V55C6P3 – The Great Escape

A ma.s.sive forest fire spanning across several dozen kilometers was a spectacle for the users watching from over the ridge.

“What do we do about Weed-nim?”

“Shouldn’t we go and rescue him?”

Irene and Surka waited at Tis village located at the entrance of Ulta Mountain Pa.s.s.

This small pioneer village with dwarves, humans and elves living in harmony received much attention from Royal Road followers.

Will Weed make it back alive?

Ulta Mountain Pa.s.s had already turned into a huge smelting furnace.

The sky was blanketed with black smoke as if a volcano had erupted.

Pale who fled to safety spoke meekly; he knew that he could not escape from such a precarious situation.

“If he can return from that, I can’t think of him as a human being…”

SeasonedCrab caught on.

“It’s possible if it’s Weed-nim.”

Though the time they spent together wasn’t long, he knew of his tenacity resembling a c.o.c.kroach!

The four dwarven users died long beforehand.

Back in those moments, there was still a bit of visibility and the situation could be observed via the broadcast screens.

The forest fire was approaching at a fierce rate with the wind.

Tree branches succ.u.mbed to the flames one after another and the fire which swallowed everything in its path evoked a primal fear in all who saw it

The fallen leaves also burst into searing flame as the world itself seemed to collapse into a fiery h.e.l.lscape.

The tides of the fire pushed in. It was impossible to escape the fire that crawled in from all directions.

The hosts of KMC media’s live broadcast were devastated.

– That is truly a terrible forest fire. Hyemin-ssi, do you think that Weed-nim has prepared for death? I believe that he chose death in order to hide the Brazier of Sacrifice instead of being discovered by the harpies.

– I don’t think so. Weed-nim is someone who will find a way to live even when death seems inevitable.

– Since you spent time up close to him, I’m sure you know him better than I do. Then, what would be his decision at this point?

– It is hard to determine. He declined the uncertain rescue attempt from the avians. I am unsure if he could lose the harpies, but I believe he turned them down because they could attract Kaybern’s attention.

The other female host Dana Lee asked.

– Transformation! Couldn’t he just shapes.h.i.+ft into a fire spirit or something?

– I’m not sure if you can transform into elemental spirits. Even if he were to become one, his physical strength would weaken, thus making it difficult to maneuver the wagon. So,I dont think that’s a possibility.

– Oh. Then, how about just getting out of there first? He could bury the Brazier of Sacrifice and flee to safety. If it’s Weed-nim alone, it won’t be too hard to escape.

Dana Lee’s thoughts caused a surge of comments in the broadcast discussion boards and chat.

– She’s right, that’s it.

– That’s an amazing idea!

– But isn’t it too late now? How can he escape when he’s already surrounded?

– Live, Weed. You must live.

– He’s already as good as dead. Just give in to the flames!

– It seems like Hermes Guild is still alive.

Hyemin s.h.i.+n considered her idea as plausible but soon shook her head on the contrary.

– Weed-nim will never turn to that idea.

– Pardon? Was there a flaw in my reasoning? It’s the Brazier of Sacrifice, so it won’t melt even if he leaves it in the forest fire.

– It’s not about the damage or the chance of success. Weed-nim is not the type of person who could leave a precious treasure buried in the ground.

– Oh… He is so careful? I mean, it is the treasure of the dwarf race and an item that will serve a vital purpose in defeating Kaybern.

– It is different from that. How should I put this? He trusts no one in this world…

It was Weed’s anxiety complex!

He didn’t know what would happen to such unique treasures once they left his hands, so he could not leave them be.

On the other hand, it left the hosts puzzled.

Weed’s footage was continuing to air even after the dwarf users lost their lives.

However, the forest fire swept everything and only red flames were visible on the screen.

– It doesn’t make sense that he would be alive in that fire. Every second he would be receiving an insane amount of damage to his health points.

– Logically speaking, that is more than justified. But since it is Weed-nim, he won’t die that easily. I believe he can endure.

Soon enough, intel was delivered to s.h.i.+n Hyemin.

– I received word that Weed-nim is perfectly fine.

– In that fire?

– Yes, he seems to be searing his body. He’s enjoying it so much that he doesn’t want to leave.

It was hard to believe, but Weed was alive and well even in a forest fire.

– Ah! The Sun Warrior. Fire damage is reduced significantly from that job cla.s.s. He has fire affinity.

– Perhaps the Blessing of G.o.ddess Hestia was bestowed on him. Weed-nim has acc.u.mulated so many contribution points for her!

Oh Joowan and Dana Lee made several a.s.sumptions based on their experience on a number of programs about Royal Road. Hyemin s.h.i.+n thought the same at first, but the information delivered by Pale was different.

– There are many reasons for his high fire resistance, but the most influential is because of Bard Ray.

***

Even after the dwarves perished in flames, Weed pushed the wagon and walked silently. The forest fire was somewhat bearable.

< You have taken 34 fire damage. >

< You have taken 11 fire damage. >

< You have taken 63 fire damage. >

…

…

The losses were minimal considering the scale of the h.e.l.lfire covering Ulta Mountain Pa.s.s!

‘Indeed, equipment specs.’

He had various equipment and high resistance. To top it off, the property from the Goblet of Flames that he obtained through Bard Ray took effect.

< User takes minimal fire damage. >

Fire-type monsters were actually quite common. However, they posed a challenge and caused users to avoid dungeons that contained too many fire monsters.

It was the same reason that the dwarves possessed low resistance against fire.

‘I guess I should be thanking Bard Ray.’

Weed thought the Goblet of Flames was such a commendable item.

‘Next time I fight Bard Ray I’ll get my hands on great items again. Seriously, the Hermes Guild isn’t all that bad.’

After the wagon burned away, he pushed the brazier forward.

The tree roots that gnotted the ground and had posed as obstacles disappeared in the fire and a path formed through their ashes.

– Swift Coldwind: I am patrolling the outskirts. The harpies are receding from the fire. The skies of where you are located is now safe, Weed-nim.

They had clearance in the sky once again!

Weed was slowly moving away from Kaybern’s lair. It was the moment when his safe escape seemed certain.

< The seal on the Goblet of Flames is weakening.

Progress 1%

…

Progress 2%

…

Progress 3%>

‘Seal?’

Weed brought up the information tab.

“Identify.”

< Goblet of Flames: Durability 30/30.

A goblet instilled with the essence of fire. The stories tell that humans collected the flowing lava deep underground, and it contains a fire that has burned for over a million years.

A vessel of legend.

Drawing the power of the goblet may defeat any kind of darkness.

Requirements: None.

Property: All stats increased by 53 by possession.

– Maximum health points and mana increased by 70,000.

– Power of all fire attribute skills enhanced by 200%.

– Effects of combat skills +35%.

– Takes minimal fire damage.

– Able to use ‘Repression of the Goblet’ once every ten days.

Unique: A legend is sealed within.

7 unidentified properties are dormant.

Repression of the Goblet: Summons a river of lava or a volcanic eruption and wipes out the enemy. >

An item that concealed a legend.

It was an incredible item even in its current form, and the wrap hasn’t even been taken off yet.

‘So the forest fire… A great presence of fire was breaking the seal.’

Weed reminded himself that he must keep this brazier in his possession.

Alongside the Loa sword, it may prove to be the best of the items in his possession.

He obtained useful weapons and equipment from the dragon’s lair, but items that provided stats just by possession were rare to come by.

It was the treasure of treasures, originally owned by Bard Ray who had seized control of the Central Continent as the leader of the Hermes Guild that unofficially dominated Royal Road!

‘Drawing out power from unlocking the sealed legend in an item of such cla.s.s? With additional properties… No one could afford this with any amount of money.’

It would become an item impossible to trade with someone else.

There were trinkets or special ornaments that boosted strength, agility or health points.

They were occasionally found in auctions, but none could compare to the Goblet of Flames.

‘In order to break the seal, it had to be put in flames.’

Weed thought it was rather a simple solution for a concealed mystery.

Though in reality, there weren’t many fires with such intensity.

The forest fire of Ulta Mountain Pa.s.s was still spreading with the winds.

Enormous trees that probably lived for hundreds of years collapsed in the flames.

< The seal on the Goblet of Flames is weakening.

Progress 33%>

Unfortunately, the trees nearby burned down entirely before the seal had broken.

‘Should I wait inside the forest fire until the seal breaks first?’

Weed contemplated for a moment, but he decided to continue his way out of Ulta Mountain Pa.s.s due to the dragon’s presence.

A moment later…

“Weed-nim!”

“This way.”

He saw comrades that just couldn’t wait idly at Tis Village climbing up.

Pale, Irene and Surka…

Starting with old comrades, he also saw Seasoned Crab and Python who escaped from the lair.

– Swift Coldwind: Kaybern has risen to the sky once again. Its target of wrath seems to be a dwarven village in the west.

Kaybern too went off in another direction.

“It’s over now…”

He was rea.s.sured that the robbery ended successfully.

*Fwak!*

The instant he heard something flying through the air, his body reacted instinctively.

*Schwing.*

He lowered his stance, drew the Loa sword and turned his eyes to the sound.

A dark, blurred figure was approaching fast in the blink of an eye.

The distance was no more than 3 meters.

‘Executioner’s a.s.sault. This is an a.s.sa.s.sin skill.’

It was an attack with pure 80,000 skill damage excluding variables like weapon or levels from the calculation.

If the dagger were to pierce through an unarmored area and land a critical strike, his 300,000 health points would disappear in a flash.

(To be continued…)