Upon hearing Ethan's instructions, the rogue didn't dare waste a second. He quickly rushed to the iron gate, pulling out his lockpicking tools and went to work on the lock.
**Click!**
In three seconds, the lock clicked open.
Seeing this, Ethan hurriedly swung open the iron door, grabbed the chain, and tried to drag it out. However, his strength alone wasn't enough—the chain struggled fiercely, refusing to be pulled from Zogg's chest.
"Dustwalker, let me do it!" OverallSuspender, the group's 7th-level armored warrior with 18 strength points, the highest among them, quickly volunteered.
"Go ahead!" Ethan handed the chain over without hesitation.
"I'll help!"
"Me too!"
Several of the other warriors stepped up, joining the effort. Together, they gripped the chain tightly and pulled with all their might, dragging it further and further from Zogg's chest.
Meanwhile, Ethan glanced at the rest of the group and quickly issued more instructions. "Get ready. The moment the chain is fully pulled out, Zogg will awaken. Hit him with everything you've got—no holding back!"
"Got it!" The group nodded in unison, weapons ready.
As everyone focused on the chain, it was like watching a team tug-of-war match. The chain fought back, writhing like a snake trying to return to Zogg's chest, but it was no match for the combined strength of the warriors pulling it out bit by bit.
Zogg's body convulsed violently, as though suffering unimaginable torment.
**Thud!**
Suddenly, the chain was yanked free, sending the warriors stumbling backward. With a final, resentful hiss, the black chain dissipated into flames and vanished.
At that moment, Zogg's previously lifeless eyes shot open. His rigid body snapped to life, standing upright like a reanimated corpse.
"Attack!" Ethan shouted, snapping his fingers to activate *Create Fire Out of Nothing*. Flames roared to life around Zogg, engulfing him instantly.
The rest of the group didn't waste a second. Slashes, arrows, shield strikes, charges, and summoned pets—all attacks rained down on Zogg without mercy.
"Curse you, adventurers! I will kill you all!" Zogg screeched in agony. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a swarm of hellish worms.
Purple worms slithered towards the group at a slow, menacing pace. OverallSuspender, seeing the worms, grimaced with disgust. He stomped on one of the creatures, crushing it underfoot with a sickening squelch.
"Huh, these worms are weak as hell. They pop like balloons," OverallSuspender remarked, slightly surprised.
"These are the lowest form of hell creatures—level 1. Of course, they're weak," Ethan explained.
"I see. I thought this boss would be tougher. All that effort just to summon these worthless bugs," OverallSuspender said, nonchalant now that the worms didn't pose a threat.
"He's lost his connection to the demon lord, so he's only able to summon these weak creatures. But don't underestimate him just yet," Ethan warned, just as Zogg let out a guttural roar and spat a mouthful of blood into the air.
Zogg, using his own blood as ink, began tracing a glowing hexagram in the air.
"Dustwalker, what's he doing?" OverallSuspender asked, his voice tense.
"He's trying to form a new contract. Hit him harder, don't let up!" Ethan barked.
"Roooaar!"
Suddenly, a deafening dragon's roar echoed from within the hexagram, its sheer power crushing the will of everyone present.
Ethan's eyes narrowed. Something about this roar felt strangely familiar.
"Oh no, Tiamat—the dragon queen!" Ethan cursed as he recognized the incantation Zogg was muttering. Without hesitation, he blinked behind Zogg, slashing at his neck with the *Cutter's Blade*.
**Slash!**
But his strike was partially blocked, barely cutting half an inch into Zogg's neck.
"I'll finish this!" Naomi shouted, leaping into the air with her greatsword raised high.
"Sevenfold Slash!"
Her sword gleamed like a crescent moon, landing seven consecutive strikes on Zogg's neck. Each strike was fiercer than the last, the final blow almost severing his head.
"Now!" Seeing the opportunity, Ethan twisted his blade with a slight flick, finishing the job.
Zogg's head tumbled from his body.
**Ding! You have killed the Demon Warlock Zogg's shadow. Public reputation +10 (first kill).**
**Ding! Your team has defeated the Demon Warlock Zogg. 'Cursed Crypt' dungeon completion time: 4 hours 21 minutes.**
**Rating: SS Rank.**
**Reward: Team points +600, Reputation +10 (first kill).**
**Note: Boss kill +200, Minion kills +100, First kill bonus +300.**
**Congratulations! Your team has completed the first run of 'Cursed Crypt (Hard Mode).' This achievement will be announced across the region. Would you like to hide your name?**
"No," Ethan responded.
**Would you like to leave a message?**
Ethan turned to Naomi. "You handle the message."
Naomi nodded, understanding the hint. "Yes."
**Message: This is Naomi of G&G. We're recruiting elite players with great benefits and an extensive guild warehouse. We run regular dungeon groups. If you're interested, come check us out!**
Three loud announcements echoed throughout the region.
**Regional Announcement (The Northlands):**
*Dustwalker, Naomi, OverallSuspender, and their team have completed the first clear of the 'Cursed Crypt (Hard Mode)' dungeon, with a time of 4 hours 21 minutes.*
*Message: Naomi of G&G invites top-tier players to join us. We offer excellent benefits and regular dungeon runs.*
Upon hearing the announcement, the team erupted into cheers, their tense nerves finally relaxing after hours of intense combat. OverallSuspender threw his shield aside and collapsed onto the ground, utterly exhausted.
Naomi, watching the jubilant team, sighed with relief. After 4 grueling hours, they had finally conquered the dungeon. The challenges posed by both Zogg and Black Rye had been beyond what most players at their level could handle. Without Ethan's strategy, the whole team would've been wiped out.
She turned to Ethan, her expression serious. "Thank you. We couldn't have done this without you."
"It was just a transaction. Now it's time to settle up." Ethan wasn't one to linger on pleasantries. He was all business.
Naomi nodded. "You're right. This was a deal from the start. Here's your ticket."
She pulled out a ship ticket from her pouch and handed it to him. The ticket, worth 1 gold, wasn't particularly expensive, but it was incredibly rare. Naomi had gone to great lengths to obtain it from a local resident in Frostleaf Town.
"Finally!" Ethan smiled. To him, this ship ticket was far more valuable than any amount of gold. It was his passage to Winterhold, where the real opportunities lay—and, more importantly, where he could find a cure for Lily's illness.
"You're heading to Winterhold soon, aren't you? Leaving this 'beginner village' behind?" Naomi asked, noticing the excitement in Ethan's expression.
"Obviously," Ethan replied. In truth, *Godfall* didn't have clear distinctions between beginner villages and main cities. It was just how players referred to certain areas. Some players even spawned in main cities from the start.
Naomi nodded thoughtfully. "Our guild is also planning to head to Winterhold soon. Frostleaf Town is too barren. Maybe we can collaborate again."
"Smart move. If you run into any trouble there, you can come find me. I know Winterhold like the back of my hand, but I'll have to charge you, of course." Ethan chuckled, giving her a thumbs-up.
"You know Winterhold well?" Naomi paused, her curiosity piqued. She couldn't help but wonder—where was Ethan getting all this inside information? Could he really have some connection to the game's internal workings?
"Anyway, I'm heading into the prison to check things out. You guys take it easy," Ethan said, pocketing the ticket and making his way into the dungeon's prison cell.
...