POV ???:
A player in a wooden mask was slowly chiselling a large block of stone under the torch's flickering light. Above his head was floating a nametag: StinkyPants.
Suddenly a loud booming voice interrupted him, echoing between the dark walls of their hideout, "My minions, I am bringing a new message from the one and only dragon god!"
Immediately chaos erupted in the dark underground base, figures in black running towards the exit, dropping their tasks, rushing like ants towards a sugar. Their faces were all hidden under their dragon-shaped masks.
Pants also stood up, running behind the crowd of masked figures, following the sound of boots stepping on the stone floor.
'If it is important, I need to find out and report it!'
He finally exited the black cave, his path blocked by the small crowd of players. There weren't many of them, but it was enough to block the narrow passage from the hideout. Immediately blinding daylight entered his eyes used to the dim light, temporary blinding him.
The large clouds of smoke were spreading through the forest, hiding the large wyrm in them.
The familiar cold voice spoke once again, the clouds of smoke moving with each syllable, "I was gone for a long time, but I have returned with new powers and a new message from the god."
All of the masked figures immediately started loud bickering.
"Is this start of a new quest?"
"Dang, this sounds like something big!"
'New powers? Maybe another buff to the wyrm? That could mean the developers are buffing them to potentially have a bigger role. I should definitely report this.'
The aura erupted once again, the players quieting down and hunching as if someone placed heavy bags on their backs, "Quiet down, minions! The god of dragons is the greatest of all gods, and I obtained his divine order to establish Dragon Cult to worship him and the greatness of dragons."
The aura radiating out of the elder wyrm changed, carrying a divine feeling of sanctity, greed and pride of dragons.
"So I shall name new priests to spread the glory of dragons and the dragon god."
The whole masked crowd immediately erupted in cheers.
"Glory to dragons!"
"Everything will kneel before the strength of the dragon god and their servants!"
"Finally, some healers!"
Most players cheered for incoming benefits, but few realised what such statement truly symbolised. It was the rise of a new church, bringing a new set of miracle powers into the game, possibly changing its balance.
It was no secret that every god gave unique power to their priests, so a new church meant lots of new unexplored miracles.
The wyrm continued ignoring the bickering players, their loud voice easily supressing all of the talks, "There is no need for long sermons and piles of paper known as holy books! We will spread the glory of dragons and our god through force and power! We will build temples and brink believers, not through charity or long boring sermons. We will convert them through our force and give them the security and stability that only dragons can bring! We will create a small place of order within this chaotic world!"
The cheers became even louder, all of the players waving their weapons in the air in a frenzy. Few players that knew the significance of these words immediately turned serious, realising that this would potentially bring a huge impact on the game.
Pants was one of them, 'Damn, everyone was always reluctant to become a priest, with all of the boring preaching, sermons and memorizing scriptures. But if this church does not require any of this, then the number of priests will potentially increase. It also feels like there would be no strict overseeing of church authorities, giving these new priests much more freedom than those from other churches.'
Pants secretly smiled under his mask, excitement flowing out of his heart, 'This can be a way to help us with our migration. If the leaders learn about this, the promotion will be mine!'
Not wanting to risk someone stealing his glory, he immediately sent a private message, ''I found a new faction with a large potential. This can be our entry point into this game, allowing us to catch up with already established guilds! There are confirmed unique, high-quality resources, lots of freedom and accessible path of faith.''
It was hard for any guild that wanted to join an already established game, as there was already lots of large guilds having a large influence within all of the important factions, complicating the advance of newcomers.
Suddenly the aura radiating out of the wyrm changed, growing in intensity. All of the players immediately calmed down, Pants and other feeling like looking into the sun.
"We have one small problem. There are spies between us."
'Does he know about me?' Pants felt his heart beat faster and louder, sweat running down his skin.
The wyrm moved to turn his long neck, with smoke around his head moving out of the way, the two reptilian eyes looking straight at Pants, his body shivering under the piercing gaze.
'How can he know? It is supposed to be a realistic game, so there is no way for NCPs to have some impossible to obtain information.'
The wyrm turned his head away and continued their speech, "For these of you that were unproven before the expedition, you officially proved yourself and can gain higher ranks, getting stone masks!"
'Was it just coincidence? It isn't like I am giving information to the enemies...'
"These of you that wish to become priests of the great dragon god, step forward!"
The crowd immediately rustled with five figures covered in black mantles pushing through it, trying to reach the front!
Pants looked at his robe, 'I can try. Maybe I will get an opportunity to clarify this situation.'
Pants walked through the crowd, pushing forwards, his robe fluttering in the draft as he walked forwards, his eyes on the clouds of dark smoke crackling with electricity. Sweat was running down his temple under his mask from the nervosity, knowing that this situation could very quickly turn bad for him.
Suddenly a voice sounded in his head, ''I guess it is the same faction you mentioned before. If it is truth that they can give access to the faith, then it is our path to enter this game! The faction may be weak for now, but that may as well be good as we will easily obtain lots of influence within it. And if its growth speed is as you described, it is only a matter of time before it turns into a regional power. Make all necessary arrangements until we arrive! ''
Pants gulped down, feeling the pressure on his shoulder grow, as his guild just put lots of responsibility on his shoulders, with him being already possibly compromised, potential souring relationship with the wyrm.
He finally reached the front, feeling the immense heat radiating out of the wyrm and the pulsing magical energy crawling all over his body.
Pants gulped down, suppressing his nervousness about potentially complicating the situation for his guild, and spoke, "You draconic Highness, there are some matters that I need to speak about in private!"
Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnovel(.)com