MMORPG: The Elementalist

More than a hundred Tier 5 and 6 Cyclops creatures were wiped out by four Divinity-fused players within two minutes. The cleansing process was shockingly efficient.

A moment ago, Snowmelt still thought of Fallen Angels as a bunch of newbies that simply had too much blind luck. To him, the newly-formed organization was, in reality, fragile since it was only maintained by some newly promoted paper tigers. At this very second, he came to realize he could not be more wrong.

In this fight, he witnessed the superb defense of the Terramancer who had three Legendary quality equipment. The only Warrior among the four Champions had also fought tremendously well. His whole body burned red as Subjugator rushed into the horde of Cyclops creatures like a ball of fire. The power shown by Subjugator would not lose to any Warrior Cla.s.s Field Commander from any League.

Needless to say, Qin Ruo also retained his usual composure and steady manipulation. He did not flinch and cast the multiple Frostburst precisely in place as if he was not facing Tier 4 Advanced Monsters but only a few low-tier Galewind Wolves from Kane Jungle.

“Total control of the situation,” Netherclaw"s near lamenting voice reached Snowmelt"s ears. The latter was emotionally shaken and looked at Netherclaw.

“This guy always manages to do something remarkable. Snowmelt, let"s get down there. Perhaps the grotto in Galbis" Lair will foster the fifth winged player in Fallen Angels.”

“…” Snowmelt narrowed his eyes listening to Netherclaw bold a.s.sumption and looked down worriedly. “Get down? Wouldn"t they be suspicious?”

“Whatever…” A cold glint flashed within Netherclaw"s eyes. “Fallen Angels already owns one-third of winged players of the entire Angel Faction. I cannot allow them to keep on expanding unchecked.”

Netherclaw descended slowly while peering at the winding trails not very far downwards. He continued to voice message Snowmelt while trying his best to contain his excitement. “We don"t need to interfere directly. We don"t even need to get close. We will only be around to farm some monsters and conveniently slow them down… That"s all.”

“How are we going to slow them down that way?” Snowmelt still did not understand.

“Galbis"s treasure should still be hidden inside a chest…” Netherclaw reminded and Snowmelt immediately realized his leader"s intention. He said eagerly, “You mean…!”

“Yes, aside from the four of them, they should have brought along a Bandit as well.” Netherclaw continued to peer down wickedly at the Cyclops monsters that had now squeezed into the winding trails leading down to the lair. He grinned and said, “It may be difficult to trouble those with wings, but a Bandit is always p.r.o.ne to danger in such a place.”

Snowmelt had now completely understood what Netherclaw was trying to do.

They only need to locate the grotto beforehand and camp on the top of Galbis" Lair. All they need to do was wait patiently until their victim, most probably the Fallen Angels Bandit known as Fateless, to show himself.

A Tier 5 AoE spell would be good enough to make the fragile Bandit visible to the horde of hungry Cyclops monsters.

To achieve this, they would need to be able to detect the presence of a Tier 5 Bandit that had mastered Elemental Camouflage, as well as a wide radar of Elemental Perception.

Coincidentally, Netherclaw could do just that with Snowmelt"s a.s.sistance.

Casting a Tier 5 AoE Spell from the peak of the Galbis" Lair without prior signs prevented them from being recorded by Qin Ruo and his company and they could also claim to be innocent since there would be no witnesses or evidence left behind.

“Brilliant!”

Snowmelt raised his thumb toward Netherclaw. They waited until Qin Ruo and three others marched all the way into the grotto, then sped up to approach the peak.

However, once they were within eighty meters of the peak, something unexpected happened.

After a blunt and sudden warning by the system, their Angelic Wings were forced back inside their body automatically despite them not being under attack.

“!”

Both of them were caught by surprise. Their bodies plunged down due to gravity and they were free falling toward Galbis" Lair.

After two seconds, Netherclaw"s and Snowmelt"s reactions kicked in.

Screech!

In the midst of an eagle"s scream, a majestic golden giant eagle appeared out of thin air right beside Netherclaw.

Both of the eagle"s claws clamped tight on Netherclaw"s shoulders and stopped his fall.

As compared to Netherclaw, Snowmelt was a little clumsier.

One after another Water Net quickly formed in midair under the plummeting Snowmelt.

Splas.h.!.+ Splas.h.!.+ Splas.h.!.+

The quick falling body broke the Water Net time and time again, while his momentum was weakened after each net. When the final net was opened up three meters above ground, Snowmelt had basically steadied himself. The only thing was that his falling posture was not as gracious since he got all wet breaking his fall through all that water—a stark contrast to Netherclaw who was placed down elegantly on his feet by the golden eagle.

But even after they had landed unharmed, both of them still could feel the terror in each other"s minds through their heavy breathing and stunned expression in their eyes.

‘Gravity Field!"

‘What kind of ability is this?"

(When up against non-winged Champions, Galbis"s Gravity Field would not be activated. There is also no way that a player can aggravate the Boss to use this ability without wings, thus it was not revealed before the emergence of Divinity and winged players, making Fallen Angels the only one that knows about this ability so far.)

At the side flank down Galbis" Lair, Qin Ruo who was controlling Lycan Barrage to a.s.sist Black Rock, Subjugator, and Apocalypse to advance past the monster"s defense line was apparently not very satisfied with the result.

‘Gravity Field is seemingly unable to cause serious damage to those veteran Tier 5 Champions like Netherclaw. Even Snowmelt survived it an unglamorous way."

‘But after that shock, they would most probably behave now and not do anything reckless."

Otherwise, the two of them would not be able to escape the Galbis" Lair peak. They were now trapped in Combat Status surrounded by many Cyclops creatures and could not escape through the sky due to the field"s effect.

At first, Qin Ruo was thinking of asking Black Rock to use the skill only after Netherclaw and Snowmelt did something fishy. This would give them a valid reason to retain Netherclaw and Snowmelt.

However, concerned about the current state of Angel Faction, as well as the warning issued by Violet Orchid before he came to the lair, he reluctantly opted against scamming the two Angel Faction “comrades”. He hoped the warning sign he left them was a clear enough reminder of their supposed stance.

Qin Ruo"s had hoped right.

After they were caught in surprise by Gravity Field, Netherclaw and Snowmelt grasped that Fallen Angels possessed a mysterious power beyond their understanding, which could strip a Champion"s flying ability. They no longer dared to try anything stupid and stayed put submissively after they learned their place. They “watched” helplessly with their Elemental Perception as Qin Ruo and his team marched into the grotto previously belonging to Galbis. They suppressed their desire to hinder the party, allowing Fateless to enter the grotto undisturbed and open the treasure chest.

The chest was unlocked.

Netherclaw looked grim from the start. Now he was plainly hideous. The glow coming from the chest displaying its contents were revealed before his envious eyes.

A faint milky-white hexagonal crystal laid at the top of the unlocked chest filled with gold and equipment. The item was exceptionally eye-catching!

The moment the chest was unlocked, the two Elementalist who guarded the grotto entrance against the Cyclops monsters let out a long sigh too.

‘His hunch was right!"

Divinity was indeed one of the many treasures collected by the Tier 4 Ultimate Boss, Galbis!

After losing his mind briefly due to the discovery, Fateless quickly calmed his excitement. There was still a fight ongoing outside the grotto while Qin Ruo was harvesting the herbs. He had to do his job and move everything out as quickly as possible.

He hastily acquired one after another rare item and stuffed them into his backpack.

In comparison to the collection of the Tier 6 Ultimate Boss Spectral Commander at Level 5 of Graveyard of the G.o.ds, Galbis" collection was very much different. Inside the chest were two Legendary equipment, one Divinity Crystal, a few Enchantment Gemstones, and several Magic Scrolls.

At the same time, Qin Ruo had deactivated his perception and squatted in a corner of the grotto. He moved his purplish glowing hand around to gather the herbs that were growing on the damp muddy wall.

Judging from the gathering time, Qin Ruo was quite certain that these four black herbs growing inside Galbis" Lair were probably at the same grade as the Grade 3 Nightstar found in the Snow Domain.

The magical potion created using Nightstar had granted Qi Ruo endless source of mana all this while. He pondered what kind of wonder the four black herbs would bring him this time.

‘Speaking of which…"

Qin Ruo suddenly remembered something.

‘What happened to the Grade 3 Star Diamond? No news from the little Gold Digger after she claimed it for examination. I will get this sort out as well after we return to the town."

The moment he gathered all four herbs, Fateless had also emptied the Galbis"s treasure chest. He stayed hidden at one corner and was obviously admiring something together with Permanent Lock, who was clearly a little unhappy for being late to the scene.

“Done?” Qin Ruo walked up to the grotto entrance and said, “Let"s get back if we are done here.”

“Wait,” Subjugator called upon Qin Ruo. “Can you come over and give me a hand? I will go ahead and have a few digs.”

“What?” Few of them were simultaneously baffled.

“At such a fertile place, I believe there will also be ores of the highest grade under where the herbs grow. I am talking about potential Grade 3 Ores. It will be wasteful to leave like this without trying.” While he spoke, Subjugator kept his weapon then drew out a black and heavy mining pickaxe from his backpack.

Qin Ruo took over Subjugator"s place in awe. He could sense that Subjugator had started to touch the grotto as if he was examining the geological structure of the cave. He could not help but say, “Subjugator, you"ve never mentioned you have mastered Mining. I find it hard to believe.”

“What gibberish. If I don"t know how to mine, why I am carrying a pickaxe with me?” Subjugator knocked on the wall while retorting, “So you are allowed to be a top-tier Gatherer but I can"t be an excellent Miner? I was once a poor kid relying on tough, physical labor too…” A different echo suddenly came back from the knock on his pick while he spoke.

“Hey! Found it!”

Subjugator let go the pickaxe and spat on his hands. He rubbed his hands eagerly, then gripped tight on the pickaxe once again, pulled it back, and raised it high skillfully.