At Purple Thunder Fortress, within the forbidden grounds of the Battle Guild.
A gigantic creature with a purple body opened its vertical eye, and waves of magical energy surged out from its body. The once azure sky was now tainted with a heavy shade of purple. Birds flying through the area suddenly plummeted to the ground, their flesh and bones disintegrating into a black mist as the poisonous rain fell.
"F*ck, what's going on? I'm gonna die from this poison, damn it..."
"Sh*t! This rain's toxic, run for it..."
A group of players undergoing their class awakening tests were in complete disarray. Every drop of the black rain dealt over 2000 points of damage. A heavily armored knight with a shield was quickly dissolved along with his gear, leaving nothing behind.
The giant purple crocodile, still lying on the ground, gave a lazy grunt. "What treasure could these poor country bumpkin dragons possibly have? They should've died already, just get it over with so I can get some sleep."
With that, the giant croc went back to sleep.
Meanwhile, in Pondenorlin City, the Lord's Manor was bustling with activity. Lord Cain's wedding was about to take place, and outside the manor, many players had gathered, eager to participate in the banquet and earn quest rewards.
Cain, wearing a silver crown, suddenly looked up at the sky. A massive shadow passed overhead, ignoring the city's protective barrier.
"I can't believe it! A dragon! Everyone, look!" shouted the player "I Write the Chronicles of Another World."
"Sh*t, that's huge! I can't check its stats, but it looks like at least a world boss-level monster!" cried another player, "Rising World."
Wedge and her team, just leaving the auction house, froze in shock. Wedge's face darkened. "That's the Guardian of Pondenorlin City, the Earth Dragon Ubris! Is it after Orson?"
"To hunt the dragon rider... that guy's in trouble," said DonutWizard. "Should we go take a look?"
"Why bother? You know how dragon tribes help each other, it's probably a case of that bastard getting into trouble," Reaver added.
Wedge frowned. She was weighing the pros and cons. So far, Orson had shown himself to be nearly invincible. They had just spent a fortune to buy an anonymous stronghold from Madman. Taking advantage of the situation and attacking Orson while the dragon was here might be a great opportunity. If they succeeded, they might even break Orson's undefeated streak.
However, failure would mean retaliation from Orson.
After a moment's hesitation, she gave a nod. "The Earth Dragon will become the mount for our guild leader. If something happens to it, that means something's wrong with our guild!"
"That's right! No one can stop us, not even a real dragon," a member shouted.
"Let's go! The Earth Dragon is heading toward the Qing Stone Town; there's a teleportation array there," another member pointed out.
"Don't worry about retaliation, let's kill Orgod first," laughed "Drunken Dream of a Lifetime."
Back to Orson, he frowned as he received the system warning: "Guardian Ubris is on its way!"
At this point, Orson had no way to back down. He had to kill the dragon. The frost dragon below had only a few million health left—it was his personal loot now. Anyone who came to challenge him would die!
With a bright flash of chaotic energy, Orson activated his "Brutal Output Mode," unleashing a flurry of attacks. He wanted to take down the frost dragon before the guardian arrived.
Meanwhile, at the Yi Chun Courtyard in Pondenorlin City, an old man suddenly leaped out from a crowd of women.
"You dare touch my disciple?!" Flame Fosset roared, his anger boiling over. A strike sent a large hole through the building.
Despite his age, the old man's reflexes were quick. He jumped high into the air, where a giant black tiger caught him mid-flight.
"Dammit, old man! I thought you made it big and you're still running from your debts?" a woman yelled angrily.
"Soldier! Block that old geezer!" another woman shouted.
Flame Fosset casually tossed a few hundred gold coins into the air, causing an immediate hush as the anger dissipated. "There, that should settle it. Now back to business."
At the same time, the frost dragon Ubris was still standing tall, enduring Orson's chaotic onslaught. With one last desperate breath, it aimed a dragon's breath at Crimson Lizard King.
Crimson Lizard King growled in response, releasing its own fiery breath to counter the attack. It wasn't enough to overpower Ubris, but it was smart enough to slow the dragon's breath and mitigate the damage.
Crimson Lizard King swiftly retreated, a thousand meters away, before trying once again to lock in a kill shot.
The sky was filled with rapid-fire explosions, as Orson unleashed Chaos Magic Balls, his attacks smashing into the ground below.
Ubris cried out in agony as its health dropped to around one million. Its wings were torn to shreds, and the once-proud dragon was no longer a formidable force.
But just as Ubris attempted to flee, Orson's Earthquake spells slammed into the ground, forcing the dragon to crash back down.
"Get it!" Orson commanded, charging toward the fallen beast.
Crimson Lizard King, sensing the opportunity, leapt forward, ready to devour the frost dragon, seeing it as a perfect meal to replenish its energy.
But suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from behind. Crimson Lizard King dodged just in time, narrowly avoiding a terrifying earth spike that nearly impaled it.
A beast even larger and more imposing than Ubris emerged, its massive form casting an enormous shadow. Its dragon head was adorned with a huge magical crystal.
"Pondenorlin City's Guardian, Ubris, the true peak of the lower dragons," Orson thought to himself, feeling a chill run down his spine. This dragon had 150 million health—far beyond the frost dragon's capabilities.
"Adventurer, you've crossed the line. The traitor dragons should be dealt with by the city's guardians," Ubris declared, speaking in a booming voice.
Orson smirked. "Guardian? You're just after treasure."
"You try and kill me. If I revive, I will destroy your dragon nest!" Orson shot back, unfazed.
At that moment, the system notification popped up: "Pondenorlin City Malice +1000. You have disrespected the Guardian of Pondenorlin City. Entering the city will result in pursuit."
"Ha, whatever, old Ubris," Orson muttered, "Touch him and you'll see your dragon nest burned to the ground."
Suddenly, a black flash appeared. It was Flame Fosset, riding his black tiger.
"Old man?" Orson blinked, surprised. He hadn't expected his troublesome mentor to show up at this time.
"Flame Fosset, I need gold," the old man grumbled. "The church repair funds are short. I've been collecting money from all over. Unfortunately, I'm still a few thousand gold short."
The system panel appeared before Orson, asking him to contribute gold to Flame Fosset. His veins bulged with frustration.
This old man was definitely extorting him again!