V57C1P2 – In Morata

Bard Ray fought against the fierce cold winds in order to obtain the Ironblood Warrior job cla.s.s. He crossed the iceland and withstood monster attacks with his body.

The unique trait of the Ironblood Warrior was that they became even more fortified when fighting powerful enemies in extreme environments.

‘I want to forfeit.’

Bard Ray wanted to quit more times than he could count, but he kept walking.

He recalled the scenes of Weed walking across the desert and becoming the Sun Warrior. His compet.i.tor had accomplished a very similar feat.

His body was wracked with intense pain like hundreds of rats were burrowing inside his flesh, but his pride drove him forward, step after step.

He remembered the times he lived through, how he had been praised as the G.o.d Warrior.

‘I will do this. I will finish it even if it costs me my life.’

He continued on for the sake of becoming the Ironblood Warrior. He felt he was at his limit, but a sc.r.a.p of strength remained inside him and urged him forward. Only when huge flakes of snow began to fall upon him, did he feel true despair.

‘This is crazy… Just…’

He lowered his head and kept his pace. Thick packs of snow formed on his head and shoulders, but he did not have the power to brush them off.

At first the snow was around his ankles, but now it was above his waist, crus.h.i.+ng his will once again.

‘This is truly insane. Would the deserts have been easier than this?’

The wind, like blades, carved at his flesh and seemed to cut to his bones.

He could only believe that Weed’s quest to walk across the hot desert had been easier.

‘Keep going. One step and another. I cannot afford to collapse here.’

A part of him felt relieved that the broadcast station was live streaming the scene.

If it weren’t for the station, he would have quit long ago.

It was a first for Bard Ray where a quest wasn’t about fighting incredible monsters, but pushed him to transcend his own limits.

< Perseverance increased by 1. >

Since it was the path to advance into the Ironblood Warrior, alerts about stat gains popped up on occasion.

‘Just a little more… Just until today.’

Bard Ray dragged his feet onwards. Even the commentators in the station were heated.

– That is Bard Ray for you. Typical players wouldn’t have made it as far as he has in such a crude environment.

– It’s all frozen. The only edible thing around is snow.

– He can’t even walk properly. G.o.d Warrior Bard Ray. We always saw only the extravagant side of him but in his heart he had such immeasurable will.

The response from the viewers was also positive about Bard Ray’s new appearance.

It was a chance to look at the human side of a man who once stood above the Hermes Guild.

– Amazing. I won’t be able to get anywhere near what he’s doing.

– I am watching as I am bathing in a hot tub at Puhol Waterpark. I feel like I should be out there hunting at least one monster.

– Wow… The people in the highest ranks in Royal Road have extraordinary determination.

– He was walking straight until yesterday. Now he’s dragging his feet. Was he injured or something?

– He looks completely wasted. Even his armor is frozen.

– Look at the scenery up ahead! An ice lake appeared, then a mountain behind it!

The viewers were impressed by the scale of Bard Ray’s effort.

The broadcast stations got a great hit from a show for which they had had little expectations.

The view rating of Morata’s war preparation and Bard Ray’s adventure were evenly split!

Morning, lunch, dinner, late night and onto dusk.

Bard Ray ceased to stop. He felt like if he stopped to rest, he wouldn’t be able to continue.

‘Weed, Weed, Weed, Weed…’

If Weed didn’t exist, he would have given up earlier.

Miraculously on the 5th day, ma.s.sive icebergs were afloat in the far ocean.

Bard Ray walked almost unconsciously and he bashed against something in his way.

Ptch.

He was too exhausted to think about where he was walking.

Blink!

< You have arrived at the location of the Frost Sword.

A legendary find!

You have discovered the Frost Sword before it was lost beneath the ocean.

This sword was pinned to the icelands for almost a thousand years and was imbued with the aura of ice.

This sword only acknowledges one master. >

< The adventure discovery increased Reputation by 8,500.

All stats increased by 4.

Willpower increased by 10. >

Bard Ray grasped the Frost Sword. His arm, shoulder and body froze instantly.

C-c-c-crack!

The pain was immense, wiping his mind completely.

< Release me from your grasp. >

Echos from the Frost Sword travelled inside him.

Bard Ray was able to make up his mind even in pain.

‘I must not let go of it.’

Each step added up had brought him to this place.

If he were at that moment to have let go, all would have been for nothing.

His consciousness was fading, but his heart did not have a hint of renouncement.

His honor disappeared the day he lost to Weed. In order to regain his pride, he could endure far more severe pain.

Significant time lapsed. On screen, only a minute had pa.s.sed, but Bard Ray contemplated countless times.

His body was completely covered in ice and he was on the brink of freezing to death.

It was a different feeling from the times when he was farming for equipment in the Hermes Guild.

‘With this sword… Honor, will be mine again.’

To become the strongest man in all of Versailles, he was willing to pay any sacrifice.

At long last…

< The sword has chosen a new master.

Stamina has been replenished.

Exhaustion, Coldache, Freeze have been lifted. >

Fatigue disappeared.

The thick sheets of ice on his body melted away and transformed into dense muscles.

< You have advanced into the Ironblood Warrior.

You have survived the harshest environment and possess unbreakable willpower. Your advancement is complete. Your fortified body knows no fear.

Protect your comrades and lead battles to victory.

You must overwhelm all battles. >

< Physical abilities are enhanced by 20%

Endurance is greatly enhanced according to current Strength stat.

The more powerful the enemy, the greater the enhancement bonus.

All status effects are overcome more quickly.

Recovery rate increased.

Willpower can heighten magic resistance.

Increases combat effects of allies by a flat rate. >

Bard Ray let out a light sigh. Only then he knew that his adventure was over.

***

It was two days until Kaybern’s attack on Morata!

Bard Ray arrived at the northern gate of Morata via the teleport gate.

“It changed beyond my imaginations.”

He had heard from Arkhim but could not spare the time to watch the news.

The scenery had transformed completely from when he stepped out of the city gates to become the Ironblood Warrior.

The walls were reinforced by double and triple layers; residential areas were deconstructed and remaining buildings were patched securely with steel and rocks.

Countless structures similar to the G.o.ddess statue and the Light Tower were visible.

“It’s Bard Ray!”

“Oh, it is really him!”

The players cheered at the sight of Bard Ray. They too had waited for his return.

After all, the fight against Kaybern would have been quite empty without his presence.

Though he had lost to Weed, his honor as the G.o.d Warrior did not dissipate.

Some players still a.s.sessed that Bard Ray was stronger than Weed.

“Welcome. I will show you how much Morata has changed.”

Bard Ray looked around Morata with Arkhim’s guide.

“Indeed it seems there has been a lot of change. With only a glimpse I can tell that it is an entirely different fortress.”

“The bond between the Northern players and their ability of quick construction is worthy of praise.”

It took them less than a day to construct shelters and defensive walls.

Beginning after breakfast, the first structures were complete around lunchtime.

The supply transport, design and construction seemed to have been carried out by different minds but the results were satisfactory.

They were excellent in haphazard but rapid construction.

“Where is the expected location of the fight?”

“The dragon’s lair is located to the south, so we predict that it will come from the same direction. Still, it would be favorable if the battle can take place in Bingryeong or Wyvern Square. We have put the bait in place.”

“Bait?”

“The dragon destroys the most noticeable and the most expensive valuables. So, we crafted some traps.”

“Let’s go see them.”

Bard Ray took a closer look around Binryong Square and was convinced.

There was a sculpture of the black dragon that spanned over several hundred meters!

It was yet to be complete, but it was so realistically detailed and yet somehow a bit uglier.

Furthermore, it was a depiction of the dragon getting its b.u.t.t whacked by a goblin, a creature that the dragon didn’t even consider as a life form.

“This… This will surely enrage the dragon. What if it fires magic spells or breath from afar?”

“That is our concern, but the Mapan Council and the northern merchant councils offered their a.s.sistance.”

“In what way?”

“They plan to stack piles of gold in the town square.”

If the dragon were to see the treasure, it would never destroy them.

Even the Light Tower, the arts center and G.o.ddess statue were to be dressed with gold in the hopes of avoiding the dragon’s attack.

“The dragon will certainly destroy the statue of mockery. If it goes as planned, we will seize our opportunity in either Bingryeong or Wyvern Square.”

“Everyone will commence the attack at the town square.”

“Yes. Fortunately through negotiations we retained our command over our guild forces.”

Arkhim asked that if the war began, they were granted the authority to fight independently.

Weed agreed to the proposal.

It would have been a handsome sight to lead the Hermes Guild members, but truthfully they were a ha.s.sle to lead effectively.

Unlike the Northern players used for human wave tactics, they were elite players with impressive combat abilities.

He thought that the Hermes Guild hunting the dragon on their own accord was much more advantageous.

“Granted. But I am sure the dragon will ascend when it’s in danger.”

“It is vital that we prevent its flight, but for the worst we have prepared Mule’s griffin strikers for an aerial fight. We have to put an end to the fight that very day.”

Bard Ray observed the preparations in Morata and was filled with excitement for the day of war.

(To be continued…)