The Era of Gods

Chapter 524: Chapter 524: Return to Duronger Fortress

“That’s one way to put it.”

“Then you’re the one who will take on that Child of Nightmare called Prophet Ricks later. It’s been years since we’ve seen each other, let’s see how strong you’ve become.”

Lin Xiao turned to glance at Wu Zhonglin, chuckling as he said:

“What, you want to test me out?”

Wu Zhonglin immediately waved his hands, denying it:

“Don’t say that, I just want to see how much your strength has improved after being missing for five years.”

“Then you’re definitely in for a big surprise.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it!”

As they talked, they arrived at the coordinates without realizing it, and ahead they could see a group of Children of Nightmare guarding a corpse, with Prophet Ricks, now even taller than five years ago, coiled amidst them.

To say he was coiled there was because, by that time, the True Body of Prophet Ricks had already reached over one hundred and fifty meters, resembling a Child of the Ancient gods. Dozens of massive tentacles from his lower half were deeply rooted into the Earth, an invisible light green Aura spread out from his feet, reaching out for thousands of meters.

Within the Aura, aside from the numerous Children of Nightmare, there were also some of his followers and two controlled Human players.

Just as the two of them arrived, Prophet Ricks looked up into the sky, noticing the Dragon flying their way.

His massive human-like face twisted into a cruel smile, the fluttering of small tentacles around his face showing his extreme excitement, as he called out loudly:

“Dragon Emperor Wu Zhonglin, I’m delighted to see you again. I’ve always wanted to battle you to determine the victor, but we have yet to settle this matter. I believe now’s a good opportunity.”

Wu Zhonglin flew a few hundred meters away, hovering mid-air, his booming voice like thunder:

“I, too, want to have a great battle with you, but today, my companion wishes to challenge you.”

Prophet Ricks, somewhat surprised, said:

“Oh, please forgive my rudeness, but aside from you, there doesn’t seem to be anyone among you Humans who could challenge me.”

Wu Zhonglin didn’t waste words and turned to speak to a particular spot in the air:

“It’s your turn.”

No sooner had he spoken than a ripple spread through the empty Void, and a figure appeared out of nowhere, suspended in mid-air.

Prophet Ricks stiffened all over the moment the figure appeared; the tentacles fluttering around his face froze, and the muscles in all his tentacles tensed as if facing a great enemy.

Seeing this, Wu Zhonglin curiously said:

“You seem to be in fear?”

Then, looking at Lin Xiao, he asked:

“Is he afraid of you?”

Lin Xiao spread his hands with a smile:

“Perhaps!”

With that, he slowly drew a seemingly plain but exquisitely crafted Longsword from behind him.

The moment the Longsword was drawn, Prophet Ricks acted as if he had seen something terrifying; all his tentacles flew up, and without a word, he turned and fled, to the shock of Wu Zhonglin and the Human player currently in a Soul state.

“Can you run?”

He twirled the Titan Sword and gave Wu Zhonglin beside him a slight smile:

“Excuse my modesty!”

With the throw of the sword, the Titan Sword turned into a golden light shooting into the sky and vanished. The next second, an infinitely bright divine light exploded in the Vault of Heaven, and a dazzling pillar of light, thousands of meters in diameter, descended from the sky and struck the Earth.

“Boom!”

The light that obscured the sun blinded everyone’s vision, and even Wu Zhonglin couldn’t look directly at the divine light that seemed to pierce the soul, only feeling the terrifying energy explosion resonating near him.

An hour later, Lin Xiao and several dozen players who had lost their bodies and could only weakly resurrect returned to Duronger Fortress.

He walked ahead with his hands behind his back, with Wu Zhonglin, now recovered, and the dispirited players followed, all staring at a shared system prompt in the group, speechless for a long time.

“You are affected by player Lin Xiao’s Skills, your Stats decreased by 30%, and your Hit Level, Defense Level, Evasion Level, and Tenacity decreased by 30%.”

“You have been attacked by player Lin Xiao, receiving 5124714 True Damage that ignores Defense, and you died.”

“You are affected by player Lin Xiao’s Skills, your body cannot be preserved, your Weak Resurrection will last one week, and you have lost 3 Levels.”

…..

After a while, a player named Lifelong Mortal let out a wail of extreme misery:

“I spent five hard years leveling up to Level 4, and you just knocked me down three levels in one go, you owe me big time!”

Lin Xiao instinctively shrank a little and Wu Zhonglin chuckled wryly:

“That move of yours was a bit too vicious, wasn’t it?”

He gave an awkward laugh:

“I didn’t want to, but who told them they were controlled? I couldn’t very well tie my own hands just because of those two, could I?”

“Besides, they got off easy, think about how much worse it is for those Children of Nightmare.”

Wu Zhonglin was left speechless.

“Right, summon the others for me. I have something very important to announce.”

“`

“What’s the urgent matter?”

“Of course, it’s about going home.”

“We’re going home?”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“Of course, we can’t stay on this planet forever.”

Lin Xiao looked up at the Vault of Heaven where, on a level unseen by ordinary people, two massive figures were entangled in battle. The clash between the Ancient god Zagulon and the corrupt Star Soul of Duronel had reached a fever pitch.

Yes, five years later, Duronel had completely fallen and begun the process of emerging from the core of the planet and becoming a Dark Titan.

At this moment, the Ancient God Zagulon was fully suppressing the emergence of the corrupt Star Soul of Duronel, having recalled all of his strength. Near the Duronger Fortress, the tentacles of the Ancient god had vanished, and even when Lin Xiao summoned the Titan Sword again—an act which, in the past, would have been quickly met with a sneak attack from the Ancient god Zagulon—now elicited no response.

Time was running out for this world.

Time was also running out for them; they had to leave soon, so Lin Xiao could safely transform into a black hole.

Inside a villa in the residential area of Duronger Fortress, thirty-one human players had all gathered together.

They didn’t know why Wu Zhonglin had summoned them and thought it was to welcome Lin Xiao back. Many were still discussing the exaggerated spectacle they had just witnessed, excitedly talking about whether they could destroy the fortress of the minions of the Ancient Gods not far away to earn massive amounts of prestige and merit. They fantasized about how much prestige and merit they could get for themselves and whether it would be enough to trade for their desired legendary equipment.

Lin Xiao and Wu Zhonglin arrived just in time to hear two players arguing nonstop over a piece of Orange legendary weaponry they both desired.

Without any small talk, he went straight to the point and said:

“We are strong enough now. The Dragon Emperor and I have decided to take all of you to Mahadun to activate the Teleportation Array to leave for the Fragmented Void.”

The crowd was taken aback, and there was a buzz of discussion, with most seeming reluctant to leave.

Lonely City hesitated before speaking, rubbing his hands:

“So, we’re leaving now? Can’t we wait a few more years?”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s so great here, and there are dozens of Orange equip pieces with the quartermaster, all top-notch equipment, not to mention a few hero template exchange slots. If we stay a few more years or even longer, we can exchange these top-tier itens and good stuff before leaving, and there’s no rush.”

Lin Xiao shook his head and said:

“I understand how you feel. If I could, of course, I’d like to stay here. With so many monsters and good things for just the thirty-something of us, it’s like heaven.”

The crowd nodded in agreement, but then his tone changed sharply:

“However, this world is going to be destroyed. We don’t have another five years. We need to leave soon. If we wait any longer, you will all die on this planet.”

The group was visibly confused.

Lin Xiao didn’t keep them in suspense but explained:

“The star soul of this world has fallen and is about to become a Dark Titan. Once it incarnates into the Dark Titan, the entire planet will be sealed. You will absolutely be unable to escape this planet, and by then death will be certain.”

“How do you know all this?”

Lin Xiao openly displayed his title as the Child of Duronel and said:

“Five years ago, the star soul, not yet fully corrupted, chose me to be its herald. While I gained tremendous power, I was bound to this planet. Now I can feel that the star soul has completely fallen and is about to incarnate into the Dark Titan.”

To the many players shocked by this news, he said:

“You are all experienced and knowledgeable. You should know what a star soul and a Titan are. Even if the Titans derived from this Crystal Wall Universe are not as powerful as those from the Azeroth Crystal Wall Universe, they are still beyond our ability to withstand. Once It awakens, we will have no doubt of death, and all our gains will turn to ashes.”

The crowd went silent, and he didn’t rush them, just letting them come to terms with it on their own.

“How much time do we have at most?”

Lin Xiao almost wanted to laugh, but he also understood; anyone would struggle with this.

After giving it some thought, he said:

“You have at most half a year. We must leave in half a year.”

….

“If it’s half a year, then so be it. Let’s see how much we can get in that time.

Ten minutes later, all the players left at a jog, each rushing off to take on quests. They planned to make the most of this half year, forsaking everything else if need be, provided they could obtain at least one piece of Orange equipment to take back home.”

Lin Xiao smiled and was about to speak when he saw Wu Zhonglin also leaving, muttering as he went:

“I should grind a bit too, getting a couple more Orange equipments wouldn’t be bad.”

He asked curiously:

“You need them with your power?”

Wu Zhonglin retorted, eyes wide:

“What kind of question is that? What do you mean my power doesn’t need them? Don’t you know how powerful the special effects of the Orange legendary equipment are? Don’t tell me you don’t have any? Stop talking nonsense!”

Lin Xiao….

After watching everyone leave, he rubbed his chin with a smile and made a trip to the interior of the fortress, where he met with the high-ranking powers of Duronger Fortress.

It was the same five as before, but their spirits were much diminished from the past, particularly Priest Afilia. After the complete corruption of the Duronel Star Soul, her power had weakened rapidly. Originally, she was a super-strong character with a level over ninety-five and possessed a hero template.

Although she still held the hero template, her level had already fallen below ninety and continued to drop.

When they first met five years ago, her radiance was dim, but still present.

Now, when they met again, her radiance had completely vanished.

If nothing changed, in another five years her power would be completely gone, and she’d become an ordinary person.

“`