Chapter 380: Aldrich, the God of Divination
Aldrich, the God of Divination, was a name well-known to William from his past life. His divination abilities were incredibly effective, capable of averting disasters and prolonging life. Even when William had been a tombstone player, Aldrich, an elderly man with broken legs, had still appeared to be full of life. This fact, along with the mysterious letter he had left behind and the space ring he had possessed, hinted at the depth of his character.
As the reincarnation of a God, Aldrich retained his awakened memories and spoke to himself with an astonishing level of self-awareness. It was difficult to fathom the burdens he carried.
"It's no wonder that someone with such insight could survive for so long," William mused.
There was also a rumor circulating about Aldrich. He was believed to be the earliest God to awaken on the entire continent. Yes, he was the first. Aldrich had awakened long before any other God, implying that he might have uncovered treasures from ancient mythological eras.
However, due to the unique nature of the diviner's cultivation method, his progress in realms was slow, and his combat abilities were not as formidable as other God reincarnations. This enigmatic aura around him made it nearly impossible for people to decipher his true identity.
Nonetheless, players admired divination greatly. Unfortunately, divination was ineffective on the Chosen One. In the early days, many players had learned a divination method, allowing the diviner to predict the fate of both friendly and hostile NPCs. This information would help players decide whether to kill, follow, or engage with NPCs for maximum benefit.
Aldrich, the God of Divination, had appeared before players three times, conducting divinations for three different individuals. These opportunities had brought substantial benefits to each of them. As a result, Aldrich had become a coveted figure among players.
However, with the emergence of the prince and some mysterious NPCs who suddenly experienced financial losses when they were happy and ignored everyone when they were upset, players had shifted their attention elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the city of darkness had been conquered, primarily to expand Dawn City's territory and serve as the front line for the Dragon-slaying operations. Any city seized by William from the dark camp automatically fell under his dominion, just as his occupation of the East Sea Metropolis city had placed it beyond the control of the human empire.
As a result, nearly one-third of the expansive Magic Nightmare Forest would now be considered his territory. In the magical world, when it reached the level of a neutral camp like Dawn City, it was unwise to provoke its influence. Many troops in this region had no immediate use, and the territory's size was paramount, similar to how the Red Fire Kingdom's growth was limited by its geographic location. This prompted William to explore ways to annex the two principalities to expand his power.
He understood that even if the land lacked resources, a population and magic were enough to create value. The Magic Nightmare Forest was home to numerous caverns teeming with dark creatures, while the scarcity of Beast and animals was offset by the abundance of obsidian, black crystal, and various mineral veins. Obsidian was a valuable material for magicians to create enchantments and portals, while black crystal was essential for crafting altars.
"With these resources, I won't incur losses while maintaining the city's operation," William noted. "Moreover, there are many unexplored demon caves in the Magic Nightmare Forest. They may pose a threat to Dawn City in the future, but I have a growing number of players at my disposal. These adventurers will provide significant benefits to our supply city, whether they like it or not."
William recognized that, as players continued to level up, their potential value would only increase. However, he also acknowledged that players were not easily controlled.
Over the next two days, Prince William summoned old allies to establish portals connecting Dawn City, Donghai City, and surrounding principalities. Portals were crucial for the genuine development of a city.
Once the portals were officially completed, William's plan to hunt dragons began in earnest. His first target was a black dragon residing in the southern part of the Magic Nightmare Forest.
Unlike DND dragons, the black dragons of the gods' world had their unique traits. They favored dark and concealed caves over lairs filled with noxious fumes, and they excelled in Dragon language magic related to dark elements, rather than spewing acid. The black dragon's affinity for dark elements made them the perfect guardians against dark creatures. Despite their appetite for devouring a variety of beings, from Beast and animals to humans and underground creatures with dark elements, they would not succumb to the darkness or form alliances with dark creatures. In fact, black dragons were known to raid demon caves, indiscriminately feasting on their inhabitants.
Despite their predilection for living in dark creature-made caves, black dragons preferred to dig their own abodes, further cementing their reputation as independent and opportunistic creatures. They possessed a unique taste, savoring skeleton monsters and Dark Knights as if they were crispy French fries.
William recognized the significance of the black dragon hunt. These creatures were notorious for their changeable temperaments, their penchant for violence, and their vindictiveness. Occasionally, when they grew tired of their usual prey, black dragons would turn their attention to human settlements. Consequently, the Dragon-slaying team had identified them as prime targets.
The Dragon-slaying team led by William had grown significantly in size this time around. It included eight Legendary figures like Burned Cinder, Lotner, and Diablo, along with thirty epic Grandmaster Level Professionals. They were well-equipped, carrying six super heavy crossbows with arrows and three magic giant nets made of secret silver and mountain copper.
Their target was not the formidable strength of the black dragon but rather the numerous clans of orcs, ogres, jackals, and others that it commanded. Dealing with a leader who had a clan at his disposal required a different approach.
Traditionally, Prince William would lead players as cannon fodder to eliminate the enemy forces in one sweep. However, time was of the essence, and the task ahead was daunting. William couldn't afford to attract too much attention by deploying a large legion at this Point. He needed to keep his dragon-slaying endeavors discreet until he had secured at least one Dragon Blood Legion.
For now, secrecy was paramount. After Prince William had bestowed the Dragon Blood and Dragon Crystal upon Moses, their favor had soared to an astonishing 999 Points. This favor allowed William to acquire whatever scrolls and resources he required from Moses without hesitation.
Armed with dozens of invisible and shielding scrolls, the Dragon-slaying team embarked on their mission in the southern region. Their goal was to enter the caves and confront the black dragon directly in its lair.
On the third day after capturing the Nightmare Forest, the party entered the Magic Nightmare Forest in the south. The forest was an eerie place, devoid of much greenery. It was said to have transformed overnight due to a curse or plague centuries ago, with tales of dragon roars, demon growls, and abyssal sighs shrouding the area in mystery.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the oppressive atmosphere weighed on them. The towering trees had sinister, nail-like branches, and some even resembled twisted human faces, capable of unsettling adventurers.
However, this eerie environment didn't faze William's group. They were a formidable team, not easily frightened.
After hours of walking, from noon until late evening, William decided it was time to rest. But as the group prepared to stop, he suddenly hid behind a tree. The others swiftly followed suit, concealing themselves in various spots.
The forest fell silent as an orc patrol team emerged from the front. There were ten of them, led by a burly orc captain. The captain surreptitiously glanced around, his mouth watering. He suggested they roast a wild boar and change shifts after eating. The young orc among them threw the boar to the ground with a thud, opting not to clean it properly before roasting it. The other orcs followed suit, casually preparing their meal.
The young orc whispered to his companions, "There are some outsiders in our territory. The boss doesn't want us wandering around. He's afraid we might reveal something."
"Shut your mouth. What if you spill the beans?"
"Come on, tell us more, sir…" The other orcs showed interest in the gossip.
The orc captain, taking a swig from a flask, glanced at his companions and lowered his voice, "I heard it from my cousin's military commander's third uncle. Don't spread it around. There's a black wizard named Makhu Redd and a Devil Nightmare Warrior named Adolf. They're both renowned underground strongmen. Word has it they're planning something big with our boss!"
"What kind of big thing?"
"It's got something to do with the human kingdom, right? I think it's related to the Dark City attack two days ago, but I was too drunk that day and forgot the details…" The orc captain scratched his head and continued drinking.
Orcs were notorious for their loose lips; secrets didn't stay hidden for long among them. The black dragon knew that, which was why he had restricted their movements. But he couldn't prevent the news from spreading among his tribe.
Little did the orcs know that over thirty individuals were hidden above their heads and behind nearby trees. William had heard the news and contemplated his options.
Should he call in reinforcements or confront them directly?
As far as he knew, the Dragon's Nest likely housed only the black dragon, his confidants, Adolf, Makhu Redd, and others. This was the perfect opportunity to capture them all.
Therefore, without delay, Prince William led his team toward the Dragon's Nest. As they got closer, they encountered more orcs and jackals. They crushed two scrolls, rendering themselves invisible, and boldly continued towards their destination.
William had a hunch that Makhu Redd and Adolf, after being driven out of the southeast, had sought refuge in the Dark City. However, the attack on the Dawn City had disrupted their plans, and they were now seeking revenge.
"Makhu Redd, you seem to have your eye on my Nightmare Forest. Do you aspire to be its ruler?" William pondered aloud.
He contemplated whether to capture Makhu Redd alive and control his soul, or to simply deal with him later. His highness had a unique way of dealing with villains. He believed in giving them a taste of their own medicine.
Regardless, William knew he couldn't afford to leave the southern region unattended. If he left, there was a real risk of losing control over it. With these thoughts in mind, he continued his pursuit of Makhu Redd and Adolf, determined to bring them to justice.