MoP: Ch. 171

---Third POV---

Bang!

Everyone fell downward.

NineTails was thrown offline on the spot, her chair violently sliding backward.

"Ahhh!"

She pulled off her gaming helmet, and that feeling of weightlessness vanished in an instant.

Still shaken, she patted her chest.

"Good thing my brain is still here."

Remembering the last scene she saw right before falling, she didn't even bother checking on her in-game character. She immediately opened the official forum, which she had logged into earlier, to sync information.

[NineTails]: I found the friendly sirens we're supposed to rescue in the main story. They're on the fourth underground floor!

[Hedgehog]: Fourth floor? I thought there were only three!

[NineTails]: Right below the third floor. The third-floor ground broke open. I saw a body of water and a cage underwater. There are five sirens inside

[NeverShowOff]: Received. Heading there now!

[NineTails]: You guys need to hurry. The local gang sent reinforcements. White Dove's side can't hold much longer!

[Garble]: It's fine, the remaining three sirens will arrive soon!

---

After typing the last line, Garble looked back toward the entrance of the Redstone Auction House.

Beside him, Hannah frowned deeply.

"What's going on? Why is everything a mess? What are all these unfamiliar humans doing?"

So many unfamiliar faces, and some of them had obvious magical energy around them. Like mages who had just finished a battle.

Selina clearly understood more. She crossed her arms and surveyed the area.

"A coup? Is this why you rushed back right after your special training without taking time to take a breath?"

"There was no need. Even if the leader changed, I could still keep you safe."

Garble's mouth twitched.

He was just stalling for time. So he quickly made up a reason, "Well... she is my boss. We humans value gratitude."

Hannah nodded thoughtfully.

"You have a point. Then we'll help you save that human who likes fake smiling. You go back and focus on training first."

Garble choked.

They were already at the door. How could he retreat now?

He grumbled internally.

The Underground City didn't have magic-suppressing devices. Had they still not received news from their companions?

As expected, the next second, Selina tilted her head, listening to something, her expression turning grim.

"Something happened. Leave the Underground City immediately and go somewhere safe!"

Finally!

Garble's heart stirred.

Beside him, the black-haired siren, silent like air until now, looked at him and spoke softly, "I'll take you out of here..."

"Get back here!"

The other two sirens each grabbed one of her arms, four eyes blazing with fierce fire.

As if gaining a random competitor wasn't bad enough.

There was no way they'd let her steal him away.

"The other sirens' lives are still unknown. How can you think about leaving now?" Selina pulled the black-haired one back, speaking righteously.

The three of them tugged each other as they ran deeper into the auction house.

Leaving Garble standing alone, receiving various "warnings" and "punishments."

After enduring the electric punishment, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

A life controlled by a romance system... was finally coming to an end. He lowered his head, looking at the three shell bracelets in his hand.

"Oh? Defensive magic tools the sirens just gave you?"

Hedgehog stepped out from the shadows.

Garble raised his head helplessly.

"You guys were the ones who drove off the players along the way?"

On their return path, not even the city gate had guards, way too deliberate.

Fortunately, sirens didn't care about internal human conflicts. Otherwise, who knew what accidents might have happened.

NeverShowOff stepped out from behind a stone pillar on the other side.

"It was my decision. We couldn't let players get instantly killed by sirens for no reason. And it made it easier for you all to hurry back... Is the thing taken care of?"

"It'll trigger in about twenty minutes," Garble replied.

Worry flashed in his eyes.

"Seven sirens have terrifying combat power. What if something happens in those twenty minutes?"

Hedgehog answered confidently, "Relax. We had Edgar calculate it. The town's forces are enough to hold for twenty minutes. As long as nothing unexpected happens."

Beep beep beep!

All three of their game panels rang at the same time.

They opened them. The messages were from Bored.

[Bored]: We've taken the mayor's manor. There's no teleportation array inside, but we found a secret passage.

More player reports followed:

[We also found a secret passage in the north. Seems to lead outside the city.]

And finally, a message from Apple, who was guarding outside the city to intercept enemies:

[Apple]: Bad news! Several luxurious carriages appeared outside the city and are fleeing down different routes away from Nary Town! The level difference is too big. We probably won't be able to stop them!

Hedgehog looked up and forced a smile.

"Uh... looks like something unexpected is happening now?"

Garble shoved the three bracelets into his pocket.

"You go notify Edgar. The balance below has been broken. Everyone else, come with us to the third underground floor to check the situation."

Sending troops away meant the human combat power on the third underground level was far lower than they'd estimated.

The situation down there was probably bad.

NeverShowOff and Garble led the returning players, sprinting into the auction house.

On the way, they saw almost no soldiers of the Underground City.

NeverShowOff's sense of dread grew stronger.

"Just as I thought. They must've withdrawn at least ten minutes ago!"

Players had been watching the other areas of the Underground City.

After noticing more and more high-level fighters entering the auction house, they had withdrawn, planning to wait until the enemy forces were worn down before attacking. But now, with no surveillance, they had no idea when the NPCs had escaped.

Garble's eyes darkened. "They ran faster than rabbits."

With only four sirens present, the enemy didn't even fight. They just fled the city?

Was the NPC escape priority set way too high?

When they arrived at the third underground floor, the exit was already open, and a black silhouette was thrown up from the large hole in the center of the floor.

He looked up.

"It's a guard from the Scarlet Casino. A level 45 elite warrior."

Elite warriors had strong defense and recovery. For one to be tossed out like a rag showed how brutal and one-sided the battle below must be.

Bad news piled on. New messages came from the forum.

[Hedgehog]: We found Edgar, but he says his strength hasn't recovered, so he won't be taking action.

[NineTails]: Huh, I didn't die from the fall. But the moment I got back online, a siren finished me off. The seven sirens below are completely steamrolling. That level 80+ NPC is being kicked around like a ball!

[Apple]: Players outside the city were attacked. Seems related to the NPCs who escaped.

[CowardlySurvivor]: It's almost dawn. Villagers from nearby areas may enter the town at any time!

NeverShowOff felt the vein on his forehead twitch.

"I knew something would go wrong!"

He had said from the very beginning that starting a siege battle now was far too reckless. But no one listened. They hadn't sealed off every exit for the NPCs to leave the city. Now everything was a mess.

In a moment, three of the sirens would fall asleep, but four wide-awake, fully energized sirens would still be waiting for them to deal with. And once the escaped NPCs spread the news, an army could come crashing down on them at any moment.

Garble closed his eyes and exhaled heavily.

"White Dove's people know me. I can go down and take a look. But if we want to turn the situation around, there's only one option left."

NeverShowOff looked up with hope.

"What option?"

"Where's the stone Viktor gave you?"

NeverShowOff felt around in his arms and took out a white stone that resembled a finger bone.

"You mean calling Viktor to deal with the sirens?"

"Doesn't hurt to try."

Garble glanced toward the giant pit not far below.

"His level has always been a big question mark. Maybe he really can deal with the sirens. Otherwise, if we keep waiting, our main quest is definitely screwed."

He had spent the longest time interacting with White Dove's sirens and understood their attitude toward so-called 'fallen sirens.'

If those below turned out to be friendly sirens who refused to cooperate... Their chances of survival were slim. Trying to stall or outsmart them was unrealistic. They needed overwhelming force to intimidate them.

NeverShowOff swallowed hard, unable to argue.

"This is the only way."

He stared at the stone in his hand, giving in.

He squeezed.

A crisp crack rang out as the stone shattered.

And then...

Nothing.

The fragments lay quietly in his palm. Nothing changed around them.

It was as if the space had frozen, unnervingly silent.

NeverShowOff: "..."

Garble: "..."

Really?!

Wasn't this thing supposed to summon the man's projection, complete with combat strength?

Why was it malfunctioning now?

NeverShowOff's mouth twitched.

---

The snow-covered Wolcen Mountains, at the summit. The volcanic crater, buried under centuries of accumulated snow and ice, had become a vast, flat plain. Centered on the mountaintop, clouds and snow swirled like a massive vortex.

Viktor had no mind to appreciate the magnificent sea of clouds. His gaze was fixed on the center of the peak.

There, a male deity stood there, clad in a barely-covering white robe, black-haired, dark-skinned, wearing a golden crown, his entire body radiating a white divine glow.

He stood quietly, meeting Viktor's eyes.

The features were unmistakable. Viktor recognized him at a glance, the God of Snow, Wolcen Wintrian.

To be precise, the newly ascended Snow God.

Shff, shff, shff.

Zycotl reshaped itself into a husky and walked alongside Viktor as they approached the center.

Their pace was slow. Wolcen waited patiently, urging nothing.

Only when the distance between them shrank to less than three meters did the Snow God's imposing, wild features reveal a trace of surprise.

It vanished almost instantly as he spoke calmly, "For 2,306 years, I have been waiting for you, Savior."

With a flick of his hand, a set of golden, gem-inlaid table and chairs appeared beside him.

"I know you have many questions. Sit down first. Soon, I'll answer all of them."

"Savior? I'm not a savior. And hearing those words come out of your mouth is the best joke I've heard in a hundred years."

Wolcen's brows sharply furrowed.

"I am the first divine avatar left behind when Wolcen ascended, a manifestation of his original will. I indeed do not know the entanglements between you and his true self. But..."

His figure flickered. In an instant, he appeared at Viktor's side.

"The dignity of a god is not to be challenged!"

Viktor showed not a trace of fear. Zycotl snapped out like a whip, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle.

Their movements were lightning-fast, colliding, separating, clashing again.

After stopping, Wolcen's eyes flickered slightly.

"God-tier mental power?"

Viktor brushed the drifting snow off Zycotl.

"Just as I thought. He didn't leave you a physical body. If it's just a contest of mental strength, you're no match for me."

He pulled out a golden chair for himself and sat down.

"Come then, First Snow God. Let's talk about this 'savior' you mentioned."

Wolcen's frown deepened.

Logic told him this: The person before him held some sort of hostility toward him, and the outcome of this conversation might not be what he expected.

But he was merely a divine avatar.

His existence was to pass on a prophecy. He had no authority to defy the will of the true deity. Even if the true deity was already dead.

He stepped to the golden table. The main seat slid back automatically for him.

After sitting, he continued scrutinizing Viktor.

"To be honest, I never imagined the savior of the Aeltia would be an undead. Cold, selfish, always protecting your own interests. Your entire being is like duckweed floating on water, rootless and without any sense of belonging or drive to save the world... How could the world's laws choose you as the savior?"

Viktor was already used to gods exposing people's secrets the moment they met, using divine authority like it was nothing.

"I personally don't support racial discrimination. But on that point, I can at least agree with you. Is it possible that the world's laws made a mistake, that I really am not the savior?"

Wolcen rejected the idea immediately.

"Impossible. In the future foreseen by the Gods of Time and Space, the one who gathers the maps and climbs Wolcen Mountain must be the savior."

Viktor felt speechless.

So those maps that were practically handed to him... were actually the work of the Gods of Time and Space?

"What did they tell you? To pass on the news that Aeltia is on the brink of destruction, and to offer 'help' to the savior?"

Wolcen nodded, then shook his head.

"I do have important information for you. But I am only a fading spiritual remnant. I cannot give you any real assistance."

Viktor rested his chin on his hand and nodded.

The avatar indeed looked completely different from the god described in church records, clearly without divine power sustaining him. That he was able to survive this long on only the newly-ascended God of Snow's power was nothing short of a miracle.

"Information is fine too. You can start now."

At his indifferent, almost amused attitude, a flash of anger passed through Wolcen's eyes.

"Undead, you don't believe a word I'm saying!"

As one of the earliest beings to transcend and step into divinity, his wisdom and insight were no less than his strength. He easily perceived the guardedness in Viktor's heart.

He took a long breath, suppressing his irritation.

"After I ascended, the Gods of Time and Space came to me. They told me that Aeltia would be destroyed in 2,700 years. And the only way to stop it was to leave behind a divine avatar, to provide warnings and prophecies to the future savior who would one day lose their way."