 members, he fought relentlessly against thebined forces of Dragon''s Kiss Guild and SSR, ying two S-rank powerhouses in an instant and almost singlehandedly killing a thousand yers. This feat alone proved everything.


    The guild leaders of other factions were no fools. They knew that if thebined forces were pinned down by Godyer on the front lines, then the second and third battlefields would be their opportunity to rise.


    Various guildsunched their counterattack, spontaneously forming alliances to assault the outposts held by thebined forces. Everyone knew that Usher and Wedge couldn''t retreat now ¡ª their fate would be slow, painful death.


    This was the natural course of things!


    All of this stemmed from Orson shattering the invincible momentum of Dragon''s Kiss Guild.


    This was the true backup, the absolute finishing blow!


    However, to Orson''s surprise, ughter Guild''s overall strength was enough to challenge SSR, and they had followed the news, joining Empress in killing their way to the first battlefield. It seemed that Demon Emperor, the guild leader, was more than just a madman in battle. His strategic thinking was vast. After all, this was a deration of war against the power behind Dragon''s Kiss Guild!


    As Usher saw Orson closing in, his expression turned cold, and he swiftly nocked an arrow. He fired five arrows in quick session.


    With a buzzing sound, the five arrows merged into one, taking the form of a golden divine figure that rushed toward Orson.


    "A-level Magic Arrow: Demon yer Arrow. Effects: Stun, Knockback. Unblockable and Unavoidable."


    Orson raised an eyebrow and smiled. The person before him was none other than the famous Golden Archery God, Usher. Orson knew him even better than Usher himself, as he had once been crushed by him in his past life ¡ª much like an ant being squashed.


    It was said that the enemy you understand best is often your greatest threat.


    Orson maneuvered Crimson Lizard King sharply to the side, but the Demon yer Arrow pierced through its wing. With a painful cry, the Crimson Lizard King plummeted from the sky.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    -20,000 damage!


    -4,000 crit!


    -1,800 crit!


    Usher opened fire with a barrage of explosive damage, but even though the Crimson Lizard King fell, Orson controlled it to absorb all the damage.


    Orson calmly dismounted, a smile still on his face, and said, "With your mana, this level of output will onlyst a few seconds."


    Another four arrows shot toward him. Orson dodged the first one, then used a barrage of fireballs to perfectly block the remaining attacks.


    "Saint''s Clone cooldown is one hour. You can''t use it, and you can''t escape," Orson continued.


    Usher''s heart went cold. His thoughts had beenpletely exposed, and he forced himself to maintainposure. "You have no idea what you''ve done."


    "I know exactly what I''ve done. You want to take revenge on me, on everyone. But do you really think one person is enough?"


    "This is the trend! You can''t stop it!" Orson coldly said, surveying the battlefield.


    The frontlines were copsing for Dragon''s Kiss Guild''sbined forces. Madman and his group had hacked them into pieces. Reinforcements from other guilds were getting beaten down by the three major guilds. Dragon''s Kiss Guild and SSR''s defeat was inevitable!


    "This is just the beginning. Don''t think you can defy fate. I only need to take you down, and your so-called trend will copse on its own," Usher said coldly.


    "Retreat!"


    At the same time, Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s channel lit up with Usher''s urgent message.


    Once the leader of Infinite Dimensions, he now felt like he was nailed to the pir of shame. Desperate, he used a dying tactic to try to buy time for his forces to recover.


    Thebined forces of the yers retreated as quickly as they had arrived, heading back to protect the outposts that were under siege.


    "Want to humiliate me? Dream on!" Usher suddenly sneered. "Want to die?"


    He pulled out an arrow, removing all equipment protections, and aimed it at his own forehead.


    Orsonughed. He didn''t give him the chance. A Chaos Magic Ball mmed into him!


    "Get ready for endless revenge, Orson!" Usher roared, full of rage. He couldn''t evenmit suicide.


    He turned into a wisp of a soul and flew toward the nearest outpost to respawn.


    "I told you, those who insult my brothers will pay a hundred times over. How can I let you escape?" Orson muttered to himself, then turned to look at Madman and the others.


    "I say, old buddy, are we going to strike back?" Madman grinned savagely.


    Orson nodded in approval, his voice booming with confidence. "We''ll finish this in one hour!"


    "Wherever Usher and Wedge respawn, that''s where our swords will strike! I''ll kill them until they''re broken beyond recognition!"


    Orson rode Crimson Lizard Wyatt high into the skies, his destination aimed squarely at thergest stronghold on the first battlefield: Bone Dragon''s Land!


    "How could Usher die? Could it be that Orson killed him? He''s never died once before!"


    At the Bone Dragon stronghold, Usher had just respawned, and the members of Dragon''s Kiss Guild who were guarding the point stood there dumbfounded.


    Other than that man''s intervention, they couldn''t think of any yer capable of killing a top-tier, legendary-gear-wearing god-tier yer like Usher!


    "Orson, no matter what forces stand behind you, you will die!!"

 Chapter 84 84: Sweeping the Path

    Usher''s furious, powerless roar echoed through the stronghold, leaving his subordinates too afraid to even breathe too loudly. Even the domestic esports elite, SSR, couldn''t raise their heads before him, reduced to mere pawns in his hands. But this domineering situation was about to be shattered¡ªby one person''s appearance.


    "Don''t overthink it. Just go to hell," came a cold voice.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The sound of war drums echoed as a single person and a monster waited above Bone Dragon Stronghold.


    "He''s here¡­ that bastard''s here! Prepare for battle!"


    "For the boss, for bing the strongest guild in Infinite Dimensions, kill!"


    Hundreds of yers from the Dragon''s Kiss Guild were enraged by Orson''s actions, but against a Chaos Mage with nearly a five-kilometer range, their roars would soon turn into a mournful song.


    "Die!"


    Orson swung his weapon, unleashing his most powerful attack¡ªthe Heavenly Meteor Strike!


    Bone Dragon Stronghold was ruthlessly destroyed. Usher watched helplessly as the terrifying meteor fell. This was the greatest humiliation of his life, his ambition to rule Infinite Dimensions crushed by Orson.


    Forget being the richest yer in Infinite Dimensions, before the power of the Saint''s Staff, Usher could only bow his head!


    Orson stood tall, ignoring everything. Wherever Usher''s soul fled, Orson would follow and strike!


    He was establishing his dominance, showing every yer that there was no such thing as an invincible legend in Infinite Dimensions. If it existed, he would shatter it.


    "The Godyer Guild is rebelling! Does he not know who he''s offending?"


    "One attack, and it''s as powerful as a forbidden spell! This is really like grinding Usher''s face into the dirt."


    "This is what true pursuit to the death looks like! From now on, Dragon''s Kiss Guild members will run at the sight of him!"


    Many yers stopped grinding and leveling, opening the official live stream instead. All eyes were on Orson, who chased Usher''s fleeing soul across the sky.


    Soon after, the Godyer, Moonlight Guild, ughter, and The King Family alliances mobilized to various battlefields. ording to Orson''s n, any encounter with SSR or Dragon''s Kiss Guild was a fight to the death. He swept through, leaving both guilds in ruins.


    Other guilds that had settled in strongholds trembled and quickly reached out to the more reasonable ShatteredCrown for mercy. But ShatteredCrown simply responded, "You didn''t offend my boss, so why should I care?"


    This reassured the other guilds, though not by much.


    "Bone Dragon Stronghold, I''m back!" Bradleyughed loudly, his voice filled with pride. He had be a killing machine in this guild battle, with countless yers witnessing the terror of the Light and Dark Swordmaster through the livestream.


    Able to push Usher to the brink of defeat, had it not been for the invincible mechanism of the Saint''s Avatar, Bradley might''ve already captured Usher.


    Outside Bone Dragon Stronghold, Madman and his team took down four nearby strongholds. With Orson as the terrifying front-runner, Dragon''s Kiss Guild stood little chance, and Usher had died five times, each in a different way.


    "I swear¡­ easy, man! You''re going to the second battlefield to deal with him? Too risky."


    Madman was stunned, watching Orgod, who showed no sign of stopping. With a roar, the Crimson Lizard King set off again.


    "Can''t wait to see this!"


    Bradley, grinning maliciously, chuckled. As someone who typically saved every penny for his wife''s dowry, he understood that his brother was exacting revenge for him. Of course, he had to show some support.


    "Spa, KTV, five-star hotel¡ªall in one! I''ll treat you tonight, Orson!" Bradley shouted.


    "Wait till I carve you up!" Orsonughed back.


    Bradley: "You know what''s up, I''ve killed 1,120 enemies and assisted in more. My achievement points are 2,000, so the billes from my sry."


    Orson: "Fuck you."


    "Hold the line! Do whatever it takes to hold the line!" Reaver, face flushed, yelled as enemies surged toward them.


    "How could we lose so badly?" DonutWizard''s face was pale, his morale shattered. Even his casting motions had be sluggish.


    A group of pro yers, used to crushing regr yers, was now getting trapped and killed by them.


    One stronghold after another fell. Windy Moon Fortress was theirstrge base, but it was about to be breached.


    "I hear you''re an S-ss mage. Funny, so am I!"


    Just as DonutWizard hesitated, a frozen spear sliced through the air, forcing him back. Standing before him was ShatteredCrown, another S-ss mage.


    A few hours ago, ShatteredCrown had undergone his professional awakening at the Mage Guild, where he witnessed a program bug involving an "NPC" breaking a magic stone. Using hisvish gear and skills, he sessfully replicated the NPC''s actions and awakened the second S-ss mage job: Ice and Fire Sage.


    Realizing the situation, DonutWizard quickly cast a counterspell, engaging in a magical duel. His technical skills were sharp, and it wasn''t surprising that he was part of the SSR elite.


    But¡­ he was up against an unreasonable god-tier yer.


    "Ugh, missed again! Damn it, don''t run away!"


    ShatteredCrown grumbled as his operations were sloppy. Yet, he had so many resources that even his botched actions couldn''t stop his overwhelming power.


    "Thunder Strike!"


    "Ice Seal!"


    ShatteredCrown grinned, unleashing two awakening skills along with three B-tier abilities, bombarding DonutWizard with an all-out attack.


    Crit -1200!


    Crit -1200!


    ...


    With a minute of unrelenting damage, DonutWizard, even with priest support, was steadily driven back.


    ShatteredCrown wore a full set of purple gear from Orson''s auctioned Fox Tribe set, alongside three pieces of the "Frozen Lord" set. His Ice and Fire Sage job synergized perfectly with this setup, making him an unstoppable mage.


    "Very well, we''ve won," Orson said, appearing at Windy Moon Fortress and quickly assessing the situation.


    "Why''s this not hurting at all?"


    A tall blonde womanughed, her voice almost deafening. Orson shook his head, slightly annoyed.


    "Brothers, can you put in some effort? I only have 16,000 HP, not much at all! Come on, hit me!"


    The King Family produced only the finest¡ªeveryone, regardless of gender, was a show-off.


    More than ten yers surrounded the Ultimate Sweetheart, but her silver hollow armor deflected half the attacks.


    Her shocking health made even the SSR experts helpless.


    Clearly, her gear also came from Orson.


    ShatteredCrown''s other seniors went all in with the "luxury tactics." Though their skills werecking, their overwhelming wealth allowed them to simply oust SSR.


    At this stage, with top-tier gear, skills, and jobs, they could easily overwhelm SSR yers just by spending money.


    Additionally, there was a low-profile yet powerful young master with an S-ss life skill¡ªck Silk. The food he made could massively boost yer stats, and The King Family''s members all enjoyed the "Dark Cuisine" buff, which was tough for SSR to counter.


    "This is the nightmare your beloved man brought!"


    Wedge, surrounded by melee fighters, had dropped to level 8. Yet, she still refused to surrender, trying to preserve SSR''s dignity.


    She red at Snow Dream. "How do you expect me to exin this loss to the boss? Tell me!"


    Snow Dream looked up at the godly figure in the sky, whispering, "I''ve tried my best. This isn''t ''Sword and Conquest.'' We can''t control everything here."


    ShatteredCrown: "Get back, my master''s about to unleash his ultimate move! Everyone, run as far as you can!"


    A blood-red hexagram glowed as Orson prepared to wipe out SSR.


    Wedge red at him with venom but quickly led her team to escape, trying to breakbat and log out as fast as possible.


    "What? You guys don''t want to live? I''m out!" A yer who had witnessed Orgod''s power quickly fled.


    Orson hesitated, not attacking immediately as ughter Guild had just arrived. A strike now might hurt their side as well.

 Chapter 85 85: Does He Want to Be the Second in Dragons Kiss Guild?

    [Large District Announcement: Guild Base Battle Concluded!]


    A distant bell echoed through the world, signaling the end of the guild base battles. The three major battlefields turned into temporary safe zones, and yers from various guilds still engaged inbat were forced to cease their fights with great reluctance.


    [Merit List Released!]


    "20th ce: ughter Guild ¡ª ughterDemon Emperor!"


    Kills: 370, Assists: 178, Gained 70 attribute points, 40 skill points, 5 talent points, 20,000 reputation points!"


    ¡­


    "9th ce: Moonlight Guild ¡ª Yan Guo Wu Hen!"


    Kills: ...


    Upon hearing this, Orson raised an eyebrow. The yer from Moonlight Guild wasn''t Empress, but a warrior yer. If he recalled correctly, Yan Guo Wu Hen was an S-tier hidden ss. A rtively orthodox sword and shield warrior who had once been a contender for the top warrior in Infinite Dimensions. However, when he underwent his second awakening at level 50, Dragon''s Kiss Guild''s Skysher had taken that title.


    "4th ce: Dragon''s Kiss Guild ¡ª Usher!"


    When this announcement was made, the yers in the world chat fell silent. The so-called "number one god-tier yer of Infinite Dimensions," Usher, had only made it to fourth ce.


    Dragon''s Kiss Guild had once held nine bases, but now they were left with only one¡ªthe Dragon Breath Fortress, under the protection of the Strategic Trickster.


    "That''s strange. He only made it to fourth ce. Who could possibly be in third? Bradley?" Orson muttered in surprise.


    In the past, Dragon''s Kiss Guild had dominated the base battles, and it was rare for the top guilds to fight each other in a chaotic manner. Usually, the fiercepetition urred between mid-tier and lower-tier guilds. For a god-tier yer to achieve so many kills on his own was quite an unexpected turn of events.


    "3rd ce: ughter Guild ¡ª nk!"


    Kills: 1052¡­


    Upon hearing this, Orson nearly spat blood in shock. That woman who had pped him across the face was now in ughter Guild?


    "2nd ce: Godyer Guild ¡ª Money Traveler!"


    ¡­


    When Bradley''s name appeared on the screen, his guild immediately shouted out:


    "I''ll ask you this¡ªam I awesome or what?"


    "You trash! You''re a kill-stealer, just eating up team buffs!" Madman immediately expressed his displeasure. He had stolen plenty of equipment during the base battles, but couldn''t get a single kill, which made him extremely frustrated.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Dancing Giant Boobs: "Take that perverted guy out! He didn''t do anything but talk all the time!"


    "I can testify! This mad vice-president of ours is all talk and no action!"


    "Yeah, I''ve been watching this sleazy dog for 24 hours. He''s killed less than me! What gives, calling himself Bradley."


    Madman was instantly drowned in a sea of mockery from the girls. He didn''t dare to argue back, which made him absolutely furious.


    "1st ce: Godyer Guild ¡ª Orson!"


    Kills: 2360, Assists: 1300, Gained 150 attribute points, 130 skill points, 20 talent points, 150,000 reputation points!


    "Evaluation: Dominating the Wilderness!"


    Orson''s battle results shocked everyone, both members of Godyer and yers from other guilds. Even though people knew he was strong... extremely strong, no one had expected him to rack up so many kills¡ªalmost 4,000 kills were directly connected to him. He was single-handedly responsible for wiping out entire guilds. His mere presence caused many enemies to flee.


    yer K: "Strategic-level nuclear weapon... Even if I had 4,000 enemies in front of me, I''d need days and nights to kill them all!"


    yer XX: "I thought Godyer was going to be the biggest loser, but now they''ve turned it all around."


    ...


    yers in the world chat were buzzing with discussion. Most guilds deliberately avoided mentioning "Dragon''s Kiss Guild," and for good reason. The alliance between Dragon''s Kiss Guild and SSR had resulted in a humiliating defeat. Dragon''s Kiss Guild only managed to secure a single base, while SSR didn''t capture anything at all. This was a blow to their pride, and everyone expected Usher''s behind-the-scenes sponsors to retaliate.


    ughterDemon Emperor: "No wasted trips¡ªthree bases in hand, a pleasure working together!"


    ShatteredCrown: "Heh, we only took two, but we certainly enjoyed the kills."


    At Bone Dragon Stronghold, Orson reunited with the others and immediately noticed Demon Emperor standing next to nk, who had an expression of a hunter sizing up her prey.


    nk nced at him sideways, and Orson couldn''t miss the dangerous gleam in her eyes.


    Orson awkwardly chuckled. "No wonder you took down bases so fast. You''ve got her on your side."


    Demon Emperor smirked proudly. "I didn''t expect it either. I''d call nk the number one thief in Infinite Dimensions. I''m just here working for her."


    An hour before the base battle began, nk had approached Demon Emperor to ask to join the guild. ughter Guild had many talented thieves, and they were curious to see what the top-ranked woman in the game was really capable of. So they challenged her to a one-on-one PK.


    nk didn''t say a word and immediately went into red-name mode. She took on six yers at once, killing them all with deadly precision. The thieves were left trembling in fear.


    "What first ce? Thest guy who imed to be the number one archer got knocked offline." Madman grumbled, having never been one to back down from a challenge.


    nk heard the provocation and turned her cold gaze toward Madman. It was clear she wasn''t going to let this slide, and she was ready for a one-on-one PK.


    Orson grabbed Madman''s shoulder and whispered bitterly, "You can''t beat her... not at the moment, at least."


    Madman gave Orson a resentful look. "If it wasn''t for your advice, I''d never have picked this stupid ss... I swear, I''m going to teach her a lesson."


    "Don''t, just do as I say. No need to take her on. Stick to being the strategist, alright?" Orson coaxed, giving Madman a forced smile, steering him away.


    nk sneered. "No guts."


    Madman was instantly agitated. "I don''t know why, but when I see her, I just want to get back at her. I swear I''m going to kill her a few times just to teach her a lesson!"


    Orson sighed. "Let''s focus on counting our money and getting some rewards. That''s the real deal."


    Later, the system message came through:


    "You''ve obtained ownership of the following six bases: Bone Dragon, Xuanwu, ck Wolf, Azure, Roshan, and Chaos Demon."


    Orson looked at the six new base ownership certificates in his inventory and then turned to Demon Emperor. "Man, you really know how to make a statement¡ªtaking ten bases for yourself."


    Demon Emperorughed heartily. "Haha, this is what they call ''fortune favors the bold.'' I sold all mypany stock for this game."


    ughter Spree, the guild vice president, snickered at Orson. "This is my big brother''s style. Take notes, Orgod."


    Demon Emperor was transparent about his ambitions. Joining Orson''s temporary alliance wasn''t out of genuine loyalty but because he saw an opportunity and seized it.


    Orson didn''t pay much attention to ughter Spree''s antics. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on Demon Emperor. "Aren''t you worried Usher wille after you?"


    "Come after me? In the game or in real life? He may have money, but I have plenty of brothers. If he dares toe to my turf, he''ll die." Demon Emperorughed cruelly.


    ughter Spree added, "Yeah, let''s see if Usher dares to show up in Tianjiang City. See if he makes it out alive."


    Orson nodded slightly. "Sounds about right. Demon Emperor isn''t someone to mess with. He''s got connections in real life too, so you''ve got to be careful."


    After a brief pause, Orson said, "Well, good luck with that. I''m moving on."


    Orson didn''t want to say more. He could tell Demon Emperor was a person of real strength, and people like him could quickly be a threat if they grew too powerful. However, as long as Demon Emperor didn''t interfere with Orson''s ns, everything should be fine.


    Then, an announcement echoed through the entire server:


    "Tomorrow at 8 PM, an auction will take ce for the bases Xuanwu, ck Wolf, Azure, and Roshan. The starting bid for each base is 100,000 gold."

 Chapter 86 86: The Last Stronghold

    In Baiguo City, Rank Studio.


    Lauren stood by the window, her gaze absent as she murmured to herself, "The number one yer in Infinite Dimensions¡ªjust a week ago, he was still one of my subordinates. It''s reallyughable. What did I even do for fate to y such a joke on me?"


    "Um... Lauren, is there something you need to discuss with me?" Charles''s voice came from behind her.


    Lauren snapped out of her thoughts and turned to see him. Her lips twitched, unsure of what to say.


    "Charles... my Charles, you''re putting me in a very awkward position!" Lauren said with a smile that barely concealed her frustration. She was about to snap at him when Charles did something that made her hold her tongue.


    Lauren''s gaze shifted downwards, where she saw Charles standing upright with a serious look on his face, kneeling in front of her with great form. His posture was impable, the kind of thing he had clearly practiced many times.


    "You''ve left me speechless. The way you''re kneeling is just perfect¡ªdid you rehearse it privately?" Lauren asked awkwardly.


    Charles had been working for her for five or six years, known for hispetence in handling things. Who would''ve guessed he''d ruin her big ns over something so small?


    "I... I deserve to die a thousand deaths! I have elderly parents and young children, please don''t fire me!" Charles started crying, his voice breaking as he poured out his troubles.


    He was a clever man, and as Orson''s rise to power in Infinite Dimensions became more obvious, Charles knew that he was entirely to me for what had happened. He was the one who had driven Orson away, and now, everything had turned on its head.


    "Uh... Orson... didn''t Boss Lin say he''d sell us a stronghold for cheap?" Charles hesitated, still trying to hold onto a shred of hope.


    Lauren''s face darkened immediately. "What are you talking about? He''s the king of Infinite Dimensions now! Even with Dragon''s Kiss Guild and SSR teaming up, they can''t take him down. Do you really think he''d care about us, the minnows?"


    "Well... yesterday I went to his ce to talk about his sister, but when I got there... I found he had... moved out." Charles said, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. Seeing the change in Lauren''s expression, he didn''t dare continue.


    Lauren felt as though she might burst into tears. If Orson were still at the studio...


    She didn''t even dare think about how glorious her life could''ve been if things had gone differently. Those capitalists who once looked down on her would probably be begging to kiss her feet now.


    But s, there was no "what if."


    With a sigh, Lauren set aside her brief moment of naive hope. She understood now that someone like Orson was not just another yer in the game. Even if he hadn''t shed with Charles, it was hard to imagine keeping him around.


    "Guess it''s time to tighten the belt, reduce outflow, and start running gold farming teams in shifts," she murmured, shaking her head. The number of small studios like hers in Infinite Dimensions was in the thousands. With her limited funds, trying to buy a stronghold was nothing but a pipe dream.


    Buzz...


    Her phone on the desk vibrated, and Lauren waved Charles away with a tired gesture.


    "Hello?"


    "The Luanmo Stronghold is yours now. I''ve sent the ownership certificate to your email," came a cold voice from the other side.


    "You, you, you are¡­?" Lauren froze, her hairs standing on end. Her heart raced as she scrambled to check the phone contact¡ª"Orson!"


    "Have Charles make the transfer. Three million. And I still think that year-end bonus is something I''m entitled to," Orson''s voice continued. After a brief pause, he added with a hint of amusement, "Also, I''m done with you, Boss Liu."


    "What are you saying? We''re friends, right?" Lauren chuckled awkwardly, trying to y it off.


    "Don''t mention the three million year-end bonus, thirty million wouldn''t be out of the question," Orson said, his tone casual but with an underlying seriousness.


    The surprise was overwhelming. Lauren felt a rush of excitement, but also an awkwardugh as her fingers trembled in disbelief.


    "Forget the bonus, I''m grateful for the job you''ve given me these past years," Orson said, his tone now calm andposed.


    Charles and he may have had their differences, but that didn''t change the fact that Rank Studio had taken him in after the match-fixing scandal, when no one else would touch him. It was a favor, and though Orson had hisints about being exploited, the fact remained.


    As for Charles''s care for Sienna''s surgery, Orson decided to let the Luanmo Stronghold go to Lauren as a return favor.


    "Let''s chat some other time. I''m still busy," Orson said, before hanging up.


    Lauren''s tonepletely changed when speaking to him. The difference in status was clear¡ªOrson had the power tomand respect, while she was left stammering in awkward gratitude.


    Back at Bone Dragon Stronghold, Orson tossed Bradley two thousand gold and instructed him to tally the contributions of each member to distribute the rewards ording to the previously agreed-upon n. The rest of the gold would be used as a welfare bonus for the guild.


    "Iron Cavalry: Time for a speed battle, time to test your luck! As the number one knight, I dere long live the boss!" Iron Cavalry dered dramatically.


    Bradley rolled his eyes. "I''m just here wondering who the hell kept shouting about splitting off from the guild."


    Iron Cavalry, undeterred, continued with an exaggerated expression, "Godyer''s glory, brother here to protect it! To the death, to eternity!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The rest of the guild quickly drowned him out with jeers, ignoring himpletely as they focused on the guild''s first red envelope¡ª1000 gold coins, with one million votes attached.


    As soon as the announcement was made, everyone rushed to click on the red envelope in the chat, eager to collect as much as they could. Some even tried to open multiple envelopes at once.


    After the excitement died down, Madman approached Orson with a serious expression, followed by Bradley, both clearly puzzled by Orson''s decision to sell the stronghold.


    "I still don''t get it," Madman said, his tone urgent. "Why sell such an important asset? Aren''t these strongholds crucial to our sess?"


    Orson calmly exined, "It''s simple. Small strongholds are useless to us. Even if we control every stronghold in the first battlefield, they''re just a waste of resources."


    Madman furrowed his brow. "But didn''t you hear? Each stronghold contains important dungeon entrances."


    "You''re talking about the underground ruins, right? But every yer can only enter once a day," Orson replied with a slight smile.


    The bigger the guild''s stronghold, the more resources the guild could gather from the ruins. However, owning too many strongholds would spread resources too thin.


    "The Bone Dragon Stronghold is the most valuable of all the strongholds. But managing multiple strongholds dilutes our focus. Having one major one is better."


    Madman considered this for a moment. "But think about it, Orson. Having multiple strongholds means we can have more guild members. Therger the guild, the more we can field in battle, and that''s a huge advantage."


    Orson nodded. "I understand your concerns. But don''t worry. The Bone Dragon Stronghold is by far the most valuable. And once a certain project ispleted, we''ll need a lot of funding. A few billion gold might not even be enough."


    "Are you serious? That ce is just arge stronghold; what''s so special about it?" Bradley asked, confused.


    "You all forgot the official description of the stronghold battle, didn''t you?" Orson grinned, looking at the two of them.


    "The Hundred Stars?" Madman suddenly gasped. "Wait... do you mean there''s a hidden stronghold?"


    "Exactly," Orson said, his smile widening. "Right under our feet, at the Bone Dragon Stronghold." He looked over at the NPC guarding the stronghold¡ªan imposing middle-aged warrior whose mere presencemanded respect.

 Chapter 87 87: The Secret of the Hero Spirits

    "I am a descendant of the War Saint; you may call me Dragon Grand," the imposing figure said, his wide eyes ring at Orson and the others.


    Within the stronghold, there were many functional NPCs, but these NPCs were typically indifferent to yers and wouldn''t get involved in their battles. However, the man who imed to be the War Saint''s descendant was an exception. If the guild leader personally asked, he''d provide answers that were somewhat different.


    "Take us on a tour of the stronghold," Orson said.


    Dragon Grand grunted in acknowledgment and began to lead them around the stronghold.


    "This is the stronghold''s warehouse. It has been abandoned. It will require reputation points and materials to restore."


    "This is the foundation of the magic tower. It has also been abandoned..."


    After taking them to six different locations, Orson shook his head, not having found what he was looking for. He decided to ask directly: "Take me to the cave of the legendary dragon."


    "Is it really there?"


    As soon as the words were spoken, Bradley and Madman nearly lost their minds with excitement, barely managing to hold their tongues.


    "Do you need to show the Bone Dragon Stronghold scroll?" Dragon Grand asked.


    "Yes," Orson responded, pulling out the invaluable stronghold certificate.


    It wasn''t just a certificate; it was more like a special stone, simr to the key in his inventory.


    Dragon Grand led them through the stronghold''s buildings and stopped by a rock wall, where he used magic to deactivate a protective barrier. A huge cave appeared before them.


    "The dragon''sir! Could it contain a dragon''s treasure?" Madman eximed, saliva nearly dripping from his mouth. If there was indeed treasure here, its value would surpass that of any regr stronghold.


    "Even more astonishing than a dragon''s treasure," Orson said with a small smile.


    In his previous life, the Dragon''s Kiss Guild had upied this area, and Usher had nearly be a legend in the US region, starting from the discovery of the dragon''sir.


    They entered the cave, which was pitch dark. Dragon Grand lit a magical crystal, casting light that illuminated the area for several meters.


    "Wow, it''s so big, so massive!" Bradley eximed in awe.


    "It really is huge..." Orson said,ughing helplessly. Bradley always had a way of making things sound strange.


    "Dragon skeleton?" Madman gasped in surprise. Aplete dragon skeleton appeared deep within the cave. It was over 200 meters long, with a single tooth asrge as a person.


    But to Orson, this was nothing extraordinary. He had seen much more terrifying dragons in his previous life, including the Dragon King with a size so massive that it could block the sky.


    The dragon before them had nearly all its teeth fallen out. It likely died of natural causes here.


    In terms of size, it was no more than a low-tier dragon, far from beingparable to the higher-tier giant dragons.


    Madman, driven by greed, rushed over, unsheathing his short sword to try and chop off a dragon''s tooth.


    ng! ng! ng!


    Bradley, horrified, yelled, "Are you crazy? You''re destroying a relic!"


    "Ugh, why can''t I pick it up? If I could use this for crafting gear, I''d be rich!" Madman said, his arm numb from the force. Even striking the tooth couldn''t leave a scratch.


    "Stop trying. It''s invincible. Even if you chop it, it will instantly regenerate," Orson shrugged. If it were that easy to obtain, he would have already done so. This was just a corpse, after all.


    "Is there a mechanism to trigger the hidden stronghold?" Orson asked, walking around the dragon''sir. He didn''t see any treasures or triggering mechanisms for the hidden stronghold.


    Bradley pointed at the dragon''s bones and said, "It''s strange. The position the dragon died in looks odd. It''s almost as if it was lying down like a pup."


    Madman replied, "You''re right. There are scratch marks all over the ground. What was it doing? Digging a hole to bury itself?"


    "Haha, you''re hrious!" Bradleyughed loudly. Madman, with a dismissive sneer, retorted, "Silver-haired fool."


    As the two continued to bicker, Orson''s attention was drawn to something. On the ground, amidst the scratches, he noticed some strange symbols.


    Quickly, he called for Dragon Grand to bring the magical crystal closer for a better look.


    "You''ve found the clue to trigger the hidden stronghold," the system prompt sounded.


    "You need to obtain five certificates from the Celestial Legion."


    "Bone Dragon Certificate 1/1"


    "Xuanwu Certificate 1/1"


    ...


    "ck Wolf Certificate 1/1"


    "All certificates collected. Please insert them into the groove."


    The system sounded off one by one. Orson suppressed his excitement and, following the glowing grooves'' directions, carefully inserted the five different-shaped certificates.


    "Damn, the ce seems like it''s about to copse!" Bradley shouted, panicking.


    The entire cave began to shake violently. Madman, terrified, copsed onto the ground.


    Seeing this, Dragon Grand''s eyes briefly shed with excitement. Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was distracted, he swiftly dashed out of the cave.


    Orson received the evacuation prompt and quickly said, "Let''s get out of here."


    "Who do you think you are, Master Thief? Can you at least have somemon sense?" Bradley said with disdain, lifting Madman to his feet.


    The group sprinted towards the exit with all their strength.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As soon as they stepped out of the dragon''sir, the entire mountain copsed with a mighty crash.


    A deafening rumble echoed from deep underground. Even though yers weren''t afraid of death, the massive tremor still sent a chill down their spines.


    "My dragon tooth! My treasure... it''s all gone! What the hell did you do?" Madman cursed in regret, still pondering if he could use his ss skills to steal the dragon''s bones for crafting legendary weapons.


    "Just wait and see," Orson said with burning determination in his eyes, casually summoning the Crimson Lizard King. It soared into the sky, scanning the horizon.


    Suddenly, a dazzling beam of light shot into the sky, followed by thunder and lightning.


    The mountain was connected to a t in, and with the deafening boom, all the magical beasts in the area went into a frenzy, running for their lives.


    yers in every stronghold were stunned. The tremorsing from deep underground hinted at the birth of a terrifying monster.


    The in cracked open, and a massive hollow, 100 kilometers in diameter, appeared in the ground. A floating ind rose into the sky, revealing a grand silver pce at its core.


    The light broke into several beams, cascading downward like ethereal curtains, mist swirling around them.


    "What... what the hell is that?!" Madman''s jaw nearly hit the floor. Bradley stared at the sight, speechless in disbelief.


    "Could that be the final hidden stronghold?" he asked, stunned.


    "You''ve unlocked the Celestial Fortress!"


    "Bone Dragon Stronghold has now unlocked the portal to the Celestial Fortress."


    "By conquering this city, you will be the Sky Lord!"


    Orson''s face lit up with excitement. This was the biggest secret of the guild''s stronghold war!


    "The First Battlefield seems to have a new dungeon. Should we go for it?"


    "How do you expect us to? Can''t you see it''s floating in the sky? How are we supposed to get up there?"


    "This is insane! Why didn''t we see this before? Who made this?"


    "Is this part of the game''s new expansion?"


    Rumors of the Celestial Fortress quickly spread across the world channel. Everyone was specting about the origins of this sky city.


    As the five stronghold certificates flew back into his hands, Orson couldn''t hide his excitement. Looking at the ancient giant city, he whispered to himself, "This is truly a huge win."


    The city had once been struck down by the Dark Dragon Empire, but now, it had descended back into the world.


    And he had a chance to be the Sky Lord!

 Chapter 88 88: Are You a Time Traveler?

    "No wonder that guy was so willing to let go of the stronghold. Turns out he knew there was a hidden one all along. Where the hell did he get that strategy guide?"


    "Celestial Fortress... my god, even the name sounds ridiculously epic."


    "From now on, I don''t want to hear anyoneparing Dragon''s Kiss Guild or any of those other clowns to Godyer. Just stop embarrassing yourselves."


    yers on the world chat were stunned, and guild leaders suddenly felt that their newly acquired strongholds weren''t so impressive anymore. Compared to the massive city floating in the sky, their few wooden buildings looked like outhouses.


    Madman: "Man, I''ve been so short-sighted. Who needs a bicycle when you''ve got a Celestial Fortress?"


    Female Dorm God: "I knew hugging this thigh would pay off! Thick, hairy, and with the best grip!"


    Rumors spread that the Celestial Fortress contained untold treasures, attracting the greed of dragons. Over a dozen dark dragons had once besieged the fortress, only to be ughtered by the five legendary War Saints, with a few severely injured dragons barely escaping.


    The dragon whose skeletony in the cave was likely one of the few survivors of that ancient battle. Its unyielding spiritpelled it to guard the activation point until its natural lifespan ran out.


    Orson knew that merely unlocking the Celestial Fortress wasn''t enough. The stronghold still needed to be conquered¡ªa feat that, in his previous life, hadn''t been achieved until over a yearter. Even the mighty Dragon''s Kiss Guild had repeatedly failed, a testament to the difficulty of the challenge.


    Still, now that the hidden stronghold was open, how could Orson not give it a try?


    Riding the Crimson Lizard King back to Bone Dragon Stronghold, Orson gathered everyone and exined the situation.


    "Who wants to join me for a battle in the heavens?" Orson asked, smiling.


    Bradley: "Hell yeah! Don''t just talk about battles in the heavens; I''d join you for a battle underground, too!"


    Iron Cavalry: "Count me in! I''ll punch a hole in the sky if I have to!"


    Wild Gale: "I''m in as well!"


    The war-hungry group roared in excitement, still full of energy even after 24 hours of non-stopbat. The sight of the massive fortress floating in the sky was too tempting. They were terrified that some other guild might im it first. After all, how else would they impress thedies?


    Their worries were unnecessary. At this stage of the game, the only way to approach the Celestial Fortress was via the Bone Dragon Stronghold''s teleportation array or with a flying mount, which very few yers had.


    For now, other guilds could only watch helplessly as Godyer made their move.


    Conquering a stronghold of such extreme difficulty wouldn''t work with sheer numbers alone. Orson had Madman assemble a small, high-level strike team. The goal of the initial attempt wasn''t to im the fortress outright but to gather useful information.


    "Everyone else, log off and rest. Bnce your work and y. Enjoy yourselves," Orson said with a smile, tossing another thousand gold coins in bonuses.


    "Nice! The boss is the best!"


    "With a boss like this, life''s great!"


    The yers cheered, and Orson nodded, satisfied. He knew the good times wouldn''tst forever. All he could do was let them enjoy themselves while they could.


    "Dancing Giant Boobs, your secondary ss is gardener, right? Take this and nt it in the most prominent spot in the stronghold," Orson said to a female archer.


    Dancing Giant Boobs: "Boss, you remembered my secondary ss? Are you secretly paying attention to me? I''m single, you know."


    Orson couldn''t help but chuckle. "You''re always teasing my little Kai. How could I not notice you?"


    Orson had ess to the secondary professions of all life-skill members. Dancing Giant Boobs''s secondary ss was rtively basic, specializing in growing herbs and elerating their growth¡ªperfect for nurturing the Tree of Rebirth sapling he had.


    "Max out your skills. If you need funds, talk to Madman," Orson added. "Also, head to Violet Thunder Fortress and find someone called the Nameless Master. He''ll teach you how to upgrade your secondary ss."


    Dancing Giant Boobs: "Secondary sses can be upgraded?"


    The life-skill yers lit up with excitement. Most of them were casual yers or gold farmers, trying to make a bit of money from the game and unaware of the potential of their professions.


    "Yes," Orson said, smiling. "I''ll put together a guide and upload it to the guild storage for you to reference."


    The group looked at him with newfound admiration. Who wouldn''t love a bigshot willing to help out the rookies?


    With a wave of his hand, Orson produced a vibrant green sapling and handed it to Dancing Giant Boobs.


    "Whoa! A divine item?! This is incredible!"


    "No way! I''ve never even seen a holy artifact, and now there''s a divine one?!"


    The group gathered around in awe. The tiny sapling, barely the size of a pinky finger, was apparently a legendary divine item.


    Orson wouldn''t casually hand over such a valuable item. The sapling''s usage was bound to specific guild members, and as the item''s owner, Orson could reim it at any time. This was a safeguard to prevent theft¡ªsomethingmon in other online games, where guild warehouses often fell victim to unscrupulous yers.


    If life-skill yers weren''t crucial for developing strongholds, most guilds wouldn''t even ept them.


    Madman: "You''re a freak. How do you know everything?" He narrowed his eyes at Orson. "You''re not¡­ a time traveler, are you?"


    Damn it!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Orson nearly froze at Madman''s words, struggling to keep his expression neutral.


    Madman: "Or maybe¡­ you''re the secret love child of the AIpany''s CEO?"


    "This game was created by AI, so it''s totally usible you''d have insider knowledge!" he added, nodding to himself.


    Bradley: "Enough of your nonsense!" he snapped, smacking Madman on the back of the head. "Do you even understand the level of game knowledge a triple-crown champion has? It''s way beyond yourprehension."


    Madman: "What the hell? You can''t stop me from speaking my mind!" he grumbled, clutching his head.


    Bradley smirked at Orson. "Still, I''m starting to think my brother here is a walking cheat code."


    With a dark expression, Orson kicked both of them away. "Stop wasting time. Let''s head to the sky!"


    Godyer''s small strike team stepped onto the teleportation array. In a sh of light, their surroundings changed.


    They found themselves in an overgrown graveyard filled with crumbling tombstones. Rusty weapons were embedded in the ground around each grave.


    "You''ve discovered¡ªck Iron Maze Entrance: Resting ce!"


    A voice, low and eerie like a demon''s whisper, echoed in the air.


    "The Celestials watch over all things. You cannot escape, adventurers."


    A thick fog enveloped the group. Madman felt chills down his spine as he noticed movement beneath him. "Weapons ready! We''ve gotpany!"


    A skeletal hand burst from a grave, the chilling environment and haunting background music nearly scaring them out of their wits.


    Madman instantly dashed behind Iron Cavalry, shoving him forward. "Don''t chicken out, buddy!"


    Iron Cavalry: "What the hell, man? Of course I''m scared¡ªwho wouldn''t be in a ce like this?!"


    Bradley: "Come on, dude. You''re an A-ranked Holy Knight. You''re longer than most Holy Knights¡ªshow some dignity!"


    A towering, armored undead warrior emerged, its armor covered in fatal battle scars.


    [Celestial Legion ¡¤ Hero Spirit Warrior: Level 10]


    HP: 150,000/150,000


    Attack Power: 900


    Skills: Eternal Warfire, Beginner War Saint Swordsmanship


    "My god! A level 10 elite monster with those stats?!" the group gasped.


    More undead warriors began rising from their graves, quickly numbering fifteen.


    Iron Cavalry: "Give me buffs!"


    The healers sprang into action, casting shields, attribute enhancements, and resistance buffs on Iron Cavalry.


    Bradley: "I''ll tank some too. My gear can handle it."


    "Focus on kiting them. They''re slow, so keep moving to avoid being surrounded," Orson instructed.


    As the undead warriors charged, Iron Cavalry used mass taunts to draw their attacks. Bradley pulled four monsters away to ease the pressure, letting the healers stabilize Iron Cavalry''s health.


    The battle was fierce. Just as things seemed under control, a bronze coffin in the distance began to move. A massive green hand emerged, followed by a towering figure nearly five meters tall.


    Its muscr frame was covered in greenish-blue veins, and it wielded a giant axe the size of a door. Two ghostly mes flickered in its eye sockets.


    "1.5 million HP? A level 10 boss?! You''ve got to be kidding me!" Bradley eximed, stunned.

 Chapter 89 89: You Think You Can Brag About 1,000-Meter Range to Me?

    "My Emperor¡­ have you abandoned us?"


    "My Emperor¡­"


    [Celestial Legion ¡¤ Giant Chieftain: Level 10]


    [Elite Creature]


    HP: 1,500,000/1,500,000


    Attack Power: 1,500


    Skills: Fearless Strike, Limb Regeneration


    "WTF! Could this game get any more insane?"


    A few Heroic Warriors had just been killed, and Iron Cavalry, the main tank, barely had time to celebrate when he looked up and saw the towering Giant Chieftain. If that massive axe hit him, he''d probably be reduced to tomato paste.


    "A giant race?"


    Orson narrowed his eyes. In the lore, these creatures carried the blood of titans but were essentially a branch of the original human race.


    However¡­


    He couldn''t wrap his head around how a titan,rger than a mountain, managed to do the deed with the first human woman. Did none of the gods overseeing this feel it was absurdly inappropriate?


    "Wait, is this boss out of his mind? Why''s he walking away?"


    Bradley was puzzled. He had been gearing up to see if the boss could even be damaged, but the Giant Chieftain had turned and was now heading into the mist.


    Everyone was baffled. For as long as they''d been ying the game, this was the first time they''d encountered something so odd.


    "These monsters don''t even drop loot, not even a scrap of junk. I''m so done," Iron Cavalry grumbled. He had taken the brunt of the damage yet reaped no rewards.


    Before he could finish venting, Heroic Archers emerged from distant graves, drawing their bows and firing at the group. Iron Cavalry rushed forward to taunt them, preventing the backline from being wiped out by the rain of arrows.


    As Orson watched the retreating Giant Chieftain, a quest notification appeared:


    "Follow the Giant Chieftain!"


    "Stewart,e with me," Orson called to the junior healer.


    "Where are we going? Shouldn''t we stick with the others?" Stewart asked, clutching the goofy little goat he always carried.


    "Let''s find out what this boss is up to."


    "Alright."


    Although the Heroic Warriors'' stats were high, their attacks were sluggish and predictable. Bradley and the others could handle them without much difficulty.


    The game system ssified Resting ce as the entrance to an iron-tier dungeon. Simr to the ancient ruins found in strongholds, these dungeons were ranked by difficulty: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, tinum, and Diamond.


    Most strongholds only contained ruins of Iron to Silver tier. Bone Dragon Stronghold''s ruins were Silver-tier, but Celestial Fortress was unique, containing all six tiers of difficulty. The deeper the yers ventured, the greater the rewards.


    Conquering the fortress, however, didn''t require clearing all the dungeons. Orson guessed thatpleting specific stronghold questlines was the key to unlocking ownership.


    Madman: "Where are you headed?"


    Orson: "We''ll split up. You guys explore the dungeon while I look for clues to im the stronghold."


    With that, Orson and Stewart disappeared into the mist.


    The Giant Chieftain didn''t notice them following¡ªit probably didn''t consider them worth its attention. It continued striding toward a cluster of buildings ahead.


    After ten minutes, the giant halted. The mist began to clear, revealing the structure before them.


    "You''ve discovered¡ªThe Watchtower!"


    Inside a towering white structure, the Giant Chieftain knelt on one knee. "Lord Skyfeather, has the Emperor abandoned us?"


    The interior of the tower was vast, but the only response was an oppressive silence.


    "Skyfeather the Arrow Saint?" Orson thought, startled. Could there still be a living NPC in this ancient, forgotten tower?


    "Quick, curse me. Something feels off," Orson suddenly said, a sense of danger prickling at him.


    "Uh, okay!" Stewart stammered, setting down the goat to cast Soul Seal on Orson.


    Orson removed his equipment to make it easier for Stewart to reduce his health to 10%.


    +1333


    A healing glow appeared over the goat''s head. It bleated happily, seemingly enjoying the holy light.


    "Wait¡­ why does this little goat have more health than it should?"


    Just as Orson chuckled at the absurdity, he noticed the goat''s HP bar rise slightly above its usual limit.


    "I don''t know. It just¡­ increased somehow," Stewart said, puzzled. He joked, "If this goat had a taunt skill, it could be an unkible tank."


    Orson was speechless. If Stewart kept treating the goat as his "shield," it might one day evolve into a terrifyingly tanky neutral creature.


    "You''ve received the Curse King''s Blessing. All attributes +90%."


    A ck aura enveloped Orson, his stats skyrocketing. He was stunned by the absurd power boost.


    And this was just from Stewart''s Soul Seal at its basic level. If upgraded, the buff would be even more ridiculous.


    "You and I are but remnants of the Empire''s mark. Shatal, you''ve been cursed."


    A spectral voice echoed, drawing Orson''s attention back to the tower.


    A woman bathed in silver light appeared on a spiral staircase. Her gem-like blue eyes gleamed emptily as she descended.


    Her skin was pale as snow, her features exquisitely delicate. d in dazzling white light armor, she exuded an air of otherworldly beauty.


    She should have been a peerless figure capable of captivating the hearts of countless men in the Empire.


    But now, she seemed more like a ghost. Her semi-transparent body floated gracefully down to the hall.


    Skyfeather held a bronze bow and, with a stiff motion, raised it to aim at the Giant Chieftain.


    Orson''s interface disyed her attributes:


    [Celestial Legion ¡¤ Remnant of the Arrow Saint: Level 26]


    [Domain Master Creature]


    HP: 20,000,000/20,000,000


    Attack Power: 3,500


    Skills: Annihtion Shot, Absolute Range, Magic Eye Refract, Dragon yer Arrow


    Seeing these stats, Orson felt an overwhelming urge to turn and run.


    The enormous health pool and attack power were daunting enough, but her skillset? Each ability sounded more terrifying than thest.


    "She''s my level?"


    Orson realized that some monsters in Infinite Dimensions scaled with the yer''s level. This feature, while rare, was not unheard of.


    He spected that this mechanic might have been why Usher and others had failed to conquer Celestial Fortress¡ªtheir high levels made the monsters disproportionately powerful.


    "I will remember you," Skyfeather said softly, her tone tinged with mncholy.


    She nocked an arrow. The bronze bow radiated a menacing ck glow, its destructive aura suffocating Orson and Stewart. Everything in their vision turned dark, save for her radiant figure.


    "Perish, Shatal."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Whoosh!


    The sound of an arrow slicing through the air filled the tower. Orson dragged Stewart into a blind spot just as the ck arrow pierced the Giant Chieftain''s forehead.


    -200,000!


    An absurd damage number appeared, yet the giant didn''t fall. It let out a dazed roar. "Skyfeather! I need an answer!"


    Another arrow shot forth, severing one of the giant''s arms in an instant.


    +10,000!


    +10,000!


    The Giant Chieftain''s limb began to regenerate, its undead nature restoring its health. Roaring, it charged again, swinging its massive stone axe in a desperate bid to fight back.


    "A base attack of 3,500 and a 200,000-damage crit? This game''s developers must be trolling us!" Orson muttered.


    If Skyfeathernded even one critical hit on him, it would be game over.


    Skyfeather danced around gracefully, leaping onto the giant''s shoulder and unleashing a flurry of precise arrows. Within moments, the Giant Chieftain was reduced to a broken mess, its limbs and head severed.


    "Boss, we need to bail. There''s no way we can handle her," Stewart said nervously, clutching his goat.


    "Conquer the Watchtower to gain its authority!"


    The quest updated. Orson hesitated briefly before firing a basic attack at Skyfeather from a hundred meters away.


    Skyfeather''s soul-lit eyes red as she deftly dodged. "A foolish wraith, yet your range is impressive," she said disdainfully.


    Without a word, Orsonunched another Chaos Magic Ball. Skyfeather caught it midair, crushing it in her hand.


    Block!


    Burn -8,000!


    Burn -8,000!


    The chaotic mes dissipated, and her expression stiffened with anger.


    "My name is Skyfeather. I am the Dragon yer, the Empire''s First Arrow Saint. I can y endless hordes from a thousand meters away. Do you dare challenge me?"


    Orson smirked and motioned for Stewart to retreat.


    Then, with a casual turn, he stepped onto the railing of the tower and leapt into the sky.


    "Dude, even your suicides are stylish?" Stewart gasped, dumbfounded.


    A beastly roar echoed. The Crimson Lizard King soared beneath Orson, catching him midair.


    Standing atop his mount, Orson gazed at Skyfeather and said with a grin, "A thousand meters? You''re about to get a lesson in range."

 Chapter 90 90: Dragon Slayer Arrow

    "You have provoked Skyfeather, the Arrow Saint. Rage Progress +10%."


    "At 100% Rage Progress, Skyfeather''s soul will awaken."


    "Once awakened, she will ignore all taunt skills and lock onto you until your death."


    Orson frowned at the notification but soon broke into a wicked smile.


    This woman was arrogant and sharp-tongued. He couldn''t help but wonder what would happen if her true self emerged.


    "I am Orgod, the Chaos Overlord. I don''t waste my time fighting women. Send your Emperor to fight me instead!" Orson taunted.


    Skyfeather responded with a thunderous assault, her bronze bow unleashing a rapid sequence of seven twangs.


    "Such speed!"


    Orson''s expression shifted as seven bolts of ck lightning shot out from the tower, darkening the skies.


    -mlss!


    -mlss!


    Orson nearly burst outughing. Fortunately, he had prepared for this.


    The Crimson Lizard King had already retreated a full kilometer away, and the ck bolts lost control and plummeted to the ground as they reached their maximum range.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Seven massive craters, each over a hundred meters wide, appeared on the ground below. Orson''s face turned pale. If he had been hit by one of those bolts, he''d have been sttered into a mix of blue and ck bruises.


    "You have provoked Skyfeather, the Arrow Saint. Rage Progress +10%."


    A furious roar echoed from the tower, and the soul mes around Skyfeather surged violently.


    "She''s so easily provoked. What a simple woman," Orson muttered, shaking his head.


    "I don''t like being shot at, so I usually do the shooting," he quipped, though something about his words felt off.


    No matter¡ªhe stood just outside Skyfeather''s maximum range and cast The me Dragon. A massive dragon-shaped construct of fire surged into the white tower.


    Skyfeather remained stoic, pulling her bowstring with an air of icy disdain. With a single arrow, she shattered The me Dragon, reducing it to a flurry of chaotic fireballs that rained toward her.


    True to her pride as an Arrow Saint, Skyfeather didn''t even flinch as the mes consumed her.


    -8000!


    -8000!


    Skyfeatherunched another attack, but Orson, now over two kilometers away, gave her no opportunity tond a hit.


    "This is ridiculous," Orson muttered, finding her behaviorically rigid. Despite being an echo of her former self, herbat style was like that of a stubborn novice.


    Even as Orson''s passive attacks chipped away at her health, she refused to leave the tower.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Wait¡­ she can''t leave the tower?"


    Orson suddenlyughed. He had been worried she might have flying abilities and was preparing for a drawn-out battle. But if she couldn''t leave the tower, it was like she was handing him a free win.


    Smiling, Orson activated Whisper of the Wind, boosting his attack speed to 2.4. He unleashed a flurry of fireballs, interspersed with Chaos Magic Ball and Explosive Fireball spells, achieving a near 5.0 attack speed through skillful casting techniques.


    In just one minute, he dealt over a million damage, raising Skyfeather''s Rage Progress to 70%.


    "She''s so tanky for someone with such a perfect figure!" Orson quipped, continuing his mechanical assault.


    Despite his relentless attacks, the Arrow Saint''s 20 million HP was absurd. Against an ordinary boss, this level of output would have been lethal, but here it barely scratched the surface.


    To Skyfeather, Orson was an annoying insect. But this "insect" was as irritating as a dragon''s bite, dealing small but constant damage that insulted her pride.


    She retaliated with over ten powerful arrows, each packing terrifying power, but they couldn''t even graze Orson.


    The Arrow Saint, a legend of the Light Dragon Empire and the undisputed master of long-rangebat, had never suffered such humiliation.


    However, her intelligence as a remnant spirit was limited. She remained rooted at the tower, continuing her futile attacks.


    "Skyfeather''s Rage Progress is nearing 100%. She will regain a portion of her peak strength for a limited time!"


    "Caution: Avoid her attacks!"


    Orson''s brief satisfaction vanished as red warnings filled his screen. He hesitated, then started stacking Sr Shields while maintaining his attacks.


    He couldn''t be certain that his meager 10,000 HP, bolstered by nine Sr Shields, would withstand Skyfeather''s onught. The crater-riddled ground beneath the tower was a grim reminder of her power.


    "Speak my true name, and grant the heretical invaders the harshest judgment!"


    Skyfeather''s HP dropped by two million, pushing her Rage Progress to 100%. Her soft voice carried a dangerous weight, as if summoning something ancient.


    A golden light shed atop the tower, descending into Skyfeather''s body.


    Her vacant eyes gained rity. Her translucent figure became solid. Her soul had awakened.


    Orson''s pupils contracted. Even from nearly two kilometers away, he felt the weight of her transformation. It was as if a divine projection had descended upon the mortal world.


    A peerless woman, holding a bronze divine bow, appeared in the vision of his mind. With one arrow, she pierced the heavens, raining blood from the skies as dark dragons exploded, their remains obliterated.


    "Dragon yer Arrow."


    Skyfeather whispered, her soul fire calming as her movements became graceful yetmanding. From her quiver, she drew a single bone arrow.


    If Orson had been closer, he would have been horrified. The arrow was carved from dragon teeth¡ªa sacred artifact.


    Skyfeather nocked the arrow, pulling her bowstring into a perfect arc. The air trembled as a two-meter-wide ck aura engulfed the arrow before copsing into a single point of dark light.


    She caressed her bow as the arrow shot forth, her voice soft yet chilling:


    "Magic Eye Refract."


    A bronze mirror appeared in her hand, transforming into an eye-like object that tore through space.


    Orson watched as the ck dot approached, its speed deceptively slow¡ªresembling the leisurely pace of a level-one archer''s arrow.


    "Something''s wrong."


    Looking up, Orson saw the space above him fracture. A massive magical eye floated there, locking onto him. The eye seemed to reflect an image¡ªhis own.


    "Run!!" Orson yelled at the Crimson Lizard King, his voice tinged with panic.


    Sensing the danger, the Lizard King activated its speed boost and bolted. Even it seemed to realize that its master was in grave danger.


    As they fled hundreds of meters, Orson nced back. The magical eye was still locked onto him, the reflection unwavering.


    The Dragon yer Arrow advanced, its leisurely pace betraying its destructive power. Another magical eye appeared, and the ck light passed through it, reappearing in another location with a sudden burst of speed.


    There was no time to react.


    "Tool #1, you''re up. I can''t take this hit," Orson muttered grimly.


    The Crimson Lizard King let out a mournful roar, but their contract left it no choice. Spreading its wings, it positioned itself between Orson and the arrow.


    The impact was devastating.


    In an instant, the Lizard King''s legs were obliterated.


    -10,000


    -20,000


    -30,000


    The damage escted rapidly. No blood spilled; the ck light devoured the Lizard King''s flesh, leaving behind only void-like darkness.


    A Dragon yer debuff appeared on the Lizard King:


    "Effect: Consumes flesh as sustenance. Indestructible unless fully devoured. Duration: 10 seconds."


    "This is getting interesting. I''m finally feeling a challenge," Orson muttered, his nerves taut.


    His emergency-use Immortal Spirit Relic was still on cooldown. If the Lizard King was fully consumed, Orson would fall from the sky to his death.


    After a brief moment of hesitation, Orson made his decision.


    "Beast Summon: Battle Space!"

 Chapter 91 91: Let Me Introduce You to a Girlfriend

    A spatial rift opened again, revealing a beast-exclusive space¡ªa special storage simr to a yer''s inventory, designed for housing beasts.


    The Crimson Lizard King was immediately pulled inside. Though the Dragon yer debuff timer continued, its HP had stopped draining.


    Orson, now in free fall, plummeted toward the ground. "3... 2... 1...e out!" he shouted.


    As soon as the debuff expired, he summoned the Crimson Lizard King again.


    With a resounding roar, the Lizard King reappeared, catching Orson mid-air and flying back into the skies. Its previously severed lower half was fully regenerated, though its HP was reduced by nearly half.


    Infinite Dimensions differed from other online games¡ªtamed beasts only had one life. If they died, the yer would need to tame another.


    This made beastmasters especially cautious. In life-threatening situations, many would store their beasts to protect them, even if it meant sacrificing themselves since yers could respawn but beasts could not.


    Using beasts to absorb debuffs was a hallmark of a skilled beastmaster and particrly effective against bosses with deadly status effects.


    But before Orson could breathe a sigh of relief, Skyfeather unleashed another attack through her Magic Eye Refract skill. Multiple bolts of ck lightning ricocheted between magic eyes, locking onto Orson once again.


    "What the hell is this skill?!" Orson shouted in frustration.


    The Magic Eye Refract skill granted a form of over-the-horizon attack capability.


    Two magic eyes worked together: one acted as a radar to lock onto distant targets, allowing attacks beyond the boss''s normal range, while the other reflected projectiles, dramatically reducing travel time.


    -3000!


    -3000!


    Orson''s Sr Shields exploded one after another under the relentless assault, forcing him to rely on the Crimson Lizard King to tank the damage.


    Fortunately, Skyfeather couldn''t use her Dragon yer Arrow skill indefinitely. Otherwise, the current flight height wouldn''t give him enough time for the Dragon yer debuff to expire.


    Looking up at the hovering magic eyes, Orson''s thoughts turned analytical. In Infinite Dimensions, any boss capable of using items was a formidable opponent.


    This skill was a nightmare, but also¡­ a dreame true for someone like him.


    Orson''s unmatched range gave him a significant advantage, but beyond his lock-on range, he had to rely on guesswork. Half his skills often missed their mark.


    And his long-range attacks had another w: slow projectile speeds.


    While they worked well against unprepared targets, nimble or experienced opponents had ample time to react, making this a ring weakness.


    Skyfeather''s Magic Eye Refract, however, seemed to address these issues perfectly.


    "How can I get my hands on that?" Orson wondered, his mind racing.


    Killing a Domain Master boss often yielded incredible rewards, but there was no guarantee the magic eyes would drop.


    In his previous life, no one had ever reported obtaining this skill or item.


    Judging by its effects, it was likely a legendary item or sacred artifact¡ªrare to the point of absurdity.


    Relying on pure luck to obtain it wasn''t Orson''s style.


    Switching strategies, he shifted from offense to defense, focusing entirely on stacking shields.


    For ten minutes, Orson endured a relentless barrage of attacks. But as long as the Dragon yer Arrow wasn''t used, his shields and the Crimson Lizard King could manage the damage.


    During brief lulls, he threw out the asional counterattack. While his damage output wasn''t impressive, it chipped away at the boss''s HP.


    "Quit pretending. You''re running on fumes. Hurry up and return to normal," Orson muttered, gritting his teeth.


    He doubted Skyfeather''s peak state couldst much longer. If a fully-powered Arrow Saint had been stationed in the Celestial Fortress, Usher would never have conquered it in his past life.


    As Orson predicted, the locking effect disappeared. The magic eyes retracted into Skyfeather''s hands, and her rage mode ended. Her gaze grew vacant once more.


    "My turn."


    Orson, now thoroughly annoyed, wore a grim expression as he urged the Crimson Lizard King forward, resuming his kite-and-attack strategy.


    "Thunderstrike!"


    "Whisper of the Wind!"


    Unleashing a barrage of chaos-infused magic, Orson rained fireballs down on Skyfeather. For one minute, his attacks had a guaranteed burn critical effect. Burning the Arrow Saint felt oddly satisfying.


    Skyfeather, now silent and detached, showed little reaction to Orson''s provocations. She no longer raged or retaliated recklessly, and her demeanor was eerily calm.


    Despite outward confidence, Orson was nervous. The Crimson Lizard King''s HP had dropped below 30,000, leaving it unable to survive another Dragon yer Arrow.


    Still, he gambled that Skyfeather wouldn''t re-enter her rage mode. He knew that Infinite Dimensions never designed truly unbeatable tasks. Even the most challenging content had its limits.


    Chaos Chain activated!


    For the next five seconds, all damage dealt is doubled!


    Combined with the Cursed Healing buff, which boosted all attributes, Orson''s attacks now dealt over 5,000 damage per hit, with an additional 20,000 burn damage per second.


    Twenty minutester, Skyfeather''s 16 million HP had dropped to under 3 million.


    Victory was within reach. But just as Orson was about to finish her off, he paused and activated the guild channel.


    "How''s it going on your end?" he asked.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Female Dorm God: "Huh? Boss, you''re still alive?"


    Orson was speechless. Stewart had fled immediately when told to escape, reuniting with Bradley and the others without hesitation.


    Madman: "I''m fighting something that''s like a giant meatball. Three million HP, I kid you not!"


    Iron Cavalry: "It''s covered in poison gas. Anyone who gets near it melts. If it weren''t for Dorm God buffing me, I''d be done for."


    Bradley: "Orson, quit cking. If you were here, we''d have cleared the dungeon already. I''ve figured out the boss''s mechanics¡ªit''s doable now."


    "Good, sounds like you''re almost done. Madman, are you free?" Orson asked.


    Madman: "What do you think? I''m the main DPS here. Do you think I have free time?"


    Madman''s response instantly sparked Bradley''s ire.


    Bradley: "Main DPS? You contributed 6% damage. My 17% makes me the real MVP!"


    Madman''s face burned with embarrassment. Grabbing Bradley by the cor, he shouted, "I was also directing the team, you idiot!"


    Texas Musk: "Directing? You''ve been looting the minibosses for money! Half the loot''s missing after every fight¡ªcare to exin?"


    Madman turned red as the group roasted him mercilessly. Orson couldn''t help but chuckle, imagining the chaos in the dungeon.


    "Stealing boss attributes has a 2% sess rate, and all I get is temporary mana boosts. I''m a rogue¡ªI don''t even have a mana bar! What am I supposed to do with that?!" Madmanined, his voice dripping with frustration.


    "My bad, my bad... but I''ve got a glorious mission for you," Orson said, clearing his throat.


    Madman: "If you''re gonna screw me over, just say it."


    Orson: "Nonsense. Would I ever betray my brothers?"


    Feigning sincerity, Orson continued, "Actually, you''ve been saying you wanted a girlfriend, right? I realized I haven''t been supportive enough, so I''ve got someone for you to meet."


    Madman: "A girlfriend? You''re serious?!"


    Madman perked up, his interest piqued. Bradley and the others were equally surprised.


    Orson: "She''s bold, affectionate, and even lets you touch her... Yep, very hands-on."


    The guild erupted in chaos.


    Random Member 1: "I''m in! I''ve been single for 30 years¡ªI''m great with my hands!"


    Random Member 2: "If he doesn''t want her, I''ll take her. I''ll treat her like a queen!"


    Random Member 3: "Shameless pigs! Stay away from the girls in our guild!"


    The female guild members retaliated, branding every man who spoke up as a beast.


    Madman: "Quiet down! This is a serious matter. You idiots keep raiding¡ªI''ll handle this myself."


    Straightening his posture, Madman donned an air of authority.


    "Orson, wait for me. Your loyal dog is on his way!" he dered with a grin.


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