Zich stared at the emergency notice, his eyes narrowing as the same message appeared across the entire human zone.
For a brief moment, everyone froze. Players who had been fighting stopped mid motion, those hiding in bushes crawled out with pale faces, and groups that had been arguing over points fell silent as the aura pressed down on their bodies.
"What the hell was that?"
"An emergency notice?"
"The event was terminated?"
"Fuck, all my points!"
Another roar echoed from the distance.
ROOOOAR!
Several players flinched at once, and a single shout broke the tension.
"Run!"
The eastern plane fell into panic.
Players rushed toward the shelter from every direction. Some dropped their loot to move faster, while others dragged injured teammates along. A few kept looking back, their legs shaking so badly they nearly tripped.
"I don't care about points anymore!" one player shouted. "Go back to the shelter!"
"Move! Move!"
"Don't block the path!"
Dust rose from the ground as dozens fled at once. The weaker ones ran first, but even the stronger players showed no sign of calm. No one knew what had made that sound, yet the aura alone told them everything they needed to know.
It was not something they could fight.
On another side of the plain, Helen stood still as players rushed past her with fear on their faces. One nearly collided with her before quickly stepping aside after recognizing her.
Unlike the others, she did not run.
Her eyes remained fixed on the direction of the roar, one hand resting near her weapon as her breathing slowed instead of quickening.
'What kind of monster can make them end the event?'
The thought made her fingers twitch.
'It's dangerous. Very dangerous. But if the event ended, the shelter will be crowded. No one will know what is happening until it's over.'
'If I see it first, I'll understand the gap.'
Behind her, Jayden arrived with quick steps, his expression changing the moment he saw where she was looking.
"Helen."
She gave no response.
His jaw tightened. "Don't tell me you're thinking about going there."
Helen finally glanced at him. "I'm only looking."
"You never only look."
A faint smile formed on her lips.
Before he could stop her, she had already turned and started running toward the direction of the roar.
"Helen!"
Jayden cursed under his breath and chased after her.
Nearby players watched the two and froze.
"Are they crazy?"
"They're going toward it?"
Far from them, Zich was also heading in the same direction.
His steps were quick but controlled, his eyes scanning the trees, the ground, and the space ahead as the aura grew stronger with every step, making his skin prickle.
He moved between the trees with his body low, choosing not to summon his pets yet. If the creature was strong enough to scare the entire system, sending them out carelessly would only drain his mana.
Another tremor shook the ground.
Zich stopped behind a large rock and looked ahead.
A blue flash exploded in the distance, lighting up the entire area for a brief moment.
He raised his arm to shield his eyes.
The light faded just as quickly, leaving behind heat and a strange burning smell. Blinking several times, he tried to clear his vision.
Through the broken trees ahead, something massive moved.
Its body was huge, though not fully visible. Blue flames covered parts of it, burning along exposed bones and leaking from its mouth. A long neck rose above the trees for a second before lowering again.
ROOOOAR!
The sound struck like a physical force.
Zich's heart jumped. 'Was that… a dragon?'
Lowering himself further, his fingers tightened around his sword.
The creature moved again, releasing another wave of blue fire that swallowed several trees. Instead of turning to ash instantly, they cracked and blackened slowly under the flames.
Zich's eyes sharpened when he saw this.
Before he could move closer, a strong gust of wind swept through the area, scattering leaves in every direction as several figures landed on a nearby ridge almost at the same time.
These were not like the players from the event. Their gear was cleaner, stronger, and more refined. Some wore fitted combat armor, while others carried weapons that emitted faint mana light. Even their posture felt different.
One man at the front held a long spear, his eyes narrowed as he looked down at the burning area. Beside him stood another carrying a large shield, while a woman behind them raised her hand and formed a small barrier against the heat.
More arrived shortly after, moving quickly through the trees.
Zich's gaze moved from one to another, noticing the peculiar symbol on their chests.
'Player Association.'
The Player Association handled public safety, monster control, and player related incidents. For them to arrive this quickly raised Zich's expectations.
The spear user, whom Zich recognized from somewhere, stepped forward, his expression tense.
"Cole," the shield user muttered, "is that what I think it is?"
The man called Cole remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the massive creature beyond the flames. For the first time, a hint of shock appeared in his expression.
"An undead dragon," he said quietly under his breath. "A level 60 boss in a Layer One beginner zone."
The others stiffened, their faces turning pale.
"Level 60?"
"How did something like that appear here?"
"This area shouldn't have anything above beginner threat level."
Cole tightened his grip on the spear. "Get the shelter barrier ready. If it moves toward the players, we intercept."
Standing not too far away, Zich heard the words and his breathing quickened.
A level 60 undead dragon boss.
His heart began to beat faster, not from fear, but from excitement.
His gaze stayed fixed on the blue flames as the creature raised its head again, bones shifting along its neck while fire leaked from its jaws.
Zich's fingers slowly curled.
'If I get that soul orb and fuse…'
The thought alone sent heat through his chest. He swallowed once, the greed in his eyes growing stronger.