BXBX NOVEL Chapter 168:
Probably because Murphy, who held the core bead, had already reached the Anderma Hills, allowing him to finally regain the connection between his Computation Bead and the upper-level node after being “disconnected” for two days. The support from his “family” made Niuniu’s confidence skyrocket!
The note triggering that murderous war quest had also lit up on his side, and besides this, Niuniu, a little player in a special area, also triggered a Hidden Quest from Murphy:
【Hidden Quest – ‘Path to New Life’ has been triggered!
Quest content: Using the map coordinates of the Computation Bead and the core bead, lead the White Oak Battalion to enter the Transia border at the fastest speed and rendezvous with the reception team led by Lord Murphy.
Quest Objective: If the remaining number of the battalion at the end of the escape is ≥60%, it will be considered successful. On this basis, for every additional 10% of the remaining number, an advanced reward will be obtained.
Basic Quest Reward: Standard – Commander level ‘Clan Guard’ set parts X3.
Advanced Quest Reward: Blood Vulture Clan Warrior treasure chest key X1.
note!This quest is extremely risky, testers please prepare for the worst.
note!
This quest can be shared with up to 10 people.】
“It’s really time to seek fortune in danger! If I handle this trip well, I can basically ‘graduate’ my equipment at this stage.”
Niuniu’s eyes lit up when he saw the Quest Reward. He wasted no time and posted on the forum:
《High-difficulty Hidden Quest triggered! Main Tank in position! Recruiting DPS, Healers, and Off-tanks for the quest team. Those who have passed the Black Iron trial, press 1 to join! With pictures for proof!》
The post became extremely popular just a few minutes after it was published. Mainly because Niuniu directly pasted the Hidden Quest panel into the forum, and the generous rewards made all the little players exclaim “Holy crap!”
“Clan Guard” is currently the “graduation set” that can be obtained, only by exchanging Veteran Badges from the dungeon that advances into the Blood Vulture Halls. The problem is that the dungeon is not only difficult to clear but can only be done once a week. Niuniu’s quest directly gives three parts to choose from, and there’s also a treasure chest to open.
With good luck, one could go from rags to riches in one go.
It can indeed be called a generous reward.
However, after understanding the quest content, even though most players are not afraid of death, they know that they cannot meet the requirements to do the quest.
The White Oak Battalion has 1,400 people!
Even calculated at the minimum task completion standard of 60%, this means that the 10-person team also needs to rescue at least 840 people. Although they don’t quite understand what level of power the Circle Tower is on the continent, the fact that such a large-scale Witch Hunter battalion is on high alert suggests that it should not be a pushover.
It’s basically an ultra-hard quest where a slight problem could lead to a team wipe.
PrecipitationNiuniuIsNotAfraidofDifficulties: 【Brothers below Black Iron Rank, don’t come join the fun! It’s not that I don’t want to bring you, but there’s no way to bring you. This quest is related to the plot advancement, please understand.
Large-scale team battles require elites to join the group.
Also!
If you can’t ride a horse, don’t waste time either. This quest requires participants to be able to quickly ride horses through the Anderma Hills and the eastern Prussia border.】
OnboardJoyStick: 【Count me in! I can be the off-tank, I can bring three Black Iron rank brothers over.】
SwordSaintAshina: 【What off-tank are you talking about, Brother Stick? Our Orchid has 8 Endurance, okay! Although she hasn’t passed the Black Iron trial, her riding skills are definitely the best among all players. I’ve also passed the Black Iron trial, and I’ve ‘borrowed’ a super powerful weapon from Lady Miriam!
I can be the main DPS!
Lumina can shout to give you all buffs, and no one denies that Sister Pomegranate has the strongest martial arts among players now, right? Plus, we have a flying vehicle!
So, all four of us are coming.】
MeowKing: 【Haha, so you’re missing a healer now? Then why not let me.】
PrecipitationNiuniuIsNotAfraidofDifficulties: 【Uh, Brother Meow, the White Oak Battalion doesn’t lack NPC healers, and you haven’t passed the Black Iron trial yet, so what I mean is】
MeowKing: 【Damn! Are healing professions already out of favor?】
NorthForestDog’sPaddle: 【Such a difficult quest must be tackled by the most capable people. I recommend Brother Mao! Let Brother Mao take the last spot, he can ride a horse too.】
PrecipitationNiuniuIsNotAfraidofDifficulties: 【But your Brother Mao is only level 7, isn’t that a bit.】
LikeATigerCanEdgeWood: 【I can do it! Don’t worry, brother.】
OnboardJoyStick: 【I believe in Brother Mao too! I’ll vouch for him. If there’s any problem on his part, I’ll make up for all losses caused, OK?】
PrecipitationNiuniuIsNotAfraidofDifficulties: 【Alright! Set off quickly, we’re about to leave the Pioneer Fortress. I estimate we won’t get far before being entangled by Circle Tower’s spirit hunters.
Don’t just rush ahead!
You’re responsible for the reception, so what I mean is】
OnboardJoyStick: 【With me here, it’s not your turn to command! Now open the group and pull people into the team, set up a private chat communication group with your Computation Bead as the node. Report coordinates every ten minutes!
We’re setting off now.】
Niuniu exited the forum, operated on the Computation Bead, and the 10-person team was quickly formed.
He reported the coordinates on the map in the team communication, then looked up to see Lady Amber walking over with a horse, casually taking out a strangely shaped, glowing, obviously enchanted one-handed hammer from the saddlebag and throwing it to him.
“What are you doing?”
Amber asked. Niuniu hung the masterwork veteran one-handed hammer on his waist, adjusted the heavy shield on his back, and answered with a grinning face:
“I’m rallying people.”
“Rallying people? What does that mean?”
Amber mounted her horse and draped the hunter’s cloak over her back, curiously saying:
“Is that slang from your side?”
“Yes, it means finding people to help.”
Niuniu also mounted his own steed. Thanks to his escorting Lieutenant Frayzer back to the Pioneer Fortress, the lieutenant personally gifted him a warhorse. It’s not comparable to the demon-hunting steeds raised by the Witch Hunters’ secret methods, but it’s gentle and loyal, which is already quite good for an adventurer.
“I don’t think your companions will do very well.”
Amber pushed her pirate-like eye patch and said:
“I admit they’re fearless in battle, but facing the Circle Tower’s spirit hunters, courage alone won’t accomplish much. Better not let them come and die in vain, right?”
“You’re returning to Transia, and will be Lord Murphy’s subjects in the future. As Lord Murphy’s warriors, it’s our duty to protect you, understand? Do you understand duty? Oath? Our actions are our own, regardless of whether you need them or not.”
Niuniu snorted and said some pretty words, making Amber glance at him. Then the petite scout made a gesture and said:
“Stay close to me later! We’re setting off early as the battalion’s vanguard to scout ahead for the main force. This job is dangerous. If Circle Tower’s dog thieves have set up an ambush in advance, we might not make it back.”
At this point, Amber lowered her voice and said:
“But you’re an otherworlder, you’re not afraid of these things. So if I die in this battle, please send my ashes to Hunter’s Cabin No. 16 next to the Evergreen Forest in the Antani region. I grew up there, and I hope my soul can return to my hometown.”
“Can’t you say something nice? You won’t die, believe me! We won’t allow you powerful NPCs to die.”
Niuniu was impatient to hear this.
Although just an NPC, he had obviously come to view Amber as a friend.
He wanted to say a few words of persuasion, but seeing all the Witch Hunter scouts with a ready-to-die look, he didn’t speak again. He silently recorded this information, guessing that if Amber’s hometown was in the distant Antani region, maybe he could get a quest from Amber to go to that region in the future?
A few seconds later, several scouts walked over with a young Spirit Mage who was tied up. The guy in the black uniform looked very frightened, but when he saw Amber, his eyes lit up and he shouted:
“Amber! Auntie! What on earth are you guys doing?”
“Shut up, Heru.”
Amber looked back at her fellow villager.
Over the past period of time, her information about the Circle Tower and the internal workings of the Pioneer Army all came from this unfortunate fellow.
As for the “Auntie” title, well, who among village-raised kids doesn’t have a relative younger than themselves but surprisingly senior in family rank?
In any case, the unfortunate Heru was the one arranged to guard the Computation Bead attachment today. The Witch Hunters “looted it clean,” and he, the directly responsible person, was definitely going to be in big trouble.
So Amber said to him:
“You have two choices now. First, we knock you out, stab you in a non-vital spot, so you’ll only be reprimanded but not in danger. Second, come with us to Transia.
I know that ghostly place has nothing now, but the lord there is desperate for all kinds of talent. A jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none like you might just make something of yourself there.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
Heru, beaten up with a swollen face, looked left and right, and made up his mind without much time.
His decisiveness, contrary to his usual indecisiveness, made Amber blink her remaining eye. She asked curiously:
“Didn’t you always tell me that your dream was to get a mid-level title in the Circle Tower and then retire to a nice place?”
“Uh, my mentor died of illness a week ago.”
Heru said quite embarrassedly in a low voice:
“He was my only backer in the Circle Tower. Now that he’s gone, it’s almost impossible for someone of my caliber to climb up. The internal competition in the Circle Tower is brutal, and I don’t have the confidence, so I might as well tag along with you guys.
Although I don’t know what you’re planning to do…
But since Lieutenant Frayzer is actively helping you, I suppose the prospects should be good. If all else fails, after sending you to Transia, I can also go to the Anju region to seek refuge with the Carpe family.”
“Alright, then go find old Norman, he’ll arrange a place for you. Don’t wander off, got it?”
Amber instructed, then let her subordinates take away her “little nephew” who was two years older than her. She, Niuniu, and fifty other elite scouts were ready to set out from the Pioneer Fortress.
Fully armed Natalie, carrying the Great Oak Sacred Blade on her back, came to see them off. The gray-haired demon huntress held Amber’s hand and said in a brief but deep tone:
“Don’t you dare die, you hear? After this life-risking mission, old Norman and Porter are planning to retire, so when we get to Transia, I’ll still need you as my deputy.”
“No big deal, we’ve crawled out of hell more than once.”
Amber grinned, very coolly giving a hunter’s salute to her old captain. She took a deep breath and said:
“See you in Transia!”
“Mm, see you in Transia.”
Natalie nodded.
She watched as Amber and the other scouts galloped past the side gate of the Pioneer Fortress camp. There should have been guards and military police on duty here, but today there was no one in sight.
Natalie looked back at the main fortress.
On the edges of the second, third, and top floors, almost all the Pioneer Army commanders who had fought alongside these Witch Hunters for the past ten years were there.
In the past, these guys looked down on Witch Hunters, after all, the impact of the Avalon Church’s betrayal was too bad.
But after the war ended, seeing these comrades about to suffer a second persecution by the Circle Tower, even the most arrogant officers felt sorrow for the rabbit’s death as a fox, and couldn’t bear it in their hearts.
This is a military camp.
Everyone here is a soldier!
Soldiers are different from civilians. Even if they despise each other, as long as they live in the same military camp and eat from the same pot, they are comrades in arms! Bullying one means bullying all.
They can’t directly confront the Circle Tower due to military regulations, but at a time like this, they can turn a blind eye.
Moreover, when General Loren is leading by pretending to be blind, which other officer dares to get riled up?
“Hey!”
As Natalie mounted her horse, preparing to join the main force of her White Oak Battalion, the quartermaster of the Pioneer Army suddenly called out to her.
This bad-tempered guy, who would usually act like his horse died if someone took a few extra bullets, now had his usual deadpan face on. He actively spoke up in a gloomy tone:
“The Black Disaster is coming soon. Will we see you again on the battlefield against the gnolls?”
“What? Can’t bear to part with us?”
Natalie grinned and joked. The quartermaster responded with a cold laugh:
“Of course I can’t. Where else can I find such good cannon fodder? I heard my drinking buddy old Finoch is your father? Why didn’t you say so before?”
Natalie remained silent.
The quartermaster pursed his lips, muttered something under his breath, then tossed an old spirit bag to Natalie. He took out a small flask, took a swig secretly, and said:
“That’s what I lost to your old man last time. He left in a hurry and didn’t have time to collect it. It’s just right for you to use. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I can tell you that old Finoch is the best man I’ve ever met in my life.
Make him proud of you, girl.”
With that, the old man walked away with his hands behind his back, swaying. Natalie, on horseback, opened the spirit bag and looked inside.
It was a set of knight’s armor.
Not the sacred oak armor used by white knights, just ordinary steel armor, but of very fine quality.
However, this was a set of lady’s armor, so the old quartermaster must have lied just now.
This was a parting gift he specially prepared for Natalie, perhaps out of respect for his old drinking buddy, or perhaps for the sake of their ten years of fighting together.
At this moment, Natalie raised her head and looked back at the Pioneer Fortress one last time.
In her previous life, she hated this place.
Because it represented the shackles of a dim past and a future without hope.
But now, about to leave, she suddenly felt that this place with its strict military discipline seemed to have a touch of humanity hidden within.
“Thanks.”
She said softly to the air, then straightened up, turned her horse around, and rode towards the Witch Hunters’ quarters.
——
“I think we should meet those Witch Hunters at Anderma Hills.”
Fully armed, Maxim stood beside Murphy, looking at the dusk about to fall, and said in a low voice:
“Isn’t this a bit too provocative as it is now?”
“Provocative? Aren’t we on the land of Anderma Hills, Max? Aren’t we within the borders of Transia? This is our territory, we can go wherever we want. Besides, I don’t see anyone crossing the border at this time.”
Murphy said without turning his head.
The loyal Maxim glanced at the two border monuments erected by the Pioneer Army less than 100 meters ahead.
Then he looked back at the bloodthirsty player warriors behind him, and the nearly hundred fully armed veterans from the Kadman Civilian Self-Defense Force. Further away, two Spirit Mages from the Blood Vulture Clan were maintaining a portal to let more soldiers through.
He fell silent for a moment but didn’t speak up again.
Although this huge formation was a bit different from the “covert reception” he had imagined, Lord Murphy must have his reasons for doing so. He just needed to follow orders, the rest wasn’t important!
“Transia’s army! Step back!”
Beyond the border monuments a hundred meters away, several men wearing black Spirit Mage robes galloped over on horseback. They stopped outside the monuments and shouted to this side, amplifying their voices with spirit magic:
“The Spirit Hunter Legion of the Circle Tower is carrying out official duties! Please do not interfere!”
“Oh, the wild dogs of the Circle Tower are barking. Looks like they’re planning to ambush the Witch Hunters around here. The encirclement is already set up, and they’re hoping to scare me, a vampire who crawled back from the hell of Kadman, with a few words invoking the name of the Circle Tower.”
Murphy snorted.
He glanced to the side. The expressionless Blood Vulture Grand Duchess Tris didn’t respond, only extending her left hand forward in a grasping motion. Under her control, terrifying crimson spirit energy coiled and tightened like a giant shadow snake.
Without any effective resistance from those Spirit Mages, it dragged them into the air, horses and all. Then, as Tris’s fingers closed and rubbed together, the air in front exploded like a burst flour sack.
Blood and bones flew, men and horses perished, lives extinguished.
From beginning to end, Tris didn’t utter a word, and the guys opposite couldn’t say a second sentence before they died.
Such a horrifying execution scene made the players who watched the cutscene exclaim “Awesome!”, but it made Murphy’s eyes narrow.
Although it was just the most common spirit binding, how could its power reach such a level? Tris seemed to be in a very bad mood right now. Who was foolish enough to provoke her?
“Midnight and blood oath, gentleman and lady’s dance, oh how romantic! Lord Murphy’s skill in flirting with girls is truly superb!”
Tris’s ethereal voice suddenly sounded by Murphy’s ear.
She curled her fingers, gritting her teeth and said:
“In a while, you and that vixen Shani better dance for me on the battlefield! If you don’t dance well, this old lady will crush you both!”
“???”
Murphy’s eyes widened.
Hey, hey, hey, what’s going on? Which hunter randomly shot the wrong target? How did the hatred suddenly shift to me? This count clearly didn’t do anything! Hey, this must be a system bug, right?
Where’s the GM?
GM, come save me quick!