Chapter 176: Monster Horde
The warning timer continued counting down above Silverbrook.
Monster Horde Arrival
1:42:18
1:42:17
1:42:16
The entire city had changed.
What had been a peaceful trading hub only minutes earlier was now preparing for war.
NPC guards dragged barricades toward the gates.
Blacksmiths worked without stopping.
Players rushed between potion shops and equipment stalls.
Guild recruiters screamed over one another.
Temporary parties formed everywhere.
Archers climbed the walls.
Mages searched for elevated positions.
Warriors gathered near the gates.
Even merchants who had spent most of their time trading suddenly bought cheap weapons simply so they could participate.
A massive server announcement hovered above the city.
[WORLD EVENT: SIEGE OF SILVERBROOK]
Protect Silverbrook from the approaching monster horde.
Failure Condition: City Core destroyed.
Rewards will be distributed according to individual and party contribution.
Special rewards may be awarded for exceptional achievements.
Warning: Event difficulty scales dynamically.
Shen Tian stood near the eastern wall.
The wind pulled gently at his cloak.
His Rare-grade bow rested across his back.
Beside him...
Jiang Feng carefully studied the battlefield.
MoonPetal had already opened her spell interface.
LittleMaple...
Was staring at the distant monster horde with gradually increasing regret.
"..."
She slowly turned toward Jiang Feng.
"Captain."
"Hm?"
"Remember when I said I wanted more exciting quests?"
Jiang Feng nodded.
"I remember."
"I changed my mind."
He laughed.
"Too late."
LittleMaple pointed toward the horizon.
"There’s an army."
"Technically..."
MoonPetal looked toward the distant creatures.
"Several armies."
LittleMaple stared at her.
"That did not help."
Shen Tian smiled.
"You’ll be fine."
LittleMaple immediately looked toward him.
"You say things like that right before something terrible happens."
Shen Tian blinked.
"Do I?"
MoonPetal answered immediately.
"Yes."
Jiang Feng nodded.
"Definitely."
Shen Tian stared between them.
"...I don’t appreciate this teamwork."
MoonPetal smiled.
"You’ll survive."
LittleMaple looked at her.
"You say that like him now."
MoonPetal froze.
Then glanced toward Shen Tian.
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
"I do not."
Jiang Feng noticed.
He smiled to himself.
Then returned his attention to the battlefield.
Above the city...
A ranking window appeared.
SILVERBROOK SIEGE CONTRIBUTION
None
None
None
The rankings would activate once combat began.
Jiang Feng looked toward Shen Tian.
"You remember the bet?"
"Highest contribution wins."
"Loser buys dinner."
LittleMaple raised her hand.
"I want expensive food."
Jiang Feng looked at her.
"You’re not part of the bet."
"I’ll still be eating."
"..."
MoonPetal laughed.
Shen Tian nodded thoughtfully.
"She’s got a point."
Jiang Feng sighed.
"Fine."
LittleMaple smiled brightly.
"Captain is paying."
Jiang Feng immediately responded.
"I haven’t lost yet."
She looked toward Shen Tian.
Then back at Jiang Feng.
"..."
Jiang Feng stared.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Say it."
LittleMaple shook her head.
"I believe in you."
Her tone contained absolutely no confidence.
Jiang Feng laughed.
"Thanks."
Shen Tian smiled.
Xu Ning appeared beside Shen Tian.
Invisible to everyone else.
She crossed her legs in midair.
[Host.]
Hm?
[I’ve finished mapping the Fate structure around this event.]
A golden diagram appeared.
Dozens of threads ran from the siege toward Jiang Feng.
Most were relatively small.
A few were enormous.
Xu Ning highlighted the first.
Destined Achievement: Eastern Gate Savior
Fate Value: 4,000
Another.
Destined Achievement: Kill Horde Commander
Fate Value: 3,500
Another.
Destined Achievement: Protect Silverbrook Captain NPC
Fate Value: 2,000
Another.
Destined Achievement: #1 Individual Contribution
Fate Value: 5,500
Then...
The brightest.
Destined Achievement: Receive Guild Foundation Fragment
Fate Value: 8,000
Shen Tian mentally whistled.
That much in one event?
[This siege is extremely important to his early rise.]
Xu Ning smiled.
[Originally...]
[Jiang Feng becomes the most famous independent player in Silverbrook tonight.]
[Multiple guilds attempt to recruit him.]
[The city commander personally rewards him.]
[And several future core members of his guild begin following him.]
Shen Tian looked toward Jiang Feng.
The fallen champion still stared toward the horde.
Calm.
Focused.
Almost completely unaware of the golden threads gathering around him.
Shen Tian smiled faintly.
How much do you think I can take without completely derailing him?
Xu Ning tilted her head.
[As much as you want.]
Shen Tian looked at her.
That’s not what I asked.
She laughed.
[Realistically?]
[Half.]
[Maybe slightly more.]
[His Fate is extremely resilient.]
Shen Tian nodded.
Good.
[Still treating him differently?]
He’s alright.
Xu Ning smiled.
[Professional theft?]
Shen Tian’s lips curved upward.
Professional theft.
The timer reached...
00:10:00
Silverbrook’s eastern gate closed.
Thousands of players stood behind the outer defensive line.
The NPC commander climbed onto the wall.
His armor was battered.
His gray beard moved in the wind.
A large name hovered above him.
Commander Aldric
Level 45
His voice boomed across the eastern district.
"Adventurers!"
The players became quieter.
"Beyond these walls..."
"The Ashwood Horde approaches!"
A distant roar answered him.
The ground trembled.
LittleMaple’s expression changed.
"...Oh."
Commander Aldric continued.
"They will show no mercy!"
"Tonight..."
"You defend more than stone!"
"You defend every merchant!"
"Every child!"
"Every citizen inside this city!"
Swords rose.
Shields slammed together.
Players cheered.
Jiang Feng smiled.
"This game’s presentation is ridiculous."
MoonPetal nodded.
"In a good way."
Shen Tian looked toward the horizon.
The first creatures became visible.
Wolves.
Goblins.
Orcs.
Huge armored beasts.
Flying creatures circled overhead.
Hundreds became thousands.
Thousands became...
More.
The entire horizon seemed alive.
A system message appeared.
Wave One Beginning.
Enemy Count: 8,742
LittleMaple slowly looked toward Jiang Feng.
"Captain."
"Yeah?"
"I would like to go back to killing spiders."
"Denied."
"..."
The countdown reached zero.
BEGIN!
The horde charged.
The first impact sounded like thunder.
Monsters slammed into the defensive lines.
Warriors braced.
Shields shattered.
Magic exploded.
Arrows filled the sky.
The contribution rankings activated immediately.
Jiang Feng moved.
His entire personality changed.
The relaxed player disappeared.
The professional captain returned.
"Moon!"
MoonPetal looked over.
"High ground."
She immediately understood.
She climbed onto a broken supply cart.
"Maple."
LittleMaple straightened.
"Yes!"
"Stay behind me."
"Gladly!"
"Don’t chase kills."
"I wasn’t planning to!"
Then...
Jiang Feng looked toward Shen Tian.
For half a second...
Neither said anything.
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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)
SEND POWESTONES!!!
ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!