Ashen Dragon

Outside the scramble in Barto City, players had even expanded to other regions of the Anzeta Great Wilderness. Some players already planned to head to the headquarters of Ashen Nest, the most dangerous and wealthiest place in adventurer's eyes—Dragon Valley.

In these five years, a crude road had already been laid between Dragon Valley and Barto City, called the "Bumpy Road" by the goblins. It made it easier for monster kin to come for support.

And now, a group of players was marching along the Bumpy Road.

They all came from a later renowned magic guild, [Magic Coin]. But for now, it was just an obscure little guild with only about twenty members. The president was [Charlotte], one of the few steadfast mage players.

In this version where you couldn't get Magic Scrolls, mages, with their annoying skill checks, had turned into the useless "Mage Descendants," while warlocks took up the banner of the magic-system profession, being known as the "true mage masters."

Even within the [Magic Coin] guild, there were only a handful of players still sticking to the mage profession. Most had turned into warlocks.

At this moment, five players, all elite members at level three, had come here.

"President, are you sure we can get spells here?"

The female player ID'd as "Sky Flying Witch" asked.

She was a wild sorcerer, although a warlock profession, she was one of the sub-occupations most likely to sabotage teammates—wild sorcerers' innate magic came from the wild chaotic power lurking beneath the order of creation, causing their spells to often release untamed magic surges.

Charlotte looked at the crude sheepskin map in his hand, pointing at a wobbly skull icon:

"It should be here—the Tower of the Great Sage."

"I spent eight gold coins to buy out the tavern stock for the ogre overseers, so this map shouldn't be wrong. They seemed quite naive and honest."

Vice President Mingyue, standing beside him, looked uneasy: "But I heard those ogres talk when they got drunk; their boss is also an ogre. Are you sure these big ogres...can be mages?"

Charlotte recalled the ogres lying on the ground drinking, shouting "meat! meat! meat!", and his mouth involuntarily twitched:

"Should...should be okay."

He didn't have much confidence either. Coming to Dragon Valley this time, he was prepared for returning empty-handed. After all, eight gold coins were still fairly easy for the whole guild to scrape together.

"We at least have to try it."

"To restore mage glory is my duty!"

Determination shone in Charlotte's gaze. He was the last hope for mage players.

"President!"

Mingyue felt deeply moved.

[Magic Coin] was a guild formed by mage enthusiasts, although most of them had switched to warlocks, they still held faith in the mage masters.

Soon, the team from [Magic Coin] saw the outline of Rock Fortress from afar.

"Damn, it's so big?"

"This fortress looks pretty spectacular."

Wyverns roared in the sky, great goblins patrolled back and forth outside the city walls, and from within the fortress came a fierce roar—the sound of Ashen Nest's army training.

After observing for some time, Charlotte concluded, "The fortress can't be entered from the front. The officials probably won't let us obtain spells so easily."

"I think they discriminate against mage players."

"Yeah, I think so too."

Sky Flying Witch gritted her teeth in anger.

At this moment, Mingyue keenly noticed a huge rock on the hillside not far outside the fortress, it seemed to have a passage behind it. He pointed in that direction:

"Captain, we can hide there and then sneak in."

"Good idea."

Charlotte praised.

So, the five players from [Magic Coin] sneaked behind the huge rock.

However, they didn't know they had made the same mistake every adventurer makes. This rock had witnessed countless adventurer deaths, and they would be the next ones.

"Click."

Mingyue sensed something was wrong as soon as his foot stepped in.

"Wait! Don't come over!"

The complex rune array beneath his foot lit up instantly, and a surge of magic washed over him. Mingyue saw flames reflected in his eyes.

"Oh...shit."

"Boom——"

With the sound of flames burning the air, Mingyue was engulfed by the guardian inscription's blast, turning into a charred corpse, losing his first and precious life.

Although Charlotte didn't step into the rune array, his face was still blackened by the blast.

"There's an ambush. Be careful, everyone!"

"Mingyue is dead, we can't lose anyone else."

He noticed another spell in the corner besides the guardian inscription, but he couldn't identify its effect.

Meanwhile, the great goblin guards on Rock Fortress had noticed the commotion. They casually approached while chatting, "Another bunch of dumb adventurers fell into the trap," "Guess how many this time," "How many do you think will die?"

Charlotte watched the approaching great goblin guards and said to the group: "No, we need to leave now, or we might get wiped out here."

"Everyone, use this passage. Someone cast Mage Armor on me, I temporarily can't protect myself." Charlotte commanded.

Sky Flying Witch quickly responded: "Oh, sure."

"Mage Armor!"

A magical aura appeared in her hand as she reached out to touch Charlotte's body.

However, the surrounding magic power suddenly became chaotic, wildly fluctuating.

[Your casting triggered an untamed magic surge, creating an unknown magical effect!]

"Bang!"

A loud explosion sound rang.

Charlotte was unexpectedly transformed into a docile and cute sheep by the random spell effect from the wild magic surge.

"Baa～～"

Even through the sheep's bleat, one could sense Charlotte's helpless despair.

"Ah, sorry, triggered a wild surge…"

Sky Flying Witch quickly bowed to apologize to the sheep, but seeing the president's adorable appearance, she couldn't hold back and laughed.

"Forget it. Let's retreat first."

"If we stay here, the losses will be greater."

Reminded a team member beside them.

"Baa～～"

The sheep-turned Charlotte also agreed with a bleat.

So, Sky Flying Witch and the remaining two team members quickly crawled into the passage, preparing to escape through it.

"Why are there more?"

"What is this?"

But someone triggered another spell, Web Spell, and got stuck in the thick, sticky web that shot out.

"Rumble——"

A huge rock rolled down from the end of the passage, mercilessly crushing those who were trapped.

"Baa..."

Charlotte as a sheep let out a despairing bleat.

"The officials must be targeting us. They're too cruel. How could there be more traps here——" Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire

He silently roared in his mind.