Chapter 347: The Destroyed of Gor City
After touching the teleportation crystal, Ethan was instantly transported from the crystal north of Mavelard Gate into the Tower.
For a brief moment, everything around him blurred into streaks of light, as if space itself had folded and pulled him through an unseen path. Then, just as quickly, the sensation vanished.
He opened his eyes and stepped forward. The destination crystal was not near Gor City as he had expected, but instead located on a cliff directly across the tower bridge.
The wind here was stronger, brushing against his clothes as he took in his surroundings.
When Ethan arrived, he did not see a single person coming out of the teleportation crystal. There were no players, no movement, no signs that anyone else had chosen this path. He was completely alone.
So I'm the only one…
He felt certain that the Guild of Champions had greatly affected the readiness of other players.
The outcome of their recent clashes must have left many players weakened. Those who lost likely suffered heavy losses, forcing them to recover instead of pushing forward.
That meant they would not have enough resources or confidence to focus on raiding the tower anytime soon.
That realization made Ethan feel much more at ease and free to act. Without competitors nearby, he had more control over his decisions.
He could explore different areas, test his abilities, and move at his own pace without worrying about ambushes or unexpected battles with other players.
Ethan walked across the stone bridge and entered the tower area. Each step echoed faintly against the stone surface, the sound swallowed by the vast emptiness around him.
Night had already fallen, and the atmosphere inside the tower region felt heavier. The darkness was not just the absence of light, but something deeper, something that made the air itself feel tense.
The situation was quite dangerous for him. Monsters were far more active at night, roaming freely as if the darkness gave them strength.
Still, Ethan did not slow down.
His steps came to a halt when he reached a dirt path in the middle of the forest. Tall trees surrounded him on all sides, their branches forming a canopy that blocked out most of the moonlight.
In the distance, he spotted three snake-human monsters.
Their figures were unsettling. The lower halves of their bodies were long, coiling serpents, while their upper halves resembled humans, each holding crude weapons in their hands.
The three monsters stood still in the middle of the path, as if they had been waiting for something to appear.
Or someone.
Perfect timing.
Ethan took this opportunity to attack. He extended his hand forward, and almost instantly, the Bloodblade Ashura v2 materialized in his grip.
[Mode Ashura Activated]
The moment the mode activated, a surge of power rushed through his body.
Ethan tightened his grip on the sword, and the changes began immediately. A deep red aura burst outward from him, flickering like flames.
His skin was soon covered in glowing red markings, resembling ancient tattoos that pulsed with energy. His eyes shone with the same crimson light, sharp and intense.
The sudden explosion of power startled the monsters.
The three snake-human monsters turned around at once, their expressions shifting as they realized a human stood before them, not as prey, but as a challenger.
Without hesitation, they attacked together. Their serpent bodies slithered forward rapidly, while their human arms swung their weapons with force.
Ethan moved the moment they did.
He charged forward with a powerful leap, his body cutting through the air with precision. His movements were faster and more controlled than before, each step calculated, each motion efficient.
His eyes tracked everything. Every swing, every shift in their bodies, every slight movement was clearly visible to him.
He met their attacks head-on.
Ethan struck them with a series of basic attacks, his blade flashing in the darkness. At the same time, he dodged their counterattacks, twisting his body just enough to avoid damage.
Then, he jumped back, creating distance.
For a split second, everything slowed.
He gathered power into the blade of his sword. The red aura concentrated along its edge, growing brighter, sharper, more intense.
With a swift sideways swing, he released the skill.
Crimson Slash.
BLAST!
The explosion that followed was massive, shaking the surrounding area. The force of the attack struck all three monsters at once, sending them crashing to the ground.
Their bodies were heavily damaged, their HP bars rapidly decreasing until nothing remained.
Within moments, they were gone.
For Ethan, not a single attack from the snake-human monsters had managed to land. Not even a scratch.
With their level of strength, they never stood a chance.
He extended his hand forward, collecting the loot that had dropped. Fragments and a few other items appeared before him, but none of them caught his interest.
His focus was elsewhere.
EXP. Contribution Points. Those were what mattered now.
"Since my level keeps increasing, other items no longer interest me," Ethan said quietly.
He stored his sword, and Ashura Mode deactivated instantly. The red aura faded, the markings disappeared, and his eyes returned to normal.
Now, Ethan continued walking along the dirt path in the forest.
His destination was not the human city.
It was Gor City.
Since he held the ancestral sword of the Blood-Cursed Tribe, he was certain they would welcome him. To them, he would not be seen as an outsider, but as someone connected to their lineage.
He kept walking, the forest growing quieter with each step.
Then suddenly, he stopped.
Ethan moved quickly, hiding behind a cluster of trees. His gaze was fixed on the distant view of Gor City.
"What… happened?!"
Shock filled his voice.
From where he stood, he could see that the walls of Gor City had collapsed. The gates were completely destroyed. Smoke no longer rose, but the damage was unmistakable.
Ethan did not rush forward.
A group capable of this… isn't ordinary.
He made a decision.
"Lyodra!"
[Mode: Aggressive Soul Servant]
[1. Lyodra Vulkanis | Lv. 10 | S-Rank | Passive: Aggressive | 2500 MP]
Lyodra appeared and flew forward. Her small chibi form began to change, her body stretching and transforming into that of an adult woman.
Now, she stood before Ethan in a blazing red dress, flames dancing around her as she hovered in the air.
"Go to Gor City and observe the situation for five minutes. Then come back," Ethan ordered.
Lyodra nodded without speaking.
She immediately shot into the sky, leaving behind a trail of red light that slowly faded into the darkness.
Ethan remained where he was, staying alert and watching his surroundings carefully.
Five minutes.
Lyodra arrived above Gor City and began circling the area. Her eyes scanned everything below, taking in every detail.
Five minutes later, she returned. As she approached Ethan, her form shrank back into its chibi version.
The moment the transformation completed, everything she had seen transferred directly into Ethan's mind.
Ethan saw the true state of Gor City.
Every building had been destroyed. Nothing remained except ash and debris. The ground itself was scorched, as if a massive fire had consumed everything in its path.
There were no survivors.
Not a single one.
A heavy silence filled his thoughts.
What kind of group could do this?
Ethan stepped out from behind the trees and walked toward the city.
He passed through the destroyed gate and entered what remained of Gor City. Dust and ash covered the ground beneath his feet.
Everything was gone.
Even the grand palace that once belonged to the Queen of the Blood-Cursed Tribe had disappeared without a trace.
Ethan walked further until he reached the center of the city. He turned slowly, scanning the surroundings, searching for anything that could serve as a clue.
"What exactly happened here?"
Before he could continue, a voice suddenly shouted from the forest.
"You?! Are you one of the Telmarian Tribe?!"
Ethan turned instantly.
A man rushed toward him at full speed. Red tattoos covered his body, marking him as a member of the Blood-Cursed Tribe.
Without hesitation, the man attacked, swinging his spear toward Ethan.
Ethan reacted quickly, jumping back while summoning the Bloodblade Ashura once again.
[Mode Ashura Activated]
The spear clashed with his sword. The impact rang out sharply. Then, the man froze.
His eyes widened in shock as he realized who stood before him.
"Lord Ethan?!"
Both of them immediately stopped fighting and jumped back, putting distance between them.
"You said Telmarian?" Ethan asked.
"Yes, Lord Ethan," the man replied, his voice filled with tension.
"The Telmarian Tribe has joined forces with outsiders… to destroy Gor City and the Blood-Cursed Tribe."