The Final Siege

Chapter 47

The two guilds gained some needed rest as the night was long and the attacks were relentless, but no monsters were able to penetrate the artifact barrier, and because they obtained sufficient mana cores, they were all able to recover and regain some hope. At the same time, Sebastian with the Northern Lazarus guild finally received Mary Kaye's formal request, and Sebastian ordered 50 of his best guild members to help his cousin in the hunt for the evolved Drake.

Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria, ruler of the city of Arockar, gave her support as she wanted to support Sebastian. And sent 50 of her own soldiers to aid the other Lazarus guild members and even provided them access to use the magic tower's teleportation artifact and directly open a gateway 50 meters from the city of Lúthien. The mana consumption of the gate was extremely high , so payment for using the gate for 5 minutes will be 50,000 gold coins .

The transfer gate is available even at the cathedral tower, but the payment is twice as high, so most players just buy transfer scrolls that are worth fifty silver coins per 50-meter distance, enough to escape; 1000 gold coins is enough to buy a small castle on the first floor. This creates a dynamic economy where players must carefully consider their spending in order to progress effectively. The high cost of using the transfer gate , transfer scrolls, and teleportation magic skill also encourages strategic planning and resource management within the tower.

Teleportation magic skills are rare and very specific, and the language used on these skills is highly specialized, adding an extra layer of complexity. Players must also factor in the potential risks and rewards of using these expensive forms of transportation, further adding to the strategic depth of those who are targeting to gain stronger skills.

Obtaining skills is expensive, and the payment is often not just in currency but also in time and effort. Using experience points is a last resort; many players will send all their hard-earned gold coins to obtain a magic skill and use the experience point to level up their skills.

Sebastian spent that gold just to ensure the Eash Lazarus guild would accomplish their task. While they were preparing to depart , Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria asked Sebastian why he had to wait that long to help his cousin, knowing that they would fail like the others did. Sebastian answered Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria, saying the request didn't come from Challote, but he was answering to help Mary Kayes High Strategy guild.,

He stated he knew Charlotte very well; she was the type of person that would never back down nor ask for help until the very last moment when she had no other choice. Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria frowned and responded, "Are all Lazarus like this?" Sebastian nodded, acknowledging Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria's question. He explained that the Lazarus were known for their independence and resilience, traits that often led them to face challenges alone. Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria listened intently, intrigued by the unique characteristics of the Lazarus people.

"We have known each other for a while, Sebastian."

"Indeed, my lady, saving you from those assassins was my greatest honor and gift.."

"gift?"

"Seeing your long red hair and soft, tender skin and elven heritage made my heart skip a beat!"

Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria blushed at Sebastian's unexpected confession about his feelings. She was taken aback by his boldness but couldn't deny the flutter of excitement in her chest. The air between them suddenly felt charged with unspoken emotions. A warmth spread through her cheeks. She realized that perhaps there was more to their relationship than she had initially thought.

"Sharing a bed with you is not just about physical pleasure, but a deep connection that I never knew I was missing," Sebastian continued, his eyes filled with sincerity. Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria felt her heart swell with emotion at his words, realizing that their bond went beyond mere attraction.

The hushed murmur of their conversation abruptly ceased as Terrence Lazarus strode into the gathering hall of the magic tower. The North Lazarus guild stood at attention, a formidable presence, while 50 soldiers, sworn to Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria, waited patiently for their deployment. A palpable tension filled the air as the tower gate, a marvel of arcane engineering, began to hum to life. Energy, raw and untamed, spiraled outwards from a high-grade artifact perched atop the chamber, bathing the hall in an ethereal glow, signaling the imminent activation of the transfer sequence.

The Tower of Magic stood tall and proud within the heart of the northern region, a beacon of mystical power and wonder. Connected to the great goddess Tyche, this ancient structure had long served as a conduit between the mortal realm and the divine, granting blessings of prosperity and good fortune to those who sought her favor.

Unlike other magical towers that dotted the land, this particular site held a special reputation. For here, the convex tower gate was said to be imbued with the power to instantly transport a person to wherever Tyche deemed them most worthy to reap the rewards of her generosity. Of course, such a "blessing" did not come free; only those with the wealth to afford the high fees were granted access to this miraculous portal.

The North Lazurus guild had arrived en masse, ready to test their fortunes and see if Tyche smiled upon them. As well, a retinue of fifty elite soldiers stood at attention, their ornate armor glinting in the light. They were here as the personal bodyguards of Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria, a noblewoman rumored to have her own reasons for seeking to curry favor with the capricious goddess of wealth.

A hush fell over the chamber as Terrence Lazarus himself strode in with an air of quiet confidence. His presence seemed to draw the eye of all within the great hall. As his gaze swept across the assembled crowd, a strange energy began to build, emanating from the high-grade artifact mounted at the pinnacle of the room. The tower gate shimmered and pulsed, a swirling vortex of chaotic magical energies straining to be unleashed. An electric tension filled the air, each person wondering who would be the first to take the great leap of faith and see if Tyche would bless them with blessings beyond their wildest dreams...or curse them to a fate far worse than simple poverty.

The towers of magic were a common sight in the northern reaches of the world, each one attuned to a specific focus. There was the Tower of Fire, the Tower of Ice, the Tower of Nature, and so on and so forth. Yet the Tower of Magic under Lady Laenaria's control was seen as something rather different.

In many respects, it operated in much the same manner as the Cathedral Tower of Tyche. Both were dedicated to providing blessings and gaining magical skills to those who sought them, with the main difference being that the Cathedral was a more religious and financial endeavor, while the Tower leaned towards a more arcane knowledge and approach to their approach. However, unlike the Cathedral,

In contrast to the magic tower, which believed that devotion was the only way to obtain the benefits of the god Aether, the Cathedral Tower adopted a more...pragmatic approach for individuals who wanted to understand more about the world of magic.

At the Cathedral Tower, blessings from the goddess Tyche were something to be bought and sold, traded for the cold weight of gold. This did not sit well with many in the other region. To them, the idea of trying to purchase divine favor was seen as little more than a fool's errand. Blessings, as they saw it, were meant to be earned through hard work, dedication, and a virtuous life. Those who tried to buy their way into Tyche's good graces were seen as little more than greedy fools, and the Tower was viewed as a den of excess and vice.

But there would always be those who disagreed with this view. And so, day after day, the Tower of Magic remained a place of pilgrimage, a site where the hopeful and the desperate came to try their luck, to see if they might win the blessings of the god Aether and reap the rewards of its generosity.

The Magic Tower, in turn, was more than happy to accommodate them, for whether or not the blessings of Tyche were truly earned through devotion or purchased with gold, one thing was certain: the Tower would always find a way to turn a tidy profit. Despite their differences, both the Order of the Dawn and the Chaos Brethren found common ground within the Tower's ancient stone walls. Here, amidst glittering treasures and arcane artifacts, they could temporarily set aside their ideological differences to petition a higher power.

The two organizations never saw eye to eye on many matters, as they served different gods. Among the multitude of deities known within the Tower, only five were above the remaining twelve in stature and influence. Yet even among these five, an even greater dichotomy existed—the God of Light and the God of Chaos towered over the rest. Many would call them the God of Order and the God of Entropy; instead, these two were the very source and wellspring of all power within this realm. Some whispered they may have even been the same gods who created the Tower to manifest here in the human world, a grand experiment to test the strength of will and conviction of all who entered.

The constant struggle between Order and Chaos shapes the very world within the Tower, with each god vying for dominance over the other. Their eternal conflict ripples out in both subtle and profound ways; players, or the awakened, were the ones who are now these gods chess pieces in a never-ending game of cosmic chess. The fate of the Tower and all who dwell within it hangs in the balance as the players continue their own reason while they are being watched to justify the actions of their chosen player.

Because people were more interested in the storyline that a mortal created than in the story of the gods who created them, the players were bound by long strings that appeared to be unseen and somewhat free, but in reality, they were being manipulated to follow a path that those gods found interesting and entertaining. This dizzying sensation, which can lead the mind astray, has consumed mankind now that it is confronted with the reality of the modern world.

Despite the chaos, horror, and death the Tower offers, many players and non-players were observed expressing their confidence in these invisible, all-powerful entities. The ego of man was evidence of the unbreakable spirit of everyone who had ventured into the supernatural realm, lured by the prospect of strength, knowledge, or even a sight of the divine.

As the North Lazarus guild was about to march toward the transfer gate and finally emerge at the other side near the city of Lúthien, the swirling liquid-like portal shimmered in the dim, dark light; nobody could see what was on the other side. The magic tower mage was monitoring the transfer gate as it was gaining stability; the mage ordered the players to wait until they gave the signal that it was safe to walk in.

Given the possible risks that might be waiting for them on the other side, the participants were not adequately informed. Before entering the transfer gate, the players had to have faith in the mage's knowledge and direction. Since the gate on the opposite side will appear on the ground and be 50 meters from the specified place, the information provided to them was too complex to understand.

Many new guild players were confused that this particular magic wasn't openly available before; one Nother Lazarus guild even reacted that her sister, who was part of the East Lazarus guild, had to travel more than 2 weeks just to get to the location.

This reaction was causing a moment of hesitation among the guild players . Some whispered doubts and reluctance considering they were right and had the right to act this way; Sebastian heard them and gave them a logical answer.

"Fellow guild members, may I have your attention?"

"Many of you here are new awakened players. When you were interviewed and assessed by your seniors, the first question they asked you was, Have you ever played the virtual game called Arcane Crusade?'"

"Do you recall this?'

"If not, I will briefly explain this supernatural world you are all in. Saw a copy of that game. Our uncles, aunts, and parents played this game and even reached the higher floors. Your skills or powers came from the tower itself. It's based on your inner strength and determination. What we do inside the tower greatly affects the world we came from."

"If we don't answer the quest to hunt monsters and explore the different levels of the tower, our world will be in danger of being taken over by dark forces that will escape from this realm . It's up to us to save both worlds by mastering our skills and completing the challenges within this world."

"It's hard and confusing," I acknowledged, "But look at the person beside you. They were once carpenters, soldiers, police, engineers, ordinary and high-profile workers; they joined our guild to earn money to provide for their loved ones and to make sure the monster inside these towers won't come out to kill those who were powerless outside. Remember, we are all in this together, and our unity is our greatest strength. Let's fight bravely and protect our loved ones from the impending danger."

My voice grew with conviction as I continued. "Together, we can overcome any obstacle and emerge victorious in this battle against the dark forces threatening both worlds. Those who are scared, as this is their first real mission, hold your ground. Those beside you are your sister and your brother in arms. We will face this challenge as one."

"Remember, we are all in this together, and our unity is our greatest strength. Let's fight bravely and protect our loved ones from the impending danger."

"Together, we can overcome any obstacle and emerge victorious in this battle against the dark forces threatening both worlds."

"Those who are scared, as this is their first real mission , hold your ground; those beside you are your sister and your brother in arms.

The tower mage finally gave the signal; Sabastian ordered his guild force to prepare for battle as they would enter the lion's den head-on. Sabastian looked at Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria as she was standing afar with her guards protecting her; the transfer gate was created to only be an exit.

As soon as the fifty Northern Lazarus guild members emerged from the gate, they were met with a terrifying sight as countless monsters lay dead, and they saw a single being eliminating the monsters and somewhat absorbing the dead creatures after the smoke-like snake pierced the body and extracted the mana core and swallowed it whole; a five-foot-tall chimera saw it swallowed and vanished. The humanoid-looking being was covered with a smoke-like armor, but the hot embers swirled within its body; the thick black smoke was hot. One of Sebastian's players has the skill to identify and assess any being inside the tower. They were standing a few meters away, and it was standing near a huge tree and nonchalantly facing it back on the fifty players about ten meters from them andd was like taking itstime,e and it was looking in the direction of the city of Lúthien.

Suvari Mila was a level 25 Mage with a skill of assessment. Most of the 50 players who emerged from the transfer gate could see mana; the fact that none of them reacted to what they were seeing means a lot. Sebastian, Terrence, and Ezra could not even move their feet because of the immense pressure of the humanoid-looking being. The long, snake-like extensions coming from its body were strong enough to lift a multiple dead troll with a weight of roughly around 900 kilos and up with ease; the snake coiled around its body while it punctured its hard body like it was made out of clay.

Sweat fell from their faces as Suvari Mila could only say,

"That thing has no level, sir."

"What! Is it a player??"

"What I am seeing under its race is all question marks, sir."

The group stood frozen in fear, realizing they were completely outmatched by the mysterious creature before them. Suvari Mila's words echoed in their minds, confirming the terrifying truth of the situation they found themselves in.

"If that creature attacks us, we will be completely destroyed. We must notify the warriors from the city that will emerge from the transfer gate is Arockar. About what's in front of us,"

Suddenly, as soon as all of the dead monsters were gone, it just ran toward the city; the force it exerted was enough to push the group back, leaving them in shock and disbelief.