The bustling cities and quiet fortresses of Asgard fell into a restless commotion as the server-wide notification echoed across the realm:
"Main Story Event Triggered: Raid on Gjallar's Cradle! The secrets of Asgard will be revealed upon the success of this raid. Beware: all monsters in Asgard have received significant buffs."
[World Chat]:
[FrostFang]: Who the heck triggered a main story raid?! Who even IS this Velkharion?
[Nightshade]: Bet it's some overleveled cash player trying to flex. Doesn't even sound like someone worth knowing.
[IronAsh]: Great, thanks to this genius, now we've got to deal with buffed mobs. Guess who's skipping today's grind? Me.
[AzureBlitz]: Wait, has anyone even seen this guy? Why have I never heard of Velkharion before?"
While Asgard's adventurers bickered, the supposed "cause" of their trouble—Velkharion—stood at the edge of the run-down shop he had just left, his gaze fixed on the glowing timer of his new quest.
Time Remaining: 25:00:00.
He sighed heavily, shaking his head as a bitter laugh escaped his lips. "No pressure, huh?" he muttered. "Couldn't they at least let me accept the quest before throwing a countdown in my face?"
Despite the crushing level requirement of 50—and his current level of 41—Velkharion wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away. The benefits of victory were too significant to ignore. The blessings, the new subclasses, and the temporary growth of his other classes would all become permanent if he succeeded. And if he failed? Well, he'd climb back up.
Velkharion returned to Celestra, swiftly heading to one of the city's many armories. He opened his inventory, reviewing his best equipment, potions, and crafted items. Using the Data Crystals, he had made a couple items ensuring that every piece of gear was optimized for the coming raid.
Equipped Armor and Items:
Verdant Crownplate (Legendary Tier): Amplifies nature magic and physical defense.
Runed Frost Gauntlet: Grants frost resistance and boosts critical hit chance.
Emberwoven Greaves: Increases mobility in harsh terrain.
Verdant Song Pendant: Enhances magic effectiveness and provides resistance to debuffs.
Crimson Fang (Enhanced): His trusted greatsword, now engraved with runes to increase attack power and imbue it with elemental damage.
Satisfied, Velkharion opened his spellbook and reviewed his new abilities, ensuring he fully understood how to wield the rune-based magic of his Rune Master class and the healing potential of his Ethereal Healer subclass.
"Alright," he muttered, flexing his gauntlet-clad hand. "If I'm doing this, I'm doing it right."
Velkharion raised his hand, his fingers tracing glowing runes in the air as he invoked: "Teleportation Rune: Gjallar's Cradle". The runic sigils spun faster, coalescing into a shimmering portal. The rush of magic tugged at him as he stepped through, the air around him warping as his surroundings changed.
He arrived at the edge of Gjallar's Cradle, and his breath caught for a moment. The dungeon was a sprawling, open-air ruin, its once-mighty walls now frosted over and buried beneath layers of ice and snow. Jagged peaks loomed in the distance, and scattered across the landscape were Frost Giants, their massive silhouettes moving ominously against the pale light of the sky.
A suffocating aura blanketed the area, one designed to cripple any adventurer who dared to enter. Without the Blessing of Fortitude* from Ingrid and Elira, Velkharion could see his HUD already flickering, warning of a negative stat debuff he should have been afflicted by.
"Good thing they didn't send me in empty-handed," he muttered, gripping Crimson Fang tightly.
As Velkharion stepped deeper into the icy wasteland, the air around him seemed to hum with energy. His HUD flashed, signaling another server-wide notification:
"The Raid on Gjallar's Cradle has begun! Adventurers who contribute to the raid may uncover the long-lost secrets of Asgard."
Velkharion groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh, fantastic. Another announcement I can't mute." He sighed, glancing upward as if pleading to the game's developers. "Can I just catch a break? I just escaped fame by changing my name, and now this."
His complaints were quickly silenced by the ground trembling beneath his feet. A shadow loomed over him, and Velkharion looked up to see a Frost Giant Vanguard, its icy axe glinting as it swung down toward him.
Velkharion sidestepped the massive strike, the ground shattering where the axe hit. He raised his hand, chanting quickly. "Second Tier Rune Magic: Glacial Bind!" Runes flared into existence beneath the giant's feet, freezing its legs in place and halting its movements.
He leapt forward, Crimson Fang cleaving into the giant's armor with a powerful strike. "Martial Skill: Crimson Tempest!" he roared, the blade igniting with swirling flames as it tore through the giant's frosted hide.
Damage Dealt: 180 Physical ATK + 120 Magic ATK (fire).
The Frost Giant retaliated, breaking free of the ice and swinging wildly. Velkharion activated Runic Dash, a mobility skill from his Rune Master class, allowing him to weave around the blows and counter with rapid strikes.
"Fifth Tier Magic: Bloomstorm of Verdant Sovereignty!" he chanted, summoning cascading waves of nature energy that battered the giant and healed his minor wounds.
Damage Dealt with Bloomstorm of Verdant Sovereignty: 200 Magic ATK.
Healing Effect: Restored 15% HP.
The Frost Giant Vanguard fell to its knees, its massive form crumbling into ice and ash. Velkharion stood over the remains, breathing heavily but resolute. His HUD updated, showing his XP bar surging upward.
Despite his victory, he knew this was just the beginning. The giants patrolling the ruins were only the first line of defense. Beyond them lay the heart of Gjallar's Cradle—and the Frost Giant Commander who guarded Odin's spear.
"Twenty-five hours," Velkharion muttered, his gaze fixed on the sprawling ruins ahead. "Leveling up while challenging this place… Guess there's no turning back now."
Join my Patreon to support my work and read chapter in advance patreon.com/Writing_when_bored