Everyone said the Blackflame Tavern's food was excellent, but what was truly renowned was not the dishes themselves.
It was the stories!
Incredibly captivating tales, stories never before heard!
During his leisure moments, Mr. Drake would stand at the podium, smiling as he shared one extraordinary story after another—tales of defying gods and fate, of a child with a magical lotus lantern searching for his mother, and of tragic love between humans, serpents, and gods.
Do gods ever fall? Do gods have human emotions? Do gods ever make mistakes? Can fate be broken?
These mesmerizing and imaginative stories, dreamlike and enchanting, left patrons spellbound and yearning for more.
While wandering minstrels often sang of gods' feats, heroes' epics, and legends of the mighty in streets and taverns, such tales had become monotonous and stale.
Mr. Drake's vivid and enthralling stories were a breath of fresh air, a refreshing change from the mundane.
They seemed to be a transformative experience, as if something profound had been unlocked within the listeners—a suppressed belief slowly being unveiled.
It felt like their innermost thoughts had been freed, as if they were subtly touched by the characters within the stories.
Today appeared no different from usual, yet the man sipping quietly at the counter seemed to sense something. He glanced towards the north before returning to the customers, shaking his head and saying, "Sorry, everyone! No stories today."
"Ah, Mr. Drake! Are you sure?"
"My daughter has been begging for stories every day!"
"But Mr. Drake, the food here is so incredible! You truly are amazing!"
…
Disappointed murmurs filled the tavern as patrons voiced their complaints. However, they did not press the issue.
The enigmatic young man was known for his decisive nature.
If he said there were no stories, then there were none.
Although it was regrettable, enjoying the tavern's unique dishes was still quite satisfying!
Meanwhile, unnoticed by the noisy patrons, a necklace with shimmering golden light appeared in Mr. Drake's palm.
Name: Blessing of the Divine
Tier: Epic
Slot: Special Equipment
Attributes: +20% Spirit, +20% Magical Defense
Skill: Life Shield: Absorbs one fatal damage, cooldown: 1 day
The epic equipment lay quietly in Ethan Drake's hand.
"This is the reward from the 'system'?" Ethan mused as he examined the exquisite necklace.
To the new players, this was undoubtedly a top-tier piece of equipment. The skill alone—absorbing one fatal hit—was incredibly valuable.
Even in later stages, such an item would be highly sought after.
Of course, for Ethan Drake, it held little practical use. He could sense that the necklace's ability to absorb fatal damage had its limits.
It couldn't protect against forces beyond its rules.
Given his much higher tier, the necklace wouldn't save him from fatal damage.
What concerned Ethan more was the arrival of players.
Though players complained about slow leveling, under the guidance of the system, their growth was significantly faster compared to the native inhabitants.
This was the unique advantage of the fourth calamity's creators.
With one person coming, others would follow—second, third…
In a sea of millions, there were always exceptional individuals.
The gears of fate were beginning to turn, and the foreign travelers were about to embark on their dazzling journey across the continent.
As the ultimate dragon waiting at the end, Ethan might need to start manipulating this so-called chessboard of destiny.
Clang!
At that moment, the wooden door of the tavern was suddenly flung open.
"Big Brother Drake, I'm back!"
The voice preceded the figure!
Accompanied by a sweet and lively female voice, the patrons saw a flash of movement.
A fragrant breeze greeted Ethan, and then the soft form of a dark elf was in his embrace.
Frequent patrons of the tavern knew that within the bustling Blackflame Tavern, there was a striking black rose—nurtured by mystery and darkness, blooming proudly amid the blazing black flames.
The dark elf, Krea.