Chapter 261 Chapter260-Traces of the New Devil
Two days had swiftly passed.
The abrupt version update of the Godslayer game finally came to an end in the early hours of the third day.
The players who had been eagerly waiting didn't hesitate to lie down in their Game Chambers and establish spiritual connections the moment the update was concluded. John was no different.
"Welcome back to the world of Godslayer…"
Before, hearing the mechanical voice of the system never elicited any feelings in John.
Nearly every game system voice was like this, mechanical, straightforward, devoid of any emotion.
However, this time around, upon hearing this phrase that would ring out each time before entering the game, an unexplainable urge to converse with the system sprang up in John's heart.
Being someone who acted upon his impulses, he promptly asked, "System, do you possess independent thinking and intelligence?"
Unfortunately, John's inquiry remained unanswered. Or perhaps, the system disdainfully refrained from interacting with any player.
With a blink of an eye, he found himself on the streets of Nordmyst, the capital of Northern Myst Empire.
The streets were bustling with people, albeit mostly NPCs, and not many players were seen around.
Given the current levels of the players, most were situated in the main towns of the northern border, a fair distance away from the capital, Nordmyst.
In truth, this area offered more quests and opportunities.
Sadly, the players were too low-leveled to engage with most of them.
John initially intended to find the arena to explore the newly launched features.
However, the Communication Stone given to him by Duke Dinan suddenly lit up in his backpack.
It was a message from Duke Dinan himself.
A sense of urgency surged within John as he swiftly opened the Communication Stone.
Duke Dinan's voice emanated from the magic stone, a tone laden with urgency and anticipation resonated, "Galewind, we have discovered new traces of the Devil here! Are you near Nordmyst? We need your assistance in preparing for the Devil's hunt."
John was slightly taken aback, not expecting new traces of the Devil to be discovered so quickly.
Without hesitation, he responded immediately, "Yes, Duke Dinan, I am nearby Nordmyst. Please let me know your current location and I will rush over immediately."
"We are currently in the palace where we met before. You can come directly here. If you wish, you can bring along the two companions you had before. However, I would advise coming alone; your companions are somewhat weak, and if a battle against the Devil ensues, they might become the weak link in the team," Duke Dinan said gravely, not mincing his words.
John shook his head with a wry smile.
Checking his communication panel, he noticed that the icons for Adam and Blue Sea were gray, indicating that they were not online at the moment.
Perhaps it was for the best, thereby avoiding the scenario Duke Dinan mentioned.
Opening his map, John swiftly headed towards the predetermined meeting point.
He moved through the bustling city center and jogged past elegant streets, occasionally spotting other players either engaged in side quests or shopping for equipment and items in stores.
Upon reaching the familiar palace, flanked by two gargantuan dragon sculptures, he identified himself to the guards at the entrance and followed them inside.
He found himself in the familiar strategy room once again.
Apart from John, Adam, and Blue Sea, all other team members were present.
Duke Dinan sat at the head of the room, prepared to lead this unexpected Devil-hunting battle.
As John entered, Duke Dinan forewent any pleasantries, standing up immediately with a serious expression.
He addressed the crowd, "Deep within the northern Mystic Forest lies a massive structure known as the 'Soulstone Temple.' Legends say a powerful Devil is sealed within, but until now we regarded those as local myths. However, the intelligence we have now suggests that some mysterious entity seems to have descended within the temple..."
"Several villages surround Soulstone Temple, and all lives there were slaughtered overnight. Their souls seem to have been sucked out by something, leaving behind only desiccated corpses. Our scouts have sensed abyssal dark forces nearby. The church had established seals around the Soulstone Temple, but now those seals appear to be fading. If this is indeed related to the Devil, we must hurry to stop it."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions immediately turned solemn.
Duke Dinan continued, "According to the intelligence, the Devil's power will gradually increase during the unsealing process. We need to eliminate it before it fully awakens; otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable."
John and the others nodded earnestly, indicating their understanding.
They all knew that if the Devil were to awaken, it would bring catastrophe upon the entire Godslayer world.
Duke Dinan then turned his gaze towards John, speaking seriously, "Galewind, you have displayed remarkable courage and strength in your previous encounters with other Devils. We are hopeful that you will continue to leverage your strengths. However, remember that you are part of a team, always consider your teammates in your actions. I want you to bear in mind your own abilities and limitations, and avoid taking unnecessary risks."
John nodded solemnly, signifying that he would act prudently and refrain from reckless adventures.
Looking at everyone sternly, Duke Dinan emphasized, "We cannot afford any slack in this battle. A single mistake could bring about a catastrophic outcome. Hence, we must fully prepare before we set off."
Following this, Duke Dinan started allocating quests and detailing the preparatory tasks.
Firstly, he mentioned that he had already dispatched a squad deep into the Mystic Forest for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
Composed entirely of individuals proficient in scouting and stealth operations, their quest was to ascertain the exact location of the Soulstone Temple and the status of the Devil's seal.
Simultaneously, Duke Dinan instructed all members of the Devil Hunting Elite Team to promptly equip themselves and prepare magical potions.
Facing the Devil would be a strenuous battle, necessitating ample preparations to increase the odds of success.
Being an experienced gamer, John naturally understood the critical importance of preparation.
To face the imminent battle against the Devil, he decided to reorganize his equipment and potions.
He began by inspecting his gear; in reality, there wasn't much that needed preparation.
The Divine Palace's augmented attributes, coupled with his mask and cape, were sufficient to face any adversary.
Next, John reviewed his combat items.
His backpack was filled with various magical potions and restorative liquids, neatly sorted despite never having been used before, ensuring that they would be readily accessible at any given time.
He also found a vial of a special critical hit potion, a rare item he had obtained in a previous side-quest.
This potion could substantially increase his critical hit rate and attack power during battles, making it an extremely useful item in the Devil hunting mission.
The preparations went exceedingly well, and John looked at the neatly arranged equipment and potions in his backpack with burgeoning confidence.
In his heart, a fervent desire to battle the Devil was gradually stirring.
Ordinary enemies could no longer pique John's interest; only a powerful adversary like the Devil could ignite his combat desire...
Soon after, the other squad members in the palace were also ready.
Duke Dinan stood at the head of the war room once again, looking at everyone with a serious expression, he stated, "Time is of the essence, we can delay no longer. Squads, move out immediately and accomplish your individual quests. Remember, hunting the Devil is a team effort, avoid going solo at all costs!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, with John gazing at Duke Dinan and nodding firmly as well.
Led by John, the squad members set out.
They traversed the streets of Nordmyst, crossed the northern borders, and ventured deep into the Mystic Forest.
As they proceeded, the scenery became increasingly desolate; villages lay burnt to the ground, forests gloomy and devoid of light, with a stifling darkness pervading the atmosphere.
Maintaining a stealthy posture, the squad carefully observed their surroundings all the way.
Although they encountered no enemies, the latent threat hidden in the silence kept everyone on their toes.
The road became narrower and the environment more oppressive and chilly with each step.
John felt an intense sense of suppression, as if being bound by an invisible force.
Clearly, the other members sensed this oppressive atmosphere as well; they gritted their teeth, not letting any noise from their surroundings go unnoticed, enhancing their alertness, and a force field of vigilance enveloped them.
Delving further, the squad began to encounter monsters that had clearly been corroded by dark energy, becoming extraordinarily fierce and dangerous.
However, this Devil-hunting squad was comprised of the continent's elite forces, who wouldn't be easily restrained by these creatures.
John didn't even need to lift a finger as the other squad members rapidly deployed their combat skills, annihilating the monsters one after another.
Finally, after advancing for a period, they witnessed a colossal structure rising before them — the legendary Soulstone Temple.
The Soulstone Temple stood majestic and awe-inspiring, emitting a mysterious and oppressive energy.
The walls were inlaid with massive stones, each emitting a bizarre light as if souls were struggling painfully within them.
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