Chapter 242

Chapter 242

The Perfects were indeed preparing to depart.

The process of convincing the Perfects to join was easier than God-on-Earth had anticipated, especially with Lane and Best's assistance. They quickly united all the leaders of the Perfects' settlements to discuss the departure date.

In fact, the leaders hadn't expected things to move so swiftly. Or perhaps they subconsciously assumed that the ship to the new world would take some time to build, thus momentarily failing to react.

Afterward, these leaders pulled God-on-Earth into an internal communication group chat established with artifacts.

God-on-Earth was surprised to discover this means of communication. No wonder there wasn't a complete information blackout between towns.

Senator Ocris: "Are you sure the ship is already built? Didn't you say it required a piece of the Perfects' spirit energy?"

God-on-Earth: "That's the final step, which requires all the Perfects to be present and willing to divide their spirit energy for the final enchantment. First, we must head to the location of the ship, the Pantheon Forest."

Blackrock Town's Leader: "…So that's your base, huh? I didn't expect you to be so daring."

Ever since the previous Pantheon had perished, the Pantheon Forest had become a forbidden zone in the Dream World. No Perfect dared to approach, and naturally, no one had ventured there to investigate. It was unexpected to learn that the Investigators' headquarters lay there.

After the gods had thoroughly explained (with some persuasion) the specifics of the ships and shown them actual completion photos, the leaders of these various Paragon communities finally relented. They agreed to organize the Paragons to go there, naturally with players guiding them and providing leaf cover for shelter.

The Dream World's geography was unique, not solely based on physical distance. For instance, a location in the southern hemisphere could be instantly reached from one in the north through a tunnel or a spatial teleportation point. Conversely, two physically close locations might take longer to reach if there were no connecting tunnels.

Nonetheless, it didn't matter. As long as they decided to come, the players would await them in the Pantheon Forest.

Once everything was prepared, the players' next phase of missions began.

"Main Quest - Mortals and Gods

Phase 3: Escort the Paragons to the Pantheon Forest and protect their successful descent into the real world from the Dream World.

Reward: +20 Paragon Faction Affinity, +50,000 EXP, +10 Attribute Points, +10 Skill Points."

With the initiation of the next phase, the players heaved a sigh of relief before rallying their spirits to accept the mission. This was a crucial step in their long journey!

If they truly succeeded, it would mean that the fate of the Paragons and humans in reality would become intertwined, their prosperity and decline interconnected. The Paragons' choice would also significantly impact the Old Gods' faction's attitude.

That was why Balder was so uneasy about the impending developments!

Baldur watched in silence alongside the other awakened Old Gods, startled to find that none of them seemed angered or intent on interfering with the Mortal's choice. They were allowing him to leave the Dream World unchecked.

Could it be that these beings truly intended to let the Mortal depart entirely from the Dream World...?

This thought made Baldur uneasy. The Mortal had always been a hindrance to the Old Gods, and it was for his protection that they had been forced to cease their battle against the Evil God. Over the years, he had actively maneuvered among the Old Gods, persuading two or three to remain neutral, with the promise of ensuring the Mortal's survival as the price.

After all, back then, the Old Gods had no means to stop the Evil God. Who could have foreseen the emergence of a new Pastoral God with the power to open and close the Dream World?

Should the Mortal return to Earth in the real dimension, Baldur's leverage over the Old Gods would vanish. Should the Mortal fully integrate with humanity, the Old Gods might even choose to stand against him to protect the real dimension from invasion, potentially reigniting war with the Evil God.

The Mortal couldn't be allowed to leave.

With this in mind, Baldur secretly sent a message to the Evil God.

Unbeknownst to him, the leader of the Death Ravens, quietly perched behind him, caused his shadow to ripple irregularly for a moment.

...

On the day the Mortals prepared to set off, players were ready and divided into several guide teams, ensuring the Mortals' safe journey while not forgetting to pluck leaves from the Pastoral Forest to make cloaks that would shield them from the corrupting red moonlight.

On the day of their departure, Bernie emerged from the lustrous black walls of Blackrock Town, stepping into the crimson moonlight. The ambitions fueled by the players' myths were somewhat dampened as a flicker of unease crossed his face.

This was likely the first time for most of the Companions since the war's end that they ventured beyond the boundaries of the Old Gods, compelled to confront the unknown and the hazards that lay outside, embracing the tide of destiny.

Fortunately, they were not alone.

Bernie glanced around, spotting Cornelia walking beside him, while a few players conversed casually up front, easing his tension slightly.

"How long will the journey take?" he asked.

"Not far," the Druid at the head of the group replied cheerfully. "Our group is relatively close. Just an hour's walk through the cavern, a ride on our transportation, and we'll arrive."

They had come by boat, but for the players' safety, Bast had summoned large cats to wait for them at a distance between the cave and the forest. Though not as swift as drifting, a two- or three-hour ride on the cats would reach the forest.

Relieved, Bernie relaxed. Having made it through the initial stretch unscathed, surrounded by familiar faces, his initial anxieties dissipated.

It was then that the unexpected began.

First, the red moon above them suddenly flared with intense light. In an instant, the entire Dream World seemed shrouded in a crimson glow. The players showed no reaction, but the Companions trailing behind swayed uneasily.

"Burton? What's wrong?" his companion asked in surprise.

"I, I..." Burton was at a loss for words, feeling the world spin around him. Everything seemed off. When he looked up again, his pupils constricted.

His former friend had transformed into a creature filled with mud and armored limbs, its orange-yellow compound eyes looming close, reflecting Burton's terrified face.

"Aaaahhh!"

He instinctively let out a fearful scream and turned to run, his friend unable to stop him. "Wait, that way is dangerous!"

The path to the Pantheon Forest was known to be safe thanks to players' reconnaissance, but that didn't guarantee safety elsewhere.

In his panicked escape, Burton accidentally stepped into a hidden pit and tumbled over.

The other Completes in the group were also drawn by the commotion, their hearts racing as fear crept into their eyes. "What happened?"

The Druid rushed over and saw someone had fallen into a deep hole, while another Complete was trying to help but was being frantically waved off by the one in the pit, seemingly avoiding some monstrous presence. He couldn't help but inquire, "What's going on here?"

"I...I don't know. My friend suddenly became someone else, kept dodging me, and then fell accidentally."

The Druid observed the man's expression intently, noticing the terror-filled gaze directed at him. Players were all too familiar with this state – it was a temporary bout of madness.

But why this change? Was it due to the intensified crimson moonlight above their heads?

To avoid falling victim to its effects, the Druid didn't dare look up at the moon. He warned the other Completes in his team not to do so either, even if the leaves provided some cover, and promptly reported the situation on the forum.

Druid: "Everyone, be cautious, something's changed."

"I knew this journey wouldn't be easy."

"What happened? It feels like the screen is even redder now."

"Probably the malevolent deity making a move. They can't act against the Completes within the Old Gods' territory, so they're seizing this chance when we leave their protection."

"Ahh, I knew such generous mission rewards wouldn't come without a catch."

"Be careful! I just saw from their live stream, there seems to be monsters approaching! Keep an eye on your surroundings!"

The Druid's eyes widened slightly upon seeing the chat messages. In the next second, he heard the cacophony of footsteps, signaling the approach of numerous creatures.

"Stay vigilant, everyone! Maintain your guards!"

Though magic was prohibited here, there were no restrictions on firearms, and the players were armed to the teeth.

"Battle rounds, prepare yourselves!"

True to form, as the players readied themselves, horrifying creatures began to emerge from the depths of the forest, their grotesque heads breaking the tranquility. These were native species of the Dream World that roamed within the contaminated no-man's-land tainted by the evil deity. Infused with the deity's corruption, they had lost all reason, and their appearances were so terrifying that merely gazing upon them induced discomfort.

"Fire!"

The Druid gave the command, and the player standing beside him promptly pulled the trigger of their RPG without hesitation. Before the Wretched could comprehend its fear, a tremendous explosion rocked the air, engulfing the monster in flames.

Bernie's pounding heart eased slightly as he patted his chest, thinking they were done for. Without magic or mental power, the Wretched relied on alchemical items, spell scrolls, and melee weapons – all of which dealt meager damage to high-resistance monsters. Fortunately, the players possessed terrifying weaponry.

But now was not the time to relax. Just as the Wretched were about to cheer, they noticed an increasing number of footsteps drawing closer. The wandering kin and oddities in the wilderness seemed to be drawn by something, converging relentlessly towards the Wretched's group!

...

Len stood up and gazed into the distance from the heart of the Pantheon Forest. "He has made his move."

It was evident that Bael had a hand in the assault on the Perfect One.

There was one more thing that troubled him, though. It was Ogar, who had gone to find Bael. After Bestia took his side, he said to Lane, "Ogar is a giant born in the shadows of the Dream World. His stealth and explosiveness are second to none among giants. Especially with his resilient body, he's a formidable opponent even for the Old Gods. If Bael were to take down Ogar, there would be some signs. The fact that nothing has been reported so far can only mean one thing: He hasn't found the right opportunity yet."

Bestia continued, "He's waiting for the perfect moment to strike, a time when Bael would never expect it and be utterly defenseless."

A time of utter defenselessness… That could only mean when the other party was in motion.

Lane knew that Bael wouldn't let him bring the Perfect One to Earth. That would practically force the Old Gods to side with him, something Bael couldn't tolerate. Thus, he would definitely make his move once the Perfect One left his territory.

The real storm was only just beginning.

Noticing Lane's movement, Bestia shook his head slightly. "It's not time yet. We can't act now, especially you."

"I understand."

The current situation was like a delicate balance. Any move by the Old Gods, the Dark Gods, or the traitors… all factions in the Dream World were silently observing the migration of the Perfect One. Whatever their intentions might be, they would spring into action along the way.

Lan sat back gradually, knowing that revealing his hand too soon would put him at a disadvantage later.

Fortunately, he had anticipated this scenario. Upon players accepting the third phase of the quest, he removed the level restriction in the Dream World. Now, players of any level could enter and escort any team of Sleepwalkers, with a minimum of twenty players for each team.

Their only hope now was to rely on the players to hold the line, no matter what.

...

Druid: Area A1 under attack!

Crazy Not: Area B2 under attack!

Black Cat: Area D7 under attack!

God Among Men: Acknowledged. Players in other sectors who haven't departed, please wait and observe the situation. Is there a chance for the attacked teams to return?

Black Cat: They could, but it seems those monsters appeared right in front of us, their aim seemingly to push us back. But I can't risk sending the Sleepwalkers back.

Even the most insensitive players realized that the strange attacks and the brighter crimson moon were connected to the Evil God. The deity's objective was to prevent the Sleepwalkers from leaving the Dream World.

At the first blow, momentum surges; at the second, it wanes; at the third, it fades entirely. Should this attempt fail, it might become near impossible to persuade the Anima again to depart. They would retreat entirely into the domain of the Old Gods, forcing them to maintain the status quo – a slow and certain death!

Divine will manifested swiftly on Earth: in the first wave, they would spare no effort to eliminate the monsters, flex their power to reassure humanity, and hasten their journey.

Druid: I see!

The Druid emptied a full magazine, shattering the monster's skull just before it lunged, swiftly reloaded, and called out to those behind, "Concentrate your fire and break through! Clear a path! Keep up from the back!"

Saying this, he promptly tossed the bomb into the horde of monsters charging toward them. The explosion instantly severely injured several creatures.

The players maintained a flanking formation, safeguarding the NPCs in the center as they hurriedly followed the Druid through the gap he had created.

"Quickly, everyone! The cavern is near!"

Fortunately, Blackrock Town wasn't far from the cavern. With their formidable firepower, they swiftly carved a path through the monster onslaught. The entrance was now in sight. The Druid led the group of survivors into the darkness, and their figures were soon swallowed by the shadows. The initial entry went smoothly, but as they approached the end, John supported his frenzied friend, attempting to usher him inside. Burton, with a dazed expression, fixated on the dark cavern, his face contorting in terror. To him, it was a abyss, a gateway to hell.

"No, I don't want to go in! I won't go!"

"Burton! Calm down!" John bellowed, trying to force him inside. However, Burton's violent resistance nearly caused John to lose his grip, resulting in a heated dispute at the entrance of the cavern.

"What are you doing?!" The player in charge of the rear guard rushed forward, knocking Burton unconscious with the butt of his gun, then forcibly pushed him and John into the cave. "Hurry up!"

"Thanks, you also s...," John started, but his words trailed off as he stared wide-eyed at something behind the player.

The player, sensing the tension, swiftly turned around and gaped. "There are so many of them..."

A horde of monsters emerged from the forest behind them, seemingly endless. The vanguard was already closing in on the cave entrance. John wanted to call for the player to come in, but saw him turn, push them both further in, and pull out a grenade.

The cave was a passage tunnel with some unknown principle at work; each step taken inside equated to a hundred outside. In an instant, John felt a vast distance between himself and the player, distant enough to only hear a deafening explosion and a muffled phrase.

"Haha, so much experience points! I hit the jackpot!"

John didn't comprehend the meaning behind those words. All he saw was a burst of noise and light followed by the collapse of the cave, with the monsters not pursuing them.