Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 801 - 742: The Unexpected Person and the Strongest Path
Time rewinds to a few dozen minutes before the player declares war on the world boss Armstrong.
Monstrous screams emanate from the other side of the city wall. Claudia, with a slender Magic Sword in hand, slowly approaches the bizarre figure’s neck with the cold gleam of the blade.
It was a pus-covered, foul-smelling creature huddled in the corner, barely maintaining a human form. From the center of the stench came a hoarse voice, accompanied by the sound of vomiting, finally separating itself from the ooze. The figure was a pale-skinned man with tattered clothes still clinging to him, the unpleasant odor remaining.
The Emerald Dragon Claudia remained vigilant; it was this feeble-looking creature that had burst from the crowded chaos of monsters, unscathed worming through her defense with barely a moment to react. Had it not been for the Wind Swordsman’s professional high-speed response bonus, this suspected Nightmare-disguised monster could have vanished into the throng of people.
"Who are you?!" Concerning the inscrutable captive, Claudia held utmost caution; any slight oversight at this critical moment could lead to a complete collapse of the line. Thinking about the potential disaster, Claudia’s murderous intent surged with escalating fervor fueled by her dragon blood.
As the first Magic Swordsman player, Claudia already had her followers. The Wind Swordsmen, having been ostracized, rallied together with her, and her unique status as the Green Dragon naturally made her the leader of this ensemble. Following Governor Susanna’s orders, the Magic Swordsman players were in charge of the western line of defense. Johnnie Walker and Flying Beechburg stood behind Claudia, seemingly guarding but in reality eagerly watching the cornered captive.
"I am just an ordinary Dream Elf player, and I am also a Wind Swordsman..." the man chuckled, raising his hand as familiar Wind Element magical power gathered at his fingertips.
"I hope you’ll reconsider your words, lies will lead things towards a disappointing end," Claudia coldly interrupted. Being the premier Magic Swordsman player and familiar with the professional traits, the Green Dragon pierced through his lie. For one person to break through such a horde of monsters was impossible, even for herself. "High mobility of the Flying Sword doesn’t mean invincibility; handling a Flying Sword requires quicker neural responses and physical agility. A Wind Swordsman couldn’t have passed through those monsters unscathed. To achieve that, you’d have to be non-human," the Wind Sword pressed against his skin, and Claudia could even feel the resistance upon contact. This was necessary, as beheading was just the beginning if this was a lurking enemy.
The man bowed his head, rubbing his hands through his hair with a troubled expression, only to nauseate himself by touching the ooze in his hair.
"Fine then, I wanted to interact with you as an ordinary person, but all I got was suspicion and caution. I’ll drop the act, just don’t get scared by my real identity..." his cheek smeared with residue haughtily raised, he knelt on the ground, one arm supporting him, the other akimbo, "I am one of the pillars of the Emerald Dream, one of the Four Elders, a bridge to the Illusory Dream."
"Who is that?" Claudia was indifferent, truly unaware. The scene turned quite awkward as the man’s eyes widened, before he regained composure, appearing calm and collected.
"Mhm, no worries, Little Green Dragon is new here, it’s understandable you don’t recognize me," he replied in an elder’s tone addressing a child.
The man shifted his gaze to the two Elf Race players behind her.
"You! You must have heard of the Four Elders! Even the new generation should know the basic knowledge of not forgetting one’s benefactor," he exclaimed.
Johnnie Walker’s nodding response pleased the man, a smile spreading across his face.
"Don’t be fooled! The Four Elders are noble and majestic plenipotentiaries of Dream Pioneers, our mentors, guides, compassionate elders, and humble wise men," Flying Beechburg repetitively cited what he learned in Elf history classes, contemptuously pointing at the man on the ground, looking like a beggar picked off the streets.
"Do you really think he has any connection to noble elders?"
The Illusory Dream chuckled at the scolding, displaying patience proportional to his lifespan as one of the respected Four Elders. The man now relished in the thrill of shattering the worldview of the youngsters, leaning back and flicking the air ten centimeters above his head. He figured out a way to verify himself, as his hidden personal ID began to emerge.
[Lv.16 Magic Swordsman Dreams Update Ten Thousand Words]
Officially recognized, a fellow one of us.
Claudia sighed, sheathed her sword, and spoke to the smug-looking Elder of the Illusory Dream.
"I shouldn’t have expected much from the high leaders of this world. But welcome nonetheless, uh... Elder of Dreams, every bit of help will make our fight against the Nightmare a bit easier."
[Johnnie Walker]His eyes shone brightly, seemingly finding that the pathetic and filthy appearance of the Illusory Dream at the moment perfectly matched the image of a hermit hidden from the world in his heart. He enthusiastically helped up [Dream Pioneer], and with an admiring tone asked, "Elder of Dreams, you managed to break through the monster horde alone as a level 16 Magic Swordsman without losing any health, your skill level must be extremely high, could you teach me?"
[Dreams]nodded lightly, looking at Johnnie with a satisfaction growing on his face.
"It wasn’t that I was unscathed, but rather completely unharmed. If it weren’t for Little Green Dragon’s Storm Rising Dragon combo that blasted me away, completing a combo hit with the outside monsters, I wouldn’t have been splattered into a mess by the drool monsters, nor would my robe have been ripped into shreds."
Claudia stood in front of him with crossed arms, looking down on him without a hint of apology. The situation was chaotic at the time, and under the premise where it was hard to discern friend from foe, Emerald Dragon felt she did no wrong. As for the humiliation of the Four Elders, after all, it was not her who was embarrassed. The compulsory repelling effect of Storm Swordsmanship was the only way she could control this unknown character at the time.
"The breaking of the equipment’s durability to zero indicates that our attack was effective, but your health bar did not change, with such a frail level 16 body. I am also curious about the skills you possess, Elder."
"Hehehe haha!" Illusory Dream changed into a new set of robes, adjusting his outfit, the rejuvenated man now carried a dreamy, ethereal aura.
[Dream Pioneer]waved his sleeves, adopting a proud and aloof stance.
"You’re not wrong! As one of the pillars of the Emerald Dream, the refinement of time has endowed me with incomparable insight and a unique perception of the dream. The profound angle from which I view issues is unparalleled by the likes of you mortals, and so is the case with this dream game; I have seen through the superficial analysis and deciphered its essence."
"It can be said! My understanding of the game, rivals those of the developers!"
"For that reason, I have also realized an invincible path, the supreme way!"
The path of invincibility, the supreme art. These phrases echoed in the hearts of the Magic Swordsman players, unavoidably leading them to wild thoughts, Elder of Dreams due to his unique game understanding gained abnormal strength, he too is a Magic Swordsman, as are we. Now at the critical moment of the Nightmare’s descent, this elder, who devoted himself to his race, wouldn’t be, about to pass on the legendary supreme art he painstakingly researched to us.
Us Magic Swordsman players? Are we about to make a name for ourselves in Dreamland?!
[Johnnie Walker]immediately bowed deeply.
"Dream Master! Please impart to me the supreme art! I’ve never thought about any PVP rampage or trashing any version’s child, I just want to contribute to defeating the Nightmare!"
[Dream Pioneer]shook his head.
"My path, you cannot walk, it is a path of invincibility, and also a path of solitude! You do not possess the strength."
Johnnie felt disheartened, but quickly adjusted himself.
"It’s alright, Dream Master, having you, the strongest Magic Swordsman, is also the pride of our Magic Swordsman family, but, could you please explain your supreme way, to let us have a glimpse?"
"Very well!" [Dream Pioneer]said gravely, articulating each word clearly as he revealed the ultimate way of the dream game.
"The strongest technique of the dream game, is none other than... a third-party modifier."
Simply put, cheating.
