Chapter 82
Chapter 82
“General Zhou, why did you join the Dark Faction?”
Lu Pingyong looked at Zhou Ming. Beneath the astonishment in that gaze lurked the same greed filling the adventurers’ eyes.
In truth, the bounty did not apply only to adventurers. If a resident obtained the God-Demon Orb from Zhou Ming, it could also overturn that person’s destiny and carry them straight to the pinnacle of life.
Zhou Ming gave Lu Pingyong a cool glance. “There’s no need to concern yourself with such a crude attempt to sow discord.”
“…Of course, General. You’re absolutely right.” Lu Pingyong gave a dry laugh, the agreement thoroughly perfunctory.
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, ten o’clock arrived.
“Ding!”
[Launch your assault on Juyan City!]
[Note: You must attack in at least four separate waves, launched in sequence.]
“Soldiers!”
Zhou Ming activated Command, triggering all three effects. In a deep voice, he ordered, “Charge with me and capture Juyan City!”
“Kill!”
At his command, a massive wave of soldiers surged toward the city.
“Leave the city and stop them!” Eric also began issuing orders. There was no chance he would let the Light Faction carry the fighting all the way to the walls from the outset.
Clatter, clatter…
Juyan City’s gates opened. A vast tide of Skeleton Swordsmen poured out without fear and charged the human soldiers.
“Ding!”
[Attention! Elite soldiers led by the Level 30 Silver Boss Valiant Warrior · Huang Yang will launch the first attack wave!]
“Ding!”
[Attention! The Undead Assassin Corps led by the Level 30 Silver Boss Evil Assassin will form the first defensive wave!]
The horns of war sounded for both sides almost simultaneously.
For certain reasons, however, the attacking side was far more powerful than its opponent.
“Ding!”
[Zhouyou Shijie has activated the command skill Command. All allied units that obey his commands gain 20%-32.3% All Attributes. Zhouyou Shijie gains 36.7% All Attributes!]
“Ding!”
[Zhouyou Shijie has activated the command skill Warlord. All enemy units lose 10%-23.74% All Attributes!]
Zhou Ming activated both command skills at once, instantly turning what should have been an even clash into a crushing rout.
“Following Brother Zhou feels amazing!”
Tingfeng Xiyu was mixed into the crowd, grinning from ear to ear. Under Command’s enhancement, his strength had risen by far more than a single tier.
During the previous defense battle, he had quietly farmed monsters instead of joining the Gaibang Guild’s schemes. In the end, he had climbed into the top three. Perhaps he had another chance this time.
“High-rank command skills are exceedingly rare across all of Destiny Continent. Of course you somehow obtained two!” Eric’s voice was gloomy. The Archmage activated an A-Rank command skill as well, granting the undead another 20% Attack.
At the very front of the battlefield, Zhou Ming led by example. He raised a hand and unleashed his signature skill. The blazing sun sword crashed into the densest cluster of Undead Assassins, annihilating a huge group in an instant and leaving behind a scorching empty zone.
“Ding!”
[You have used Dawnbringer, dealing 108,230 Critical Damage to Undead Assassins. Suppression cannot be applied because the targets are dead. All enemy units within a 100 × 100-meter area around the impact point take 7,431-7,786 damage, with high chances to inflict Burning and Knockback!]
Waves of fire swept outward, shaving away a large portion of every Undead Assassin’s HP within one hundred meters.
Zhou Ming was very satisfied with the damage.
Thanks to the SSS-Rank Heavenbreaker, he could deal more than one hundred thousand damage without even charging the skill.
“What the hell!” Bawang could not help cursing. “Is this guy cheating? How is his damage so ridiculous?”
“Heh. What an amateur reaction!” Gaibang Laoda mocked. “Don’t tell me you only just found out.”
The Gaibang Guild had become the target of ridicule across the internet because Zhouyou Shijie was simply too strong. Only clueless spectators thought the guild had been laughably weak.
“Boss, what do we do now?” asked a Myth Guild member named Die Beneath the Peonies.
“Going after Zhouyou Shijie now would only make us stepping stones for someone else,” Bawang said, analyzing the situation. “We came to participate in the siege, so let’s earn points first!”
“Got it!”
“Ding!”
[You have killed an Undead Assassin. Infamy +1!]
“Ding!”
[You have killed an Undead Assassin. Infamy +1!]
The first wave was the easiest. It was essentially free rewards.
Because of the enormous level difference, Zhou Ming gained only 1 Infamy per kill, far less than the amount he had received for killing a Light Faction soldier.
Of course, he still knew what mattered most.
Capturing the city was the priority!
Otherwise, he would be left alone to face the armies of both factions at once, and sheer exhaustion would eventually bring him down.
“Ding!”
[Attention! The Skeleton Corps led by the Level 40 Silver Boss Skeleton Fire Mage will form the second defensive wave!]
Juyan City’s gates soon opened again. Large numbers of skeletons in red mage robes charged out and hurled dark fireballs at every enemy within their aggro range.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The second defensive wave was obviously much stronger. Many less capable players could not adjust to the sudden jump in difficulty and were instantly killed by several consecutive fireballs.
“Why did the defenders jump straight to Level 40?”
Many players struggled with the sharp increase in difficulty and were driven steadily backward.
Fortunately, with Command’s enhancement, the NPC soldiers from the first attack wave could still withstand the pressure.
“Fire-element mages?”
Instead of fearing them, Zhou Ming was delighted. He charged straight into their ranks and let the fireballs strike him.
MISS!
MISS!
A stream of immunity indicators rose above his head, filling the surrounding players with envy.
Zhou Ming cut down the fragile mages at high speed. Every time he unleashed Dawnbringer, his Infamy rose wildly.
“Human, your opponent is me!”
The second wave’s Boss, the Skeleton Fire Mage, appeared last. The moment it saw the enemy commander rampaging unchecked, it charged straight at Zhou Ming.
After landing several dozen MISS results in a row, it finally collapsed in satisfaction.
“Ding!”
[Congratulations! You have killed the Skeleton Fire Mage (Silver Boss). Bonus Points +500!]
Zhou Ming quickly gathered the dropped equipment, then glanced at the point rankings.
1. Zhouyou Shijie, Points: 11,236
2. Die Beneath the Peonies, Points: 521
3. Tingfeng Xiyu, Points: 491
He held an overwhelming lead!
No other player had any hope of catching up unless…
Zhou Ming fell here.
“Brothers, kill Zhouyou Shijie and claim the bounty!”
Seeing that the time had come, the leaders of the Gaibang Guild and Myth Guild, who had already agreed to cooperate, gave the order simultaneously.
“Ding!”
[Attention! The Knight Corps led by the Level 50 Gold Boss Evil Knight will form the third defensive wave!]
“Ding!”
[Attention! The Fearless Corps led by the Level 42 Silver Boss Warrior of Qingshui · Liu Dake will launch the second attack wave!]
At that exact moment, the attackers and defenders both entered a new and more intense stage of the battle. With the army already beneath the city, the next phase would be a brutal struggle for the walls.
“Kill!”
The players could no longer restrain themselves. They finally betrayed the attacking force and turned their hostility directly toward Zhou Ming.
Zhou Ming stood beneath the city gate with an indifferent expression, surrounded by piles of undead bones. He turned and saw a flood of players charging straight at him.
…