Chapter 205: Counting the Spoils
A few hours later, as tiny particles of light gathered, the three of them resurrected simultaneously in Northwind Fortress.
This ancient teleportation array was heavily guarded, with Medrolash assigning the most elite and reliable Tiefling soldiers to defend it. They were well aware of the mysterious nature of these "Fallen Stars" and were unfazed by their "resurrections." As long as players didn't violate regulations, these soldiers acted as if they didn't see anything.
Mantou and Singo, as experienced "public servants," were even familiar with the soldiers guarding the resurrection point.
"Yo, Kairon, you're on duty today, huh?"
The Tiefling guard referred to as "Kairon" nodded politely in response.
"Not bad. Today's another normal day. No weird or bizarre Fallen Stars."
Kairon silently sighed to himself.
He was rather relieved to encounter normal players. You could never predict what you'd see here—last time, a player emerged from the array completely naked in broad daylight, shamelessly exposing their body, which to Tiefling eyes was devoid of any "holy light." It was utterly disgraceful!
Every time he recalled that scene, the hand gripping his spear trembled slightly.
If not for the regulations, he would have liked nothing better than to stab that indecent wretch to death on the spot.
Yet again, light particles gathered in the array, forming an unconstrained and unapologetic naked body in mid-air. It embodied humanity's primal pursuit of freedom, causing the Tiefling guard's expression to twist into one of rage and disgust.
This player's familiar ID still read [Wings of Freedom], a figure widely regarded by beta testers as "Holy Light Bro."
Due to the unique traits of the Druid's Wild Shape, Holy Light Bro often charged frontline battlefields as a giant bear. To him, death was a common occurrence, which had inadvertently led him to become acquainted with the stationed guards.
"I heard the NPCs here are highly intelligent. Maybe building good relations with them could be beneficial."
He thought this to himself.
Thus, Holy Light Bro, stark naked, cheerfully waved at the guard in a "friendly" manner.
"Yo, it's you again. Long time no see."
A shadow immediately darkened Kairon's face as he clenched his teeth. To him, this was a blatant provocation—in the most literal sense.
"Stay calm. Do not give in to the urge to stab him."
"But this Fallen Star really deserves to die—"
Staring at the bewildered and head-scratching Holy Light Bro in the distance, the Tiefling guard's hand trembled as he gripped his spear, thinking this.
Meanwhile, Mantou and the others had already hurried back to their temporary base, eager to sort through the spoils of this venture.
Due to death penalties, Mantou, who had accumulated less experience beforehand, dropped directly to level three, while Singo and Born Battle Maniac barely maintained level four.
However, such penalties meant little to them.
After all, as professional players capable of participating in high-level battles, they were a cut above the average casual players.
At the moment, Mantou's inventory was brimming with precious white dragon scales. His stats now displayed the [Thin Ancestral Dragon Bloodline] trait, significantly boosting his base attributes and granting him an unprecedented [Transform into Dragon] ability.
He had even received rewards from a hidden quest.
Hidden Quest: [Explore the Polar Night Demon Tower]
Investigate the truth behind the Polar Night Demon Tower (1/1)
This tower, located deep within the Kolka Mountainss, was one of the terrifying legends of the North. Many adventurers sought its treasures, only to become fodder for the monsters within. Some were even transformed into half-human, half-dragon creatures, roaming the tower and wailing in despair.
Reward: 1000 XP
Passive Trait: [Black Tower Explorer]
Skill Proficiency Bonus: Insight +1, Investigation +1, Perception +1
Mantou was overjoyed, his face glowing with the delight of a bountiful harvest.
"Damn, we hit the jackpot this time!"
Born Battle Maniac polished his shiny bald head. "Heh, this trip was worth dying for, especially for Mantou, who made out like a bandit."
Singo suddenly remarked, "Hasn't it been a while since you last updated your video?"
"Huh, updated?"
"I'd forgotten all about it until you mentioned it. I've been so caught up in gaming. I think my last update was a month ago?"
Mantou smacked his forehead and chuckled sheepishly.
He could already imagine the barrage of comments demanding he be "locked in a dark room" or threatening to "send him razor blades," making cold sweat break out on his forehead.
What was so wrong about it?
He was just a content creator who wanted to game freely!
Singo patted him on the shoulder and said in a calm tone, "This dungeon run would make great material, wouldn't it? You could also show off your new abilities."
Mantou asked in surprise, "Right now? Aren't you planning to hog the dungeon resources for yourself?"
Singo laughed helplessly. "I'm not that delusional. The difficulty of this dungeon is way beyond what we can handle alone. You've got to realize how ridiculously smart the NPCs in this game are—practically as intelligent as real people. This time we got lucky, but next time, if that mage gets serious with high-level spells, we're done for."
"Alright, I'll edit it tonight."
Mantou scratched his head, speaking casually.
Yet he noticed Singo's hand remained on his shoulder, pressing harder and harder, to the point of pain.
Singo said in a low voice, "Do you remember those fifteen gold coins?"
"Damn, not the face!"
"Fine, I'll pay you back!"
After going bankrupt to repay his debt and tearfully pawning off all his dragon scales to Singo, Mantou finally escaped his clutches and stayed up all night editing the video.
At three in the morning, he uploaded the new video, crafting an eye-catching title.
Mysterious Howls from the Black Tower: Who's Behind Them? A Sorcerer Transforms His Daughter—Twisted Humanity or Moral Decay? Find Out in "Erezaghe Log Episode 8: Exploring the Polar Night Demon Tower"
Mantou's previous videos had garnered a lot of traffic. Besides his loyal fans, nearly 100,000 players interested in the game had subscribed. Even though he hadn't updated in a while, the new video immediately attracted attention from fans and curious newcomers drawn by the shocking headline.
"The true return of a missing person!"
"Mantou's finally back from the dead?"
"It's been a month! Do you have any idea how hard it's been waiting for this?"
"Let me clarify: Mantou isn't dead. I just locked him in a dark room and thoroughly tormented him. Only now, after having my fill, have I let him out. Spread the word."
"Hahaha, the comment above is hilariously twisted."
"Mantou is dead. Burn paper offerings for him if you need anything. Summon his spirit for small issues. Dig up his grave for big ones. If you see him again, it's just a ghost."
Mantou's cheeky face reappeared on screen.
"Welcome to the long-awaited Episode 8 of the "Erezaghe Log". I'm Mantou."