Second World

Up on the cliff top, Jack and Therras were still fighting their six opponents.

Abasi, being the highest level and having the highest HP pool, faced Jack directly. Spring Crown slipped in and out, delivering a sneak attack whenever an opportunity showed itself. As a number one gamer, he had no problem adopting a rogue fighting style despite his direct melee class.

Spring Crown used the second skill from his special class, Weapon Storm, during an opportunity. This skill conjured twenty-seven copies of melee weapons, which were three times the nine melee weapons equipped inside the Weapon Master's weapon slots. Each copy dealt 150% physical damage and caused knockback.

Spring Crown's weapon storm was at max level, which conjured seven times his nine melee weapons. A total of sixty-three copies of weapons assaulted Jack. The damage each copy dealt also increased to 250%.

Jack used his sword art to deal with these torrents of weapons when they came. Jack had to use his dragon eye's active ability to slow time because there were just too many weapons to deal with.

He suffered some damage from the weapons mostly because of interruptions from Uiqey and Ronald, who supported Abasi and Spring Crown from a long range. Jack used Gold Dragon Vitality, recovering his lost HP as well as doubling his HP and attributes.

Ronald used his previous trick by hiding inside the smoke produced by his smoke grenade. But unlike before, Jack didn't try to hide his identity, so he was free to use his spells.

Jack cast Tracing Beams and Swords of the Brave. These attacks had tracking ability. Even if Jack didn't know where Ronald was located inside the smoke, the attacks would chase after the gunslinger.

Ronald was forced to vacate the smoke-covered area while shooting at the incoming beams and swords.

Jack was serious about finishing this fight quickly, but he somehow was unable to. All his opponents were experts, even their native companions.

He refrained from using large AOE damaging skills because those skills were more suitable if he used them on the enemy army fighting on the plains. Yet, with each passing minute, he felt he was wasting his time here.

Jack summoned his spirit weapon and activated Life Burning Art. It was time to get serious. He cast Perpetual Lightning Judgement.

"Uiqey!" Spring Crown shouted.

Uiqey cast Magic Wall before following up with Barrier and Magic Shield. Spring Crown hid behind his companion while the massive lightning battered the magic wall.

Ronald sensed the danger from Jack's spell. After being forced out of his cover smoke, he had placed himself near the edge of the cliff. When the Perpetual Lightning Judgement was cast, Ronald jumped down the cliff edge. He hung on the ledge while the lightning shot above him.

Ronald's companion, Delgado, turned intangible when the lightning came. It was a skill called Phase Out, which was similar to Jack's Ghost Form spell.

Long used a non-standard skill, Ki Shield, and blocked the lightning. The lightning should be powerful enough to shatter the shield, but the Ki Shield somehow blocked the lightning. Jack sensed mana being injected into the shield. Long was also a person who had learned to use mana manipulation on game skills. Jack hoped Long's expertise in using mana manipulation on game skills was only limited to this Ki Shield.

Abasi was the only one who didn't use any defensive skills. He just tanked through the lightning. His high HP allowed him to survive. He was somehow getting stronger after suffering damage from the lightning. A red aura swirled around him and his eyes turned red.

It was his new skill from leveling up, Unrestrained Rage. He received a buff based on the damage he received. The higher the damage, the stronger he became.

"RARRGGHH…!!!" Abasi was like a wild animal gunning at Jack.

"Damn it!" Jack cursed. None of the three players was killed.

While he was facing Abasi's frenzied attack, he fired his Soul Breath. Abasi had learned mana sense. The orc managed to dodge at the last moment. Jack's soul breath missed, or so everyone thought.

They then noticed the soul breath hit the edge where Ronald was climbing back up. Ronald saw the attack and immediately let go of the edge. The edge exploded. Ronald escape getting hit directly, but he was still hit by the resulting explosion. His HP fell by more than half. The explosion also knocked him away from the cliff and he freefall.

Ronald would surely die from the fall from this height unless he had a trick. With one less opponent to worry about, Jack could focus his attack to take out the other opponents. He sent his spirit weapon to go keep Spring Crown busy.

When he was about to focus his attention on Abasi to take him out, he saw a huge fiery bird coming down from the distant sky.

"What is that…?" Jack asked.

"That is Suzaki, an eternal-grade phoenix," Peniel answered. "She is not just any Phoenix. If Hydrurond's country guardian, Eoranth, is the lord of dragons, she can be considered the queen of phoenixes. She is probably the only native who has the same immortality as the outworlders. She will come back to life again every time she dies."

Jack was not at the battle of Messephyria, so he never laid eyes on Suzaki, but he had heard about her from the battle report.

"She is Liguritudum's country guardian," Jack said. "In that case…"

Jack took out his King Badge. "Time for you to do your part, old dude."

A deafening roar was heard. The sky above split. A soothing blue light shone through the split. With it, the long body of Broidrireg descended.

Broidrireg looked around and absorbed the scene. His eyes laid on the chaotic war below for some time. "The folly of mortals and their desires. Sigh… And here I am getting sucked into all this nonsense again."

"Yo! Mighty old dragon! Can you please enjoy your philosophical moment another time and go deal with that firebird?" Jack called. Suzaki was already carrying out her assault. She flapped her wings and hundreds of giant fiery darts shot at the Themisphere army on the ground.

Jack was still exchanging moves with Abasi even when he talked with Broidrireg. He sensed an attack coming from behind. He turned back and saw Long whose body had bulked up unnaturally.

"Muscle Tendon Transformation?" Jack had heard from his grandfather about Long. He knew Long was Wong's traitorous student.

Jack's claws exploded with the burst attack of Formless Flowing Sword Style. Long's palm multiplied as he performed the eighteen subduing dragon palms.

The same as their clash before, both sides were pushed back when the two arts collided.

"Abasi, you go deal with his pet!" Long said to Abasi.

"No! He will die by my hands," Abasi roared.

"Your life is below half already! Do you want to die?!" Long scolded.

Abasi seemed to realize his situation. He grunted with dissatisfaction, but he didn't insist on fighting Jack. He received a greater healing potion from Long before retreating.

"Hey, kid," Jack heard Broidrireg calling from above.

"What?" Jack asked, annoyed that the old dragon was still hanging around here.

"Just so you know. That draconian you are facing. He is the one other outworlder who passed my trial," Broidrireg said. He then flew over to the plains where Suzaki was wreaking havoc.

"What…?" Jack muttered. "But… He is a battle monk… Wait! Can he…"

Long saw Jack is distracted. He punched into the ground.

Jack sensed the mana on the ground below him heated up. He jumped away just as the ground exploded. What Long used just now was Ki Geyser, another non-standard battle monk skill.

At the same time, a large flying snake appeared. Except it was not a snake. Peniel later explained that it was a sky wyrm. A wyrm that could fly despite having no wings. It was also a medium-sized monster. The wyrm was fast and it almost bit Jack with its large mouth, but Jack managed to dodge.

However, Long was already waiting in the direction Jack dodged to. Except he no longer looked like a draconian. He was a human-sized dragon, much like Jack when Jack transformed.

Everything happened so fast. Due to the surprise, Long successfully landed a palm on Jack's chest.

*PANG!*

The impact sent Jack crashing to the ground.