Team C, led by Kael, was primarily comprised of players from Starlight Town. The ranks included members from guilds like Laughing Tribe and Petal Veil, alongside a healthy mix of unguilded locals.
Normally, this crowd was a rowdy bunch, always loitering in Isolde’s office to shoot the breeze or complain about quests. If they didn't get chewed out by her at least once before hitting the grinding zones, they felt like their day hadn't really started. But today, with Kael at the helm, they fell dead silent. They knew exactly how much was riding on the survival of the NPCs in their caravan.
As the convoy pushed past the tree line, the terrain funneled into a narrow gorge. The cheering spectators who had seen them off had long since turned back.
Kael marched at the vanguard. He glanced sideways at the two priests marching beside him, Carys and Briony. Both looked visibly on edge.
"When exactly did you two join Crimson Bloom?" Kael asked casually. "I don't recognize you."
"About two weeks ago," Carys replied, her voice tight. "I'm the older sister. This is Briony."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. "Carys... Briony... Now that you mention it, you do look familiar. What guild were you in before this?"
"Ah? I..." Carys stammered, freezing up.
Briony quickly covered for her. "We transferred from a guild over in the Oasis of Zafira."
Kael nodded slowly. "The Oasis of Zafira. Half a month ago. Meaning you hit Level 30 two weeks ago. I didn't realize small-time guilds out in the desert were power-leveling that efficiently."
Briony faltered. "Uh, we just got lucky..."
A cryptic smile tugged at the corner of Kael's mouth. "Right. Lucky. Well, my luck isn't so bad either. I actually owe you two a thank you today."
"A thank you?" The sisters exchanged a bewildered look.
Kael ignored them, turning his focus back to the road. Judging by the terrain, the curtain was about to rise.
Suddenly, a chorus of metallic clicks echoed from the brush. The vanguard bogged down instantly.
Slow traps. Dozens of them triggered at once.
An instant later, the ground erupted in flames. The air crackled with condensed mana before a massive [Blizzard] tore through the sky, raining jagged ice down on the convoy.
"Ambush!" Kael roared.
Halos snapped to life beneath the targeted players and NPCs. Glowing shield and flame icons flashed over their heads—defensive buffs courtesy of their Paladins and Priests reacting to the ambush.
As he barked orders, Kael drew his bow.
[Phantom Barrage!]
A swarm of damage numbers flooded the treeline. The channelers broke, and the [Blizzard] abruptly ceased. Kael immediately popped his clone, ready to push the offensive.
But the moment his double materialized, the adjacent river violently surged. A massive tidal wave crashed over the banks, swallowing Kael and his clone whole.
When the water receded, the vanguard position was completely empty. They had been dragged into the rapids.
Underwater, Kael quickly downed a [Gills Potion] and kicked toward the shore. But the water thickened, turning viscous like syrup. Even with his [Toad's Webbing] equip effect, he couldn't break the surface in time.
A massive sphere of condensed water clamped around him.
[Aqueous Prison]!
He was trapped. Again.
"Hahahaha!"
A grating, familiar laugh echoed from the riverbank. Several recognizable figures stepped into view: Caleb Mordant, Magnus, Ashveil, Mr. Perfect, and Gorgon.
Caleb hefted his Gilded Greatsword over his shoulder, sneering at Kael's submerged form. "Dawnbreaker, Dawnbreaker... All that raw power, and not a single brain cell. Did you really think you were safe just because you didn't step in the water? Newsflash: The Murloc Prophet's aquatic skills come with forced displacement."
Kael coldly drew an arrow and loosed it at Caleb through the prison wall. Caleb didn't even flinch at the incoming high-damage strike. The moment the arrow pierced the water barrier, it lost all momentum, sinking harmlessly to the riverbed like it had hit a wall of gel.
"Hahaha!" Caleb's crew erupted in laughter.
Caleb clutched his chest in mock terror. "Oh man, I was so scared! I really thought that ultra-high damage was gonna one-shot me!"
Magnus chimed in, playing along. "Careful, Cousin. Don't celebrate yet. He still hasn't used his secret ultimate attack."
Caleb gasped dramatically. "Oh no! What if he turns into a Super Saiyan and breaks out of the water prison?"
They all stared at Kael, waiting for a reaction. Kael just floated there, glaring at them with dead eyes.
Ashveil smirked. "Cousin, don't you remember? Last time we caught him, he used his transformation before entering the prison."
Caleb slapped a hand over his mouth. "Oops! I'm so stupid. I was trying to bait out his cooldown."
Kael's absolute lack of a reaction was getting under Caleb's skin. He wanted to see panic. He wanted to see despair.
Dropping the act, Caleb's face darkened. "You don't know when to quit, do you, Dawnbreaker? You think we can't kill you because of your high defense? Guess what. You were never the target today. They are!"
Caleb pointed his sword directly at the helpless production NPCs huddled on the road. "Or maybe you're counting on your elite convoy to fight us off?"
The moment the words left his mouth, a resonant chime echoed from behind him.
Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong.
Six chimes.
[System: Sunfire Bell (Level 6) – 6 Chimes Active]
· Health: +14,400
· Physical Attack: +7,200
· Magic Power: +5,760
· Physical Defense: +4,320
· Magic Defense: +3,600
· Spell Effectiveness: +108%
With a massive 108% boost to spell effectiveness, Caleb knew Kael’s team stood zero chance of surviving his AoE bombardment.
He glanced at Kael, hoping the stats would finally wipe that stoic look off his face. Still nothing. Irritated, Caleb decided to twist the knife.
"Did you honestly think everyone in Starlight Town was loyal to you? Let me show you how wrong you are. Come on over, boys!"
From within the ranks of Starlight Town's 6,000 escorts, nearly eight hundred players broke formation and crossed the lines. Many of them were the same veterans who joked around in Isolde's office every day.
"Still think you can win?" Caleb snarled, desperate to see defeat in Kael's eyes.
Instead, Kael threw his head back and let out a booming laugh.
"Hahaha! Good job, Carys, Briony! You really played this idiot like a fiddle. Don't worry, I promised you Lila would reward you handsomely, and she will."
"What?" Caleb, the twins, and the rest of the ambushers stared at Kael in utter shock.
Splash.
Before anyone could blink, Kael was standing directly in front of Caleb Mordant, dripping wet, and completely free of the prison.