Chapter 29.1
Chapter 29.1
The other players didn’t know. They didn’t know why, after a year, the main quest had finally triggered, and why it was related to the Serpent’s Lair. They didn’t know why it was designed to force the ranked players to confront the Lair’s master.
Escape’s main quests always provided a strong clue about the next district, a new land, a new frontier for humanity. For a whole year, countless players had raided the labyrinth surrounding District 9, but they hadn’t found a single hint about District 8. As Eric spoke, Adeline recalled a particular passage, a description of the immense lake within the Serpent’s Lair in Escape.
“…Leaving?”
“Yes. There are plenty of places to go. As you know, even this lake…”
If her interpretation was correct, then District 12’s role, what the Serpientes were guarding…
“It connects to the World Sea, doesn’t it?”
Midgard, the central kingdom spanning District 4 through 8. 12’s cold gaze narrowed, fixated on her as if jolted awake from a sweet daydream. At that moment, an enormous scythe plummeted toward them.
Skill: Skeleton Giant Summon (Level 5) activated.
A deep groan echoed as shattered bone fragments reversed time, reassembling in mid-air to form a skeletal reaper that swung its massive scythe. The scythe’s target: the throne.
Skill: Reaper’s Scythe (Level 3) activated.
Clang! With a harsh, metallic screech, the Skeleton Giant’s scythe was deflected. Adeline, wielding a scythe equally immense, stared into the crimson glow of the reaper’s eyes now inches from her face. The wildly oscillating pupils locked onto Adeline. Gazing into those vast, black sockets, Adeline slowly adjusted her grip.
“The real reason necromancers are difficult opponents is probably…”
Bent at the waist, the skeletal face loomed over Adeline, its jaw unhinging in a silent scream.
“[Memento mori! Memento mori! Memento mori!]”
“Because the dead don’t stay dead.”
As the disarmed reaper reached for her with bony fingers, Adeline kicked off the ground. Like the Red Sea parting, everything in her path was cleaved—Serpientes, skeletal armor, the reeking bodies of ghouls, even formless shadows. No one in the hall fully registered her movement.
“In other words, if you capture the living, the fight is over.”
Thud. When she reappeared, Adeline stood across the vast hall, directly in front of Shade.
“I’m not sure if I mentioned it, but I’m quite fond of chess.”
Eric and Gato, flanking Shade, froze, their gazes fixed on her. Adeline met Shade’s burning stare without flinching.
“It’s a game that ends when you capture the king.”
Ding.
System: You have a gift in your inbox (1).
Would you like to check it now? Yes (Y) / No (N)
The system message flashed across her vision, jarringly out of place. Adeline’s brow furrowed. A gift? Now? She meant to select ‘No (N),’ but a thought struck her: if they were being watched, every detail of this encounter was under scrutiny. As if compelled, she moved her hand to ‘Yes (Y).’ The emotionless chime sounded again, followed by another message.
Gift received: Item – Curse of the Forbidden Fruit (2) from godhand. Item automatically equipped.
“Chess? I suppose NPCs have preferences now.”
Shade’s sneer came before she could process the ominous implications of the word “curse.” Frowning, Adeline looked away from the message.
“Let’s make a deal.”
“What?”
“You want to explore new districts. I’ll tell you how to get to District 8. In exchange, you leave here. Leave Damian, the master of District 12, alone.”
Eric and Gato exchanged glances. A series of shocking events had culminated in this unbelievable offer. Yet, the proposition itself was incredibly tempting. Their objective had never been to conquer the Serpent’s Lair but to reclaim District 11. Whatever the details, Shade’s presence here implied the successful recapture of District 11. There was no need to risk further conflict in the Lair. The silence was broken by Eric.
“…Are… are you really not a player? Are you actually… an NPC?”
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