Chapter 35: Chapter35-The Northern Meteor Disaster, A Side Quest
John stared at the dungeon entrance located inside the forbidden zone, his brows tightly furrowed.
He could not keep wasting time here. He had to find a way to lift the area restriction.
Under the current circumstances, his only option was to seek out the Lord of Axis City—Shyron.
Shyron was known as the strongest existence beneath the demigod level, a powerhouse whose strength stood at the very peak of the world.
However, his temperament was unpredictable, and he was by no means an easy person to deal with.
In John’s previous life, there had once been a player who said the wrong thing while speaking to him and was thrown into prison for several months.
And logically speaking, a powerful figure of Shyron’s level was not someone John currently had the qualifications to meet.
For an ordinary player to gain an audience with this city lord, they would have to satisfy at least one of three major conditions.
First, complete the main questline of the Lord’s Mansion.
Second, join a large guild and have the guild make an introduction.
Third, possess a special NPC token that might attract Shyron’s attention.
Right now, the only condition John met was the third.
The only token he possessed was the key to the Trial of the First Seat, which he had just obtained.
At this point, he could only take the gamble.
...
Axis City Lord’s Mansion.
Compared to the castle in Starter Village, this lord’s mansion was as towering as a mountain, grand and imposing.
On the high walls, many guards clad in silver armor patrolled back and forth.
Atop the mansion, the flag of Axis City fluttered in the wind.
Just standing beneath the Lord’s Mansion was enough to make one feel an overwhelming pressure, as though it were something to be feared and revered.
John did not rush inside. Instead, he took out the divine-grade item he had previously obtained—the God Mask—and put it on.
This mask could perfectly alter his appearance and bloodline.
John’s figure shifted, and soon, he transformed from his original handsome young appearance into a burly middle-aged man.
At this moment, not even the slightest resemblance to his original self could be seen.
In this unfamiliar world, caution would always be the first rule of survival.
After changing his form, John strode toward the Lord’s Mansion.
"Stop!"
A guard stared warily at the large man before him.
John glanced at him, flipped his palm, and handed the key to the Trial of the First Seat over to the guard.
In a deep and powerful voice, John said, "Inform City Lord Shyron immediately that I wish to see him. This matter concerns the Northern Sealed Zone. There must be no delay!"
As his words fell, the God Mask on his body emitted a faint trace of divine pressure.
In an instant, the guards at the gate felt chills run down their backs, cold sweat breaking out all over them.
"Yes. Please wait here for a moment."
Having been intimidated by John, the guard did not dare delay. He immediately took the key inside to report.
Before long, he came back out.
The guard respectfully returned the key to John. "The City Lord is already waiting for you in his study. I will lead the way."
John nodded. "Mm."
Under the guard’s guidance, he smoothly entered the Lord’s Mansion.
After passing through a long corridor and crossing a great hall, he finally arrived at the study.
"The City Lord is waiting for you inside."
John stepped forward, knocked lightly on the door, and slowly pushed it open.
The moment he entered, he saw a middle-aged man in luxurious robes, with a long beard, seated behind a desk. He seemed to be writing something.
Hearing the movement, the man stopped writing and looked toward John.
With a single glance, Shyron saw through the abnormality of John’s current appearance.
He smiled and said, "You’re wearing a mask that even I cannot see through, and you’re holding the key to the Witch Council’s Trial of the First Seat.
"You came here to ask me for passage rights into the Northern Sealed Zone, didn’t you?
"Adventurer, you have quite the nerve."
Hearing that the other party actually knew about the Trial of the First Seat, John was somewhat surprised.
It seemed this city lord was also an old monster who had lived for several hundred years. He was not simple at all.
However, even though he had been exposed, John did not panic much. Instead, he spoke bluntly.
"I ask the City Lord to take action and lift the passage restriction. I need to participate in the Trial of the First Seat."
Shyron’s gaze flickered. He did not ask how John knew about the Trial of the First Seat.
Someone who liked to hide his face like this would not tell the truth anyway.
He merely asked, "Do you know why the Northern Sealed Zone was locked down?"
John shook his head. He truly had never learned the details.
City Lord Shyron took a light sip of tea and said, "Three hundred years ago, a meteor fell in Uru Village to the north.
"At that time, no one paid much attention to it. We all thought it was simply an accidental disaster.
"But after the meteor landed, a strange phenomenon occurred. It began to grow like a plant.
"Large numbers of eerie vines sprouted from the meteor. In just a few short days, they spread outward.
"Every area infected by those vines became a place where no living creature could survive.
"We tried countless methods in an attempt to burn away and drive out the vines, but none of them worked.
"So, in order to prevent the vines from spreading across all of Axis City, I had no choice but to use a forbidden technique and seal off that entire region."
At this point, a bitter expression appeared on City Lord Shyron’s face.
"And it was precisely because I used that forbidden technique that my vitality suffered a severe blow. Even now, I remain stuck where I am, unable to break through to the demigod level."
The demigod level of these NPCs corresponded to Level 300 for players.
If he had once been able to attempt a breakthrough to the demigod level, then this city lord’s level was probably above 280.
After hearing the truth behind the Northern Exclusion Zone, John fell silent and said nothing.
Seeing this, Shyron continued, "Although the Witch Council gave you the key to the Trial of the First Seat, that only proves you are qualified to participate in the trial.
"But the Northern Exclusion Zone is my territory. Without my permission, you won’t even be able to get near the entrance."
Hearing his tone, John’s heart stirred.
He was planning to negotiate terms.
Calmly, John said, "So, if I want to enter, what condition do I need to fulfill?"
Shyron smiled. "Very simple. No matter what that meteor brought with it, solve the problem."
As his words fell, an ancient-looking badge landed in John’s palm.
[Northern Exclusion Zone Passage Badge]
[Effect]: The holder may use this badge to enter the Northern Exclusion Zone.
...
John looked at the badge, raised an eyebrow slightly, and asked, "You’re that certain I can help you deal with this trouble?"
Shyron said in a low voice, "The Northern Exclusion Zone has already been unstable recently.
"Even the people from the Witch Council cannot enter, and my own men from the Lord’s Mansion might not make it out alive if they went in.
"But you are different..."
His eyes burned brightly as he stared at John.
"Since you dared to come to me with the key to the Trial of the First Seat, that at least proves you have both the qualifications and the courage to become the one who scouts the path."
John pondered for a moment, then nodded and accepted the matter.
"Fine. I will do my best to help you resolve this."
In any case, he needed to enter the Northern Exclusion Zone. Along the way, he would inevitably come into contact with those vines.
Investigating them while he was at it would not be too much trouble.
[You have accepted the commission from Shyron, Lord of Axis City!]
[Shyron’s Commission]
[Quest Type]: Side Quest
[Quest Objective]: Investigate and resolve the meteor mutation.
...
After accepting the quest, John did not delay. He turned and left the Lord’s Mansion.
Watching John’s departing back, Shyron frowned tightly.
It seemed there was something making him deeply uneasy.
After thinking for a long time, he let out a soft sigh.
"As expected, an adventurer has appeared after all.
"Judging by the timing, it is roughly the same as what the prophecy stated.
"It seems the great fusion event mentioned in the prophecy is about to begin as well..."
