MMORPG: The Elementalist

There was such a rumor on the official forum!

The first level of the Graveyard of the Gods was not really considered as part of the graveyard. It was merely designed as a sort of test. The kind of place where the weak would be prey for the strong. It was a screening layer as only the strong would survive.

Only the players who had passed and survived the trial could find the warp portal and advance to the second level. Those were deemed as the strong ones who could enter the Graveyard of the Gods...

However...

The area of second level of the Graveyard of the Gods was apparently much smaller than the first level.

Unlike the first level, the second level was no longer a single layer environment. The whole area split into different territories and the environment of each territory was extremely complicated.

Some players had researched on this and regarded the first level of the Graveyard of the Gods as numerous three-dimensional worlds that would never cross paths. The second level of the Graveyard of the Gods resembled a chessboard. Players from two factions entered the same territory, laid within the chessboard akin to black and white chess pawns. Whether to form a more powerful party with the players from the same faction or to get into a violent fight with the players from the opposing faction were all driven by fate or else, deal with real ability.

However as compared to the first level, the entry of the second level was relatively safe.

Unless one was particularly unfortunate, the chance of bumping into players from the opposing faction was very rare. Even if a group of players from the opposing factions entered into the second level from the same warp portal, they would be assigned to different areas in the second level, far apart from each other!

Many players regarded the entry to the second level as the safe zone. At the very least, the moment one entered the warp portal, there would be no players from opposing faction in the immediate vicinity.

Qin Ruo and a couple of players were on a roll.

The entry to the Graveyard of the Gods was by the lakeside, streaming with clear and sparkling water.

“Eh?”

“It’s so quiet.”

“Are we still in the Graveyard for the Gods? It feels like I’ve come to the wrong place!”

As soon as they landed on the ground, the sound of whispers broke the silence. Dark Cyclone and a couple of players murmured behind his back.

Qin Ruo smiled wryly, sizing up the surroundings in disbelief. He actually felt the same way. The lakeside was peacefully silent and covered in a green and luxuriant lush forest. An old man could be seen fishing at the beautiful lakeside. It was a paradise indeed! Not the least bit resembling the battlefield and burial ground of the gods.

The only thing resembled the Graveyard for the Gods was a giant skeleton lying exposed on the ground, dozens of meters behind them... It was more than ten meters long with wings, resembling the remains of a powerful monster—the “Wyvern”.

“Captain, is that old man an NPC?”

Dark Cyclone’s voice pulled him back to reality. “Captain” was decided after a discussion. Originally, the party wanted to address Qin Ruo as Old Master or Elder Brother Qin Ruo, but Qin Ruo was actually quite young. The two salutations were rather awkward. Henceforth, they chose to address him more formally, “Captain”.

Dark Cyclone pursed his lips, signaling the one man sitting still at the lakeside, a hundred meters away. That was the one Qin Ruo noticed earlier...

Dark Cyclone’s question was apparently redundant.

In H&G, a few to no players could enjoy fishing in the Graveyard of the Gods in a leisurely or carefree way. Not even the monsters.

As Qin Ruo recalled some information he had read from the official website, he told Dark Cyclone and the other four of them to be extra vigilant and guard against the old man. All of them walked toward the old man slowly, on the alert.

In the second level of the Graveyard of the Gods, the chance of meeting an NPC was not rare.

NPCs were no Descendant Merchants. They were appointed by both Angel and Demon Faction to guide the players after the opening of the Graveyard of the Gods. It was also because of the NPCs that brought about the rumor that the first level was not considered the Graveyard of the Gods. (in the factions’ agreement, the Demigod-tier NPC would not be part of the battle between players)...

NPCs were primarily there to guide players the route leading to the third level of the Graveyard of the Gods. Additionally, they were there to provide a quest—some pointless task. These “mini-quests” varied from one player to another. For instance, grabbing the heart of the Tier 5 Elite Miniboss “Pentavenom Toad” or unearthing ten blazing triangular stones near the lair of the Tier 5 Boss “Blazing King”. Plenty of Tier 4 players struggled with these odd collections of collection quests. The quest rewards were even more bizarre... Some random Magic Skill Books, Equipment, Honor Points, or Pet Eggs that might not be useful...The most difficult quest in the game seemed to be appearing constantly in this area!

These quests were so tough, even those Tier 5 pros might not be able to complete them, let alone the Tier 4 players. Hence, here came the name “pointless task”.

However, the old man who was sitting leisurely, fishing in the Graveyard of the Gods had piqued his curiosity—a quiet and interesting old NPC. Hey, maybe he could get an easier quest from him.

Keeping this outrageous thought in mind, Qin Ruo and the party walked toward to the old NPC from a hundred meters away...

“You have chased the fish away! Back off or I will throw you back to the Mythical Continent!”

The old man turned around, glaring at the six of them. Qin Ruo and his party stood stunned as they stopped in their tracks.

Seeing them standing thirty meters away, the old man turned his face with satisfaction, paying no regard to them.

‘Uh...’

The six people shared a look at each other.

Qin Ruo felt bitter as he did not know whether to cry or to laugh. He was totally wrong, the old man was far from nice. How was he going to get a quest from him?

Such bad luck!

Well, there was no harm breaking through the third level without completing any quests.

Waving his hand, Qin Ruo told his party to retreat.

It was just a few meters backward, the old man called out to them, “Hmm? I thought you guys were coming up, why are you going back now?”

“Don’t move! Stand there... Oh no! Come over and stand at your position just now!” His voice was forceful, yet contradictory.

Confused and disorientated, Qin Ruo stood stunned by his sudden rebuke. His gaze swept passed the old man and fixed at the bewildered faces of Dark Cyclone and the other five players.

“What is going on? Can’t you guys walk?”

Dumbfounded, the six of them could do nothing with him and stop retreating. This old NPC was of Demigod-tier and Tier 6 collection quest was far beyond something that the Tier 4 warriors could offend. He could even force them out of the Graveyard of the Gods, back to the Mythical Continent.

“Come forward!”

“Nearer! Can’t you guys hear me? Idiots!”

In irritation, he stomped off. The six people stood helplessly at their original position—it was his own ear-splitting voice that had chased the fish away.

Standing near the old man, they realized that there were actually dozens of small needle-like fish swimming around the line, but not a single one took the bait. Crap! The bait was actually a large piece of roasted meat.

Qin Ruo was nearly fainted looking at the bait. This old man was incredibly happy with his own “masterpiece”.

“Hey! It’s true! They are here, these little fish are back again... Eh? Not hooked?”

Seeing that the fish were here again, the old man turned to look at the fish as he threatened the six of them, “Don’t move or I will send you back to the Mythical Continent! Oh... my little one, come to me...” The old man regained his focus on the small lake resembling the wolf who tricked little Red Riding Hood.

The six rolled their eyes as they inwardly cursed, ‘Old fart! Don’t bite the bait! Don’t get hooked!’

God knows whether it was the instant effect of the curse or the old man’s bad personality as the fish wandered around the fishing line for a long time, but none of them took a bite of the bait. The eyes of the old man reddened. He aimed at the lake, his hand outstretched and retracted quickly over and over again, dared not to “cheat”.

Seeing the old man reaction, a dull feeling filled Qin Ruo’s heart.

This old NPC was at least a Tier 6 Demigod champion. If he wanted to get a grilled fish, he could get dozens of fish in the blink of an eye with his Intelligence. Spending such a long time for fishing, was it not a waste of time?

At last!

After a few minutes, nobody knew whether he was too embarrassed or lost all his patience. He spooled the fishing line and slammed it on the ground. He had finally given up.

“Hey kiddos, go away, get out of my sight. Grr...”

The old man chased the six of them away as he sat at the lakeside, sulking.

Seeing this, their feeling was awakened by the whole scene. The six of them shared a look and start discussing in excitement.

“Captain! Is there a hidden quest? What do you think?” Dark Cyclone could no longer restrain his excitement and asked.

“Yeah, yeah, I have the same thought. Otherwise, why would he make us stand here for so long?”

“Pfft! There must be a continuation of this. It will be cool if it is a hidden quest! Why don’t we try? Maybe we will get a hidden quest.”

“Sure!”

They all came to an agreement.

Although Qin Ruo was amused by their silly thoughts, he did nothing to ruin the mood. The ordinary quest of the Graveyard of the Gods was tough enough to drive one crazy. Let alone the hidden quest. Could they actually make it? It would not be just to get two fish from the lake. Or would it be?