Chapter 551 The Players' Detached Observation
While John and the other members of the Order Faction were in a state of panic, the situation on the player forums presented a stark contrast to the alarmed NPCs.
Although many players were discussing the ongoing battles between the different factions, it didn't seem to have much personal impact on most of them.
Aside from a few players who had joined the Dark Faction, the majority were merely describing the progress of the battles.
Given that Storm City had the highest number of players, the details of its battle were the most thoroughly reported.
"The eastern wall of Storm City is under attack by demons. We can see that there aren't many city guards left, and I think the eastern wall will soon be breached. I'm not sure if I'll be able to evacuate to a safe place after the wall is broken through. But the teleportation point in Storm City should still be operational, right?"
A low-level player in Storm City posted this plea for help on the game forum.
He owned a small shop within the city. If Storm City were breached by the Dark Faction, he would have to make a final decision.
Although as a player not of very high level, he could choose to start over in another player's main city, restarting would be a costly endeavor for any player, especially those without strong abilities or much capital.
"You should choose to flee as soon as possible. Storm City is likely indefensible now. I saw Duke Arsena leaving his palace with a very grim expression. Moreover, I've learned from other sources that it's not just Storm City that's been attacked. The Order Faction is under attack in many places, and the defensive wall at Sunset Mountain has already been breached."
"I can confirm that I'm currently at Iceburg Castle, which has also been attacked by the Dark Faction. However, the force of the Dark Faction here isn't very strong."
"I heard that some of the villages on the outskirts of Storm City have also been destroyed by the Dark Faction. Does this mean that the Dark Faction is about to take over Storm City? If the Dark Faction manages to take Storm City, could we be looking at the start of a new story mode?"
Many people on the player forums were discussing the situation in Storm City.
However, the vast majority of players were merely observing the events unfold with detachment.
They didn't see the potential control of Storm City by the Dark Faction as something unacceptable.
After all, some players had chosen to begin their gaming journey directly in the Dark Realm, where they hadn't encountered significant trouble.
What's available in the main cities of the Order Faction is also present in the Dark Realm.
Any low-level player in the Dark Realm has the opportunity to level up.
However, for stronger players, joining the Dark Realm seems somewhat unlikely.
They are well aware that choosing to join the Dark Faction for advancement would require them to become demons.
For players whose classes are naturally aligned with demonic attributes, this transition might not be a big deal.
However, for those whose classes are affiliated with the Holy Light or the attributes of the gods of the Order Faction, becoming a demon is not an option.
Beyond the discussions among regular players on the game forums, stronger players were also closely monitoring the situation.
Yet, these players hadn't decided which faction to assist.
In their view, they were willing to help whichever faction offered better incentives.
Adam and Blue Sea, being allies of John, had already chosen to join the Order Faction early on.
Adam was now looking for other top players, hoping they would join the Order Faction as well.
Adam believed that by helping the Order Faction in the upcoming defense of Storm City, these top players would receive rewards.
"Guild leader Adam, I do see the sense in what you're saying. But can we trust Duke Arsena to keep his promises? You must remember what we faced in the auction house in Storm City. Duke Arsena didn't really trust us adventurers. If Duke Arsena, as an NPC, doesn't trust us players, why should we help him? If you trust him too much, you might end up being betrayed."
One of the top Assassin Players expressed his greatest concern, highlighting that Duke Arsena had not been particularly friendly towards players in the past.
This attitude made it unlikely for players to assist Duke Arsena in times of crisis.
Faced with the top players' counterarguments, Adam didn't show panic.
He had already considered how to respond.
"You're right, Duke Arsena has been quite hostile towards us players. But this is precisely an opportunity for us. If we choose to help him, he will surely shed his prejudices against players. Moreover, the crisis that Storm City, under Duke Arsena's stewardship, is facing is grave. If we can help him defend Storm City, he will undoubtedly offer us rewards beyond our imagination. Perhaps, they might even provide us with Sacred Relics. Don't you top players desire to obtain Sacred Relics?"
Adam was well aware that top players did not lack ordinary or even some epic and rare weapons.
However, what all top players truly coveted were god-tier weapons.
Any god-tier weapon was worth the utmost effort for top players to vie for.
Only a player at the pinnacle like John possessed several god- tier weapons, while other top players might only have one.
As Adam had anticipated, his words did indeed sway some top players towards the idea of assisting Storm City.
However, there was still hesitation among them due to lingering doubts about Duke Arsena.
They felt that a concrete promise from the Duke was necessary before they would commit.
Without such a promise, they were not willing to take the risk.
"Getting more rare weapons would certainly be good news for us. But I can't just take Duke Arsena's word for it without any solid assurance. If Duke Arsena is counting on our support, he must make a formal commitment. You seem to be quite familiar with him, so maybe you should have a serious talk with him. If he's willing to make a solid promise to us, then we can consider offering our help. I believe most top players share this sentiment."
Adam realized he couldn't persuade them further.
The other top players seemed to have made up their minds; they were waiting for a promise from Duke Arsena. Nodding, Adam decided to leave.
Upon returning to the walls of Storm City, he was greeted by the arrival of John, accompanied by another Legend Magus, Shatras.
Upon meeting John, Adam relayed the current situation.
After pondering for a moment, John responded, "I see no issue with your actions. You have indeed provided significant assistance. Leave the rest to me; I will ensure Duke Arsena makes the necessary promises. Continue to hold the defense here; I have urgent matters to discuss with Duke Arsena."
After saying this, John left immediately.
Adam didn't say much more, as he felt he wasn't in a position to be immediately privy to such critical information.
Adam harbored no complaints, believing that since he had chosen to collaborate with John, it was unnecessary to question John's decisions.
In the end, John's visit to Duke Arsena's palace did not lead to the anticipated encounter with the Duke himself, who appeared to have departed for other commitments.
However, this detour wasn't without its merits, as John crossed paths with Natasha within the grand confines of the palace.
Natasha, upon seeing John and Shatras, couldn't help but feel a surge of relief mingled with a cautious optimism.
From her perspective, the arrival of these two distinguished figures, both renowned for their formidable prowess, could significantly bolster the defenses of Storm City.
Their presence alone promised to add a robust layer of strength to the city's protective measures, potentially easing the looming threats that had cast a shadow over the city's future.
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