Chapter 52: The Path of Blood
After speaking with General Mars, Ryan selected the Path of Blood quest and received the quest item: a Radiant Retribution Army Insignia.
Delivering this insignia to the commanding general at Blood Gorge would activate the Honor system—allowing Ryan to earn honor points by defeating hostile players, which could be used to purchase honor gear later.
He spent a few quiet minutes sorting through his inventory with precision. Once inside Blood Gorge, bank access would be restricted, so he made sure to pack everything he might need.
Ryan held a distinct advantage over most players. His personal inventory had over a hundred slots, and he carried numerous enhancement items that shouldn’t have been accessible at this stage of the game.
Among them were crude grenades—handmade using the schematics he’d acquired from the Engineering trainer back in Astral City. These weren’t items players were meant to see for quite some time.
Then there were the potions: Swiftness, Free Action, Minor Healing, Fortitude... a small arsenal of alchemical brews, along with a stack of spell scrolls. By the time he left the bank, half his bags were filled and he was satisfied.
Outside, he paused beneath the looming sky above Stormhold Fortress. A massive airship, one that hadn’t been there earlier, now hovered overhead. That was his ride.
Once the official dungeons of the six major races were cleared, the path to the frontlines opened. Every hour, an airship departed, ferrying players into the heart of contested territory—into the blood-soaked killing fields where the war raged on.
Ryan knew the drill. He made his way to the base of the tower and approached the NPC standing at the entrance. Without a word, he presented the Radiant Retribution Army Insignia, and the guard stepped aside.
The wooden walkway creaked under his boots as he climbed the tower. He reached the top swiftly, where the airship floated close, its docking ramp extended.
Inside, it was empty—no other players yet. The feature had only just gone live, and most players were still grinding through main quests in their racial capitals.
The airship was scheduled to depart at fifteen minutes past the hour. Ryan checked the in-game time: 7:12 a.m. Three minutes to go.