Game’s Dogma

Everyone left the Oda Clan Residence. After receiving the preliminary encounter quest, Zephyrwolf finally brightened up a little as he was no longer left behind. Still, Windstrider’s beaming smile irked him.

‘Right, Strider. What did you get?’ Drako Yau asked.

Windstrider chuckled. He flicked his hands, materialising two handguns in his palms. ‘Noh Clan’s inheritance skill, Noh Firearms Marksmanship,’ he answered as he pointed his right handgun at Drako Yau’s head and fired a shot.

Drako Yau tilted his head to the side and avoided the projectile. Everyone took several steps backwards to give the two some space.

‘This is Blazing Guns.’

Windstrider leapt and spun two whole circles in the air, his guns blazing away as he spun. Bullets spread out in circles, but Drako Yau could calmly evade the attack without breaking a sweat or using his weapon; he even kept a smile on his face while dodging.

Seeing how easily Drako Yau evaded his attack, Windstrider was fired up as he shouted, ‘Boss, watch out—Corner Strike!’

Windstrider pointed his guns forwards and ran while sparks continued to explode from the two barrels. The storm of bullets was too tightly packed for Drako Yau to evade this time. He took out Shooting Star and wielded it with great finesse to block the incoming projectiles, not letting a single one through his defence.

Windstrider had grown a lot stronger after getting used to Dual-Wielding Rifle Mastery while integrating Noh Firearms Marksmanship and Gunfighting techniques into his combat style. He could likely fight toe-to-toe with Zephyrwolf and Nene at his current strength.

However, Drako Yau was currently in peak condition after the battle yesterday. As Frost Form continued to develop within him, he noticed that his five senses had improved a little even without activating Frost Form. While Windstrider was growing stronger rapidly, comparing him to Drako Yau was simply…

Drako Yau’s spear drifted through the air like a breeze—quick and unnoticeable. When Windstrider finally noticed it, the spear’s tip was already right before his chest, making him freeze in his tracks.

‘Strider, you’ve improved a lot.’

Yes, that’s exactly it.

Windstrider’s gaze was burning with passion. For a long while, he had been noticing his improvements, but only by becoming Drako Yau’s follower and companion did he truly find his goal. When he ran, Drako Yau was flying. When he could finally fly, Drako Yau would shoot off like a jet. The only way to keep up was by constantly improving himself like there was no tomorrow.

Windstrider wasn’t the only one who had such thoughts; every one of Drako Yau’s companions thought so as well.

It was afternoon when Idyllic Poet suddenly messaged Drako Yau.

‘You free?’

Drako Yau thought about it for a moment. He was going to level up, so it wasn’t something particularly urgent. He replied, ‘What is it.’

‘I’ve got an encounter quest that’s limited to two party members. Go with me.’ Idyllic Poet spoke as if she was the boss instead of Drako Yau.

Drako Yau laughed wryly. ‘Alright.’

Drako Yau walked through the wilderness towards the coordinates Idyllic Poet sent him. He saw a figure in the distance from afar.

‘Been waiting long?’

Idyllic Poet turned around. She was still wearing the set of kimono they received from Oda Nobunaga, though it was tweaked a little. The V-neck collar went all the way down to just above her chest, showing enough of her curves but not too much. She looked sexy without being over-revealing.

Drako Yau faked a cough to hide his ‘accidental’ stare at that alluring curvature; not that Idyllic Poet was bothered about it anyway. 

‘Let’s go,’ she said.

Only then did Drako Yau notice the old man standing beside Idyllic Poet. While he was an elder, the only feature that reflected his age was his wrinkled skin. The wavy silver hair that reached his waist was particularly smooth, complemented by his white-silverish robe. He held a long staff of similar colour, and on its tip was a sparkling fist-sized white gem.

The ID above him read Gandalf.

Drako Yau scratched his mask. This name seems familiar… He then turned his focus to the old man’s clothing, and it suddenly struck him.

‘Poet, your encounter quest can’t be Lord of The Rings, right…’

She rolled her eyes and said, ‘You only realise how generous I am now? Let’s go.’

If it was indeed Lord of the Rings, then they had hit the jackpot.

‘Child, are you ready?’ Gandalf looked at Idyllic Poet sincerely.

She nodded. ‘This is my companion.’

Gandalf looked at Drako Yau, then nodded and said, ‘Hmm… Quite a decent young man. Alright, we shall head off if you’re ready.’

The three of them were gone the next moment.

When they regained their senses, they were surrounded by pitch-darkness.

‘It’s the evolution quest for my Phoenix Ring. It can evolve at Level 30, but because the quest’s extremely difficult and has just one attempt available, I wasn’t sure I could do it until now. You’re finally Level 30, so I brought you with me,’ Idyllic Poet said. She then sent Drako Yau the full details of the Phoenix Ring.

Phoenix Ring (Tier 1). A reward from an encounter quest, it was a gift from the

mythical beast, Phoenix. It is bound to the player and cannot be traded or

dropped upon equipping.

Effect: Increases power of all fire elemental spells, and reduces cast time by

half for all fire elemental spells.

What mattered the most was its name—it was crimson red, meaning it was a legendary item.

Drako Yau was quite dissatisfied. Why does my Devil King’s Cloak leech experience while her Phoenix Ring only requires her to complete an evolution quest at specified levels? Unfair!

Drako Yau looked around. They were in a dark underground palace, though it was the most grand-looking one he had ever seen. The ceiling was almost a hundred metres from the ground, supported by tall pillars, each of which were delicately decorated with detailed patterns engraved with great craftsmanship. He realised how tiny he was when standing next to a pillar.

The only source of light was the torch held by several people ahead of them, and Drako Yau knew it was indeed the Lord of The Rings staged encounter quest. Idyllic Poet’s Phoenix Ring was also the divine item granted by the Lord of The Rings quest.

Drako Yau sized up the characters. Paired with their surroundings, he could mostly guess which scenario from Lord of The Rings they were recreating.

Dwarrowdelf, Mines of Moria!

Suddenly, an angry shout came from the front. Gimli the dwarf yelled and ran ahead in tiny steps.

‘Gimli!’ Gandalf the silver-robed mage shouted and followed behind.

Drako Yau and Idyllic Poet exchanged glances and immediately followed them. Everyone entered a messy room, drenched in the filthy stench of the dead. Broken armour and shattered bones scattered all over the room.

Light shone through the room’s entrance onto a sarcophagus. Gimli knelt before the stone coffin, wailing his heart out.

Gandalf slowly walked over and looked at the elven script written on it. He said gravely, ‘The Dwarven King lies forever in slumber.’

Drako Yau wasn’t affected by the tragic scene unfolding. He knew what followed next—a great getaway!

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