"Quite lively, isn't it?"
Xiaye Qiuyu looked around. On this modest patch of open ground gathered nearly three hundred players, most of whom were spellcasters with an average level reaching six.
The notice board back in Isdalia had clearly stated that Dragon-Pact Sorcerer required a sorcerer level of five or higher.
Naturally, quite a few premier guilds had also dispatched well-equipped, fully rostered high-level adventuring parties, all present to help their team's sorcerer complete the class advancement.
Renowned premier guilds such as Wangquan, Jiange, the Machine Cult, and Magic Coin had all sent their elite squads, determined to secure a spot for the Dragon-Pact Sorcerer.
The chatter among the players was a cacophony of noise. Elite teams had begun making preparations and discussing tactics.
Of course, most were just shooting the breeze.
"The guild master said slots for this advanced class are extremely limited. Our Wangquan has to claim one!"
"This is the only caster advanced class released officially so far. Its power is definitely nothing to scoff at."
"Brother Kuangchao already said we have to get a slot this time. Some big shot in the guild needs a high-temperature furnace over a thousand degrees Celsius for his research, and he's counting on you guys turning into humanoid space heaters."
"Holy crap, the big shots in our guild are getting crazier by the day. Last time, that Genetor big shot asked if I was interested in joining a crossbreeding experiment. When I asked what my role would be, he told me I'd be the test subject..."
"To restore the glory of caster lords is our bounden duty!"
"Wait, isn't this a sorcerer? Only wizards get called caster lords, don't they? Whatever, they're both caster classes, close enough!"
"Sister Witch didn't show up this time? What? She said she prefers her original Wild Magic Sorcerer? What the hell..."
"..."
Meanwhile, the Cult of the Five Fireballs to which Xiaye Qiuyu belonged was not an actual guild, but more of an enthusiast club for exchanging spell techniques, boasting little real clout.
"Still... it's not like I don't have teammates."
*Roar—*
A screech echoed from the sky.
"What the hell?"
"There are wyverns here too?"
"No, it's that animal Mantou!"
"He fined me fifty copper coins last time! And locked me in solitary for two days!"
"Why is he everywhere? Damn it!"
Two wyverns beat their wings in the sky, uttering high-pitched screeches before circling down for a gradual landing.
The players on the ground scattered at once. One after the other, the two wyverns touched down, kicking up plumes of dust.
"*Cough, cough!*"
"Always gotta look cool, what a pretentious bastard!"
Amid the players' grumbling, Mantou and Singo leapt down from the wyverns' backs, making a grandiose entrance through the billowing dust.
Mantou declared with high spirits:
"The strongest always make their entrance last!"
"Qiuyu, we're here!"
"Hmph, now that our pro quartet is reunited, won't a puny advancement quest be..."
"Wait... where's Brother Zhankuang?"
Only then did everyone notice a hulking, burly man still clinging to the back of a wyvern—none other than the top barbarian player, Tiansheng Zhankuang.
Yet his current condition was not looking good.
Tiansheng Zhankuang had his eyes squeezed shut, thick arms clamped tightly around the wyvern's torso; his immense grip squeezed the beast so hard it cried out in pain.
"Isn't that the Four Drudges?"
"Why's one of them got his eyes closed?"
"Young folks really have great stamina—falling asleep the moment they board the flight."
The aura of mighty champions that Mantou and his buddy had just spent effort building instantly collapsed into nothing, sending chuckles through the watching crowd.
Mantou scratched his head with an awkward chuckle.
"Uh... haha."
"Looks like Brother Zhankuang is a bit wyvern-sick. Give us a sec, guys."
Mantou leaned in, taking the opportunity to pat Tiansheng Zhankuang's glistening bald head.
"Brother Zhankuang?"
"Wake up, we're here. Everyone's watching."
Only then did Tiansheng Zhankuang open his eyes. Wobbling, he jumped down from the wyvern's back, sheepishly rubbing his well-polished bald head. "Sorry, everyone, kept you waiting. Old habit of mine."
Even Xiaye Qiuyu's lips twitched slightly as she said in exasperation, "Brother Zhankuang, let's not ride wyverns next time. We could take the train and hike the rest of the way."
Only now was the four-person party truly assembled in full.
Mantou crossed his arms and took another step forward, forcing up his bravado to deliver his pre-rehearsed lines:
"Hmph, now that our pro quartet is reunited, won't a puny advancement quest be a walk in the park?"
Yet as the saying goes: the first drumroll rallies the spirit, the second flags, and the third exhausts it.
By now, Mantou's wind had completely gone out of his sails. Without any of his earlier swagger, his display only drew rounds of derisive laughter from the onlookers.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Did anyone ask you?"
"Isn't that Charisma 9 Mantou?"
"Mantou, stop flexing here and go back to editing your videos."
Singo patted Mantou's shoulder with a sigh. "Let's quit embarrassing ourselves. Out of all the posers I've ever had to carry, you're by far the worst."
Xiaye Qiuyu said helplessly,
"All right, let's talk about serious business."
Hearing this, Tiansheng Zhankuang leaned in as well.
Xiaye Qiuyu pulled out a map and told the other three, "I came thoroughly prepared this time. I managed to pry insider intel from the folks at the Ministry of Magic."
She pointed toward the massive fissure in the distance.
It was filled with churning, blistering white smoke; across the terrain, besides solid volcanic rock, ran fiery-red rivers of flowing magma.
Bubbles constantly surfaced and popped, releasing noxious vapors that made the air feel as if it were on the verge of catching fire.
This was the only entrance leading to the Tower of Karmic Fire—the Lava Caverns, and the starting point of the trial.
"Stage one: the Path of Burning."
"It's full of lava and the temperature is searing. On top of that, toxic volcanic gases fill the area. Without at least a 7% red dragon bloodline, getting through is nearly impossible unless you bring along Heat Resistance Elixirs and Breath-Holding Elixirs."
However, as Xiaye Qiuyu's gaze swept over the three of them, taking in their prominent red-draconic features, she couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head.
"Well, that shouldn't be much of a problem for you guys."
"Next are the monsters..."
"Steam mephits. Small mephits capable of spewing high-temperature steam breath, creating downpours of boiling water, and detonating upon death."
"Magma golems. Large elemental magical beasts possessed of immense strength, capable of hurling burning chunks of sulfur."
"Salamanders. They can spit flaming mucus, resembling wingless mini-wyverns."
"Fire elementals. They look like masses of living flame..."
"..."
Xiaye Qiuyu explained in detail while the other three listened with rapt attention.
Yet cries of agony and sizzling crackles soon carried over from the distance.
"Holy crap—!"
"What kind of hellhole is this?! It burns!"
"My clothes caught fire!"
"I can't breathe! The air is poisonous!"
Not every player had access to detailed intelligence, after all. Most solo players and unguilded stragglers just played it by ear, hoping to test their luck.
Listening to the players' wails, Xiaye Qiuyu said with palpable delight, "Let's move. Looks like people are already scouting the path for us."
"The sound of burning flames..."
"...is truly music to my ears."
Xiaye Qiuyu flashed a radiant smile.
Yet that smile sent a shiver straight down Mantou's spine.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Mantou mused inwardly, *Sure enough, most top pro players harbor some twisted personal quirks.*
*Tsk, I noticed it long ago. Qiuyu looks like a gentle girl on the surface, but deep down, she's a vicious piece of work.*
*Brother Zhankuang disregards everyone once he sees red in battle, and Sing-dog is just a raving lunatic.*
*Sigh. Looks like I'm the only normal person in this whole team.*
Mantou let out a lingering sigh, casually coated his sword with Oil of Accuracy, and lifted the blade to follow behind.
Chapter 425