Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
The efficiency of the Mage Players was undeniable.
Their destructive capabilities were amplified several times over. Within half an hour, the abandoned manor was razed to the ground by the Players.
“Report, Player Name (M)! Demolition complete, awaiting orders!”
Player Name (M) watched the manor burn from afar, his expression stern under his blast-proof helmet. “Hold your positions!”
“Yes—!!”
It was strange. Player Name (M) looked up at the sky. The manor had been blown to smithereens, everything flammable burned to ashes, yet not a single drop of blood fell from the Blood Moon. He thought that if there were any hidden ritual items or locations within the manor, they should have been destroyed by now. He couldn’t understand it.
Unbeknownst to him, the will of Doggrulem within the Blood Moon breathed a sigh of relief. When these human Mages bombarded the manor with Flame Burst, its heart was in its throat. However, after the bombardment, the manor was merely destroyed, and then these human Mages stopped. Doggrulem felt invigorated again. These insignificant humans, their Flame Bursts and fireballs lacked the power to break through the ground! Even if they could, what then? To enhance the ritual site’s concealment, it had guided its眷屬 to place it over a hundred meters underground. Furthermore, it had used another ritual to reinforce the ground and mask the ritual’s aura. Now, even a forbidden spell might not reach the ritual site. What could these human Mages, at most level six, possibly do? Thinking this, Doggrulem continued to watch the show.
But it had clearly underestimated the Players’ stubbornness and persistence. After the raging fires in the manor completely dissipated, Player Name (M) ordered the Players to use Gale Force to blow away all the ashes left from the burning. Only scorched, bare earth remained.
“Watma doesn’t believe it! Keep bombing! Bomb downwards!” He had just discussed with Nobody Does Human Things (M). According to the intelligence gathered, the 眷屬 had not emerged since entering the manor. Even if they had all died in the ritual, there should be some corpses, right? Even if the corpses were consumed by the ritual, there should be remnants of the ritual, right? What was the meaning of nothing at all? It had to be underground!
Boom, boom, boom— Hundreds and thousands of Flame Bursts struck the manor’s foundation. Flame Bursts that could have created a large crater in the ground now merely left small, black marks. Player Name (M) felt even more certain that something was amiss! He rallied the Players in the Team Channel, and they bombed with increasing fervor. The Flame Bursts in their hands lit up and flew out, lit up and flew out again, never ceasing. The continuous explosions even reached Winter City, creating a feeling reminiscent of World War II.
…
In the plaza of Winter Fort, a play of “Romeo and Juliet” was being performed. Loli sat on a temporary throne in the plaza, a gentle smile on her face. Suddenly, she heard a commotion outside Winter City. She maintained her smile, seemingly enjoying the play, but her voice echoed in Clemon’s mind.
[Clemon, what are those aliens doing outside the city? Are they setting off fireworks?]
“Your humble servant will investigate.” After a while, Clemon returned and respectfully transmitted to Loli: “Your Majesty, Goddess, those Players are using Flame Burst to crazily bombard the ground of a manor. That abandoned manor has already become history.”
Loli’s lips twitched unnaturally. Her gentle smile almost faltered. [Go and watch over them. Report to me every half hour. They must have discovered something. Let us not act rashly.]
“Yes.”
…
Half an hour later.
“Your Majesty, Goddess, they are still bombing that spot on the ground.”
[Ummm, okay, I understand.]
Another half hour passed.
“Your Majesty, Goddess, they haven’t stopped. They’re still bombing.”
Loli: “…Alright.”
Time ticked by. The play “Romeo and Juliet” concluded. A new play, “The Marsh Outlaws and Pig Yin Tai,” took the stage. Clemon reported weakly: “Your Majesty, Goddess, they’re still bombing…”
Loli: “???” If Xi Wei (Male) hadn’t given her a heads-up beforehand, Loli would have found it very difficult to associate the word “reliable” with these aliens. Ten thousand people, targeting one spot on the ground, dropping Flame Bursts for nearly two hours? What were they trying to do? Build an artificial volcano? “Wait another hour. If they are still dropping Flame Bursts, go and ask what’s going on.” Loli still firmly believed Xi Wei’s words, so she decided to give these aliens a little more trust and patience.
…
Doggrulem was on the verge of a breakdown. *Family members, does anyone understand!* It had been so careful to hide the ritual site over a hundred meters underground. It had even performed concealment and reinforcement rituals, yet these insane humans were tirelessly bombarding that spot on the ground as if they were sick. Although their Flame Bursts had very limited power, the sheer quantity from so many people was causing a qualitative change!
[These are a bunch of madmen!] Doggrulem thought furiously. It had lost hope for its plan. Perhaps invading the Wintery Empire as a vanguard was a mistake. It should have listened to the opinions of the older Old Ones and waited for the Great Old One to create an opportunity for a full-scale invasion.
Meanwhile, Player Name (M), who was directing the demolition, also had doubts. They had already bombed seventy to eighty meters underground, even igniting lava, yet there was no reaction? If it weren’t for his blind faith in Nobody Does Human Things (M)’s analysis, he might have given up by now.
Just as he was thinking this, “Boom—” With the explosion of one particular Flame Burst fireball, the surrounding space suddenly jolted. Then came the sound of shattering glass. It seemed as if some balance had been broken. The Flame Burst fireballs, which originally had “very little” power, suddenly seemed to be amplified, kicking up dust in front of them.
“Buzz—!”
At a certain moment, a surge of blood energy shot into the sky. A giant, blood-feathered crow soared from the explosion site, hovering in the Blood Moon, merging with it.
“You damned humans!” The crow opened its mouth and cawed furiously, looking enraged. “I will kill you!!” It shrieked, its blood-red feathers darkening the sky, and countless souls wailed in the blood rain. This scene was undoubtedly terrifying. And this was Doggrulem’s final struggle! It attempted to use its illusion to awaken the fear in these humans’ hearts. There were tens of thousands of humans present; if they all felt fear, it would be enough to trigger the first wave of disaster.
However, to its surprise, these humans not only felt no fear but became incredibly excited!
“Brothers, the final BOSS is here! Let’s kill it!”
