[System]: You have killed a player. You gain 6 points.
[System]: You have killed a player. You gain 6 points.
[System]: You have killed a normal NPC. You gain 2 points.
…
In a flash, Kael received over five hundred kill notifications, racking up another three thousand points. The areas in front of the eastern and southern gates were now vast, empty fields of corpses.
Kael intended to repeat the tactic at the northern gate, but he found the enemy was faster than he was.
“Fall back!”
“Get back, now!”
“Shit, don't trample me!”
“Will you guys in the back move!”
“You don’t like the crowd? Then you get up front!”
In less than ten seconds, the players at the northern gate had scrambled back dozens of yards. They weren’t idiots. Seeing what had happened at the other two gates, they retreated in a panic, desperate to avoid the same fate.
If friendly fire hadn't been disabled, the stampede would have surely caused hundreds of casualties. The survivors at the east and south gates also decided they were a little too close for comfort and shuffled back another ten yards.
Suddenly, three wide, empty corridors cleared up in front of the fortress gates.
Lila and her guild had been braced for a desperate, last-ditch defense. Now they just stared at the bizarre scene, looking at each other in confusion, unsure of what to do.
“Lila, how… how did so many of them die?” Lunara asked from beside her.
“What was that, Lila?” other girls asked in the faction chat.
Lila hesitated, unsure how to answer. She glanced back toward the watchtower, hoping Kael would explain it himself. But the tower was empty, save for a few NPC archers. Kael was gone.
“Where did that guy go?” Lila muttered to herself.
At that moment, Kael was standing in front of the event’s point exchange NPC, scratching his head.
Is this system bullshitting me?
His eyes were glued to the top items in the shop.
[Horn of the Sun King (Saint Relic)]:
When sounded, provides a powerful buff to all allied forces within a 5-kilometer radius.
Cost: 100,000 Points
[Drums of the Shadow Tyrant (Saint Relic)]:
When struck, inflicts a crippling debuff to all enemy forces within a 5-kilometer radius.
Cost: 100,000 Points
[Apollo's Apprentice Bracer (Ascendant)]:
The bracer worn by the young Apollo when he first learned archery from his immortal tutor.
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...
Cost: 50,000 Points
[Wyrm-Slayer's Glaive (Ascendant)]:
A legendary polearm said to have once pierced the heart of a Great Wyrm.
...
Cost: 50,000 Points
Kael was practically drooling over the items. Then he looked at the prices, and reality hit him like a ton of bricks. There were only five thousand players left. At six points each, that was a total of thirty thousand points.
Even if the Archon managed a full mass resurrection, the total points on the table would only be sixty thousand. It was barely enough for one Ascendant item, and that assumed he could get every single last kill, which was impossible.
The items further down the list were far more realistic.
Level 20 Ascendant Equipment: 10,000 Points
Level 20 Legendary Equipment: 3,000 Points
Level 15 Ascendant Equipment: 1,000 Points
Level 15 Legendary Equipment: 300 Points
Level 15 Epic Equipment: 100 Points
…
Kael currently had 6,700 points. A level 20 Ascendant piece was out of reach, but he could afford two legendary items to tide him over. After a moment of thought, he purchased two bracers, a slot that was currently empty for him, meaning the stat boost would be significant.
[Sunwoven Bracers (Legendary)]: Level 20
Strength +100
Constitution +100
Physical Defense +100
Magic Defense +150
Equipping both bracers, Kael’s base attack damage rose to 7,200 and his health pool surpassed 12,000. Factoring in the defenders’ drum buff, his attack now broke 8,000 and his health exceeded 16,000.
He still had 700 points left. He tabbed over to the consumables and found a treasure trove of items, including a series of upgrades for their own [Thunderclap Drums].
[Drum Upgrade: Strength]: Grants +200 Strength to the drum's buff effect. Cost: 100 Points
[Drum Upgrade: Constitution]: Grants +200 Constitution to the drum's buff effect. Cost: 100 Points
…
[Drum Upgrade: Skill Power]: Increases the drum's skill enhancement effect by 20%. Cost: 100 Points
[Drum Upgrade: Physical Def]: Grants +400 Physical Defense to the drum's buff effect. Cost: 100 Points
Kael grinned. He spent all 700 points on seven different upgrades.
An announcement immediately broadcast across the defender faction channel.
[System]: The player [Ullr] has upgraded the Thunderclap Drums!
The buff effect has been enhanced: Strength, Constitution, Intelligence, and Agility are increased by an additional 200. Physical and Magic Defense are increased by an additional 400. Skill effectiveness is increased by 20%.
The women of Crimson Bloom were still in a tense standoff with the attackers when the notification appeared. They erupted in cheers.
“Whoa, Ullr is OP!”
“The drums are the GOAT!”
“Suddenly that stupid bell doesn’t seem so hot anymore, haha!”
As the girls celebrated, the attacking players at the eastern gate parted, clearing a path.
“Look, what’s that?” Hazel pointed.
A procession of NPCs marched through the players. One group carried a palanquin, upon which sat the regally dressed Archon. Behind him, another group carried the massive Sunfire Bell.
The NPCs gently set the Archon and the Sunfire Bell on the ground before taking up positions on either side. The Archon approached the bell, pressed his palms together, and began to chant in a low, resonant voice. As he chanted, the other NPCs knelt on the ground, bowing their heads in reverence.
The Sunfire Bell began to tremble, and a brilliant golden light started to emanate from its surface.
DONG—
A deafening, earth-shattering toll ripped through the air as the Sunfire Bell unleashed its full power.
[Voice of the Sunfire Bell] (3 Stacks):
Health +2200
Physical Attack +1100
Magic Attack +850
Physical Defense +650
Magic Defense +650
Skill Effectiveness +15%
There was no question that the Sunfire Bell, at its base level, was far superior to the Thunderclap Drums. The event was likely designed for the defenders to slowly earn points, upgrade their drums, and desperately try to hold on and run out the clock.
The system could never have predicted that a player like Kael would start the event with enough points to upgrade the drums seven times before the final battle even began. They also couldn't have predicted that the defenders, facing an enemy dozens of times their number, would feel absolutely no fear.
As the Archon finished his ritual, a phalanx of level 30 NPCs marched to the front lines. A dozen Paladins in gleaming plate armor took the lead. They raised their shields in unison and let out a unified war cry.
“ARISE!”
FWOOM!
A massive, golden dome of energy erupted from their position, expanding rapidly to envelop the entire attacking army.
