Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Madman

Translator: 549690339 |

The moment the Holy Flame Pearl started to radiate, an illusion unfolded before Song Jian’s eyes.

In the illusion, he was surrounded by abandoned high-rise buildings. Only one building, a tower over thirty storeys high, and covering a few square kilometers, was enveloped in snow, forming a snow mountain.

Around this snow mountain, a unique icy environment had formed. The streets and ground within several hundred meters around it were covered in a thick layer of snow. But beyond those hundred meters, the environment abruptly returned to normal. It was as if an invisible, intangible barrier had separated the snow mountain at the center and the immediate few square kilometers around it.

“This is inside Doomsday City!” Song Jian glanced at a few gamers standing just a few meters away from that boundary line. Following another look at his surroundings, he thought to himself.

Very soon, the illusion before his eyes vanished. Song Jian then determined that the location of Frost Cave, this copy, should be roughly placed between the level 15 to 20 monster zones.

It was far away from his safety house— at least twenty-something kilometers of distance away. Even if he rode a motorbike, it would take him more than half an hour.

At this time, a group of fourteen to fifteen level gamers in the northeastern direction of Doomsday City were pointing at and discussing in front of the so-called “snow mountain”.

“It’s been at least a week since this phenomenon appeared. What kind of information do we have on it?” said a middle-aged man in a bulletproof vest with a solemn expression.

“Deputy Commander Sun, the environment inside is harsh. The temperature drops below negative thirty degrees Celsius and goes even lower near that snow mountain. Temperatures at the foot of the mountain even reach negative forty-seven!” A muscular man dressed in armor, standing straight as a spear, reported to the middle-aged man.

“We found a sealed ice door at the foot of the snow mountain — that is, at the entrance of the skyscraper. It seems to be a passage of considerable size. But regardless of what we tried, we couldn’t open this ice door. It seems to be immune to any type of attack!”

“Captain Zhou, that location is actually an instance in the game. We should call it a secret territory, and that ice gate serves as the entrance. However, we lack the key to open the instance,” said a young man wearing glasses and holding a magic staff, after adjusting his glasses quietly.

“Councilor Wang, please tell us more about this instance!” Deputy Commander Sun turned towards the man who had spoken and asked lightly.

“Yes, Deputy Commander Sun,” Councilor Wang turned and looked at the distant snow mountain before speaking, “This is a level three instance. Players’ levels to enter would be between thirteen to eighteen, meaning players must reach at least level thirteen to access, and any level above eighteen will be denied entry to the instance.”

“It’s obvious that there are many monsters inside, not to mention the Elite Level bosses. I suspect there’re even level fifteen Lord-Level bosses inside. And yet, the items dropped inside the instance are of great value. It not only drops a level fifteen Ice-sealed Battle Armor set for a melee profession, but it also drops silver-class level fifteen armors and Frost Staves. Most importantly, it drops the alchemy formula for Melting Potions and their core ingredients, the Frost Crystal Cores. Consuming Melting Potions can increase Ice Resistance and provide immunity to freezing effects, playing a crucial role in our battle against the level fifteen Lord-Level Boss at Jinyang Lake.”

“Are you referring to the level fifteen Lord of Ice Elements in Jinyang Lake?” Deputy Commander Sun raised an eyebrow, particularly interested.

“Yes, Deputy Commander Sun. If we have Melting Potions, our success rate of taking down Lord of Ice Elements Frenzal, can at least increase by 30%,” Councilor Wang responded with a smile.

“We absolutely need to conquer this instance as soon as possible!” Deputy Commander Sun declared decisively, “Captain Zhou, no matter what it takes, you must find a way to open this instance. The Melting Potion is of utmost importance to us!”

“We’ll complete this task, Deputy Commander Sun!” Captain Zhou’s eyes bore a glimpse of helplessness, but he still answered firmly.

“Captain Zhou, I suggest killing more monsters around the area. The key to unlock the instance might be on nearby monsters,” Councilor Wang pushed up his glasses and suggested.

“Thank you for your suggestion, Councilor Wang!” After saluting Councilor Wang, Captain Zhou then quickly devised a plan for his team to systematically kill the surrounding monsters.

Soon after, fellow team members in groups of three scattered, leaving only Deputy Commander Sun and Councilor Wang behind.

“Deputy Commander Sun, the game settings won’t change according to human will. If this were the real world, we would have countless ways to open the gate to the instance; but in the game, we can only oblige to its rules,” Councilor Wang said in a low voice to Deputy Commander Sun.

“Whether in reality or in the game, all I want is results,” Deputy Commander Sun responded coldly, his eyes remained fixed on the distant skyscraper engulfed in frosty ice.

From the tens of thousands of players in the Northwestern Military Region, only about thirty entered the game. Half of them were not even level ten or had professions. As soon as this instance was discovered, Deputy Commander Sun gathered all players capable of entering the instance. But even after a week in the game, they still found themselves stuck outside the instance.

As players’ levels were increasing rapidly, the price of level fifteen equipment also skyrocketed. The earlier they could kill the level fifteen BOSS at Jinyang Lake, the larger their profits would be.

Just then, the sound of motorbike engines roaring from far to near caught their attention. An enormous group of level fifteen monsters was madly chasing after the motorbike.

“Has this person gone mad? To create such a hubbub in the city, isn’t he afraid of the grave danger?” Councilor Wang showed a terrified expression on his face as he looked around for a place to hide.

“Assemble the unit and prepare defense lines!” Deputy Commander Sun ordered immediately after frowning.

Just then, Song Jian made a swift turn and screeched to a stop leaving behind a black trail of tire marks on the pavement. He stepped off his bike. He smirked as he looked at the dozens of level fifteen mutation zombies chasing after him crazily. Song Jian waved his right hand, and the Crimson Fire Heart Ape Sword appeared at the center of his palm.

Broken Wing Dance!

Rather than retreating, Song Jian chose to move forward and swung his sword at the monstrous horde behind him. The sword’s glittering radiance sped into the horde.

“He’s insane!” Councilor Wang watched Song Jian charge fearlessly into the monster mob, his face displaying a blend of astonishment and horror.

“He…” Deputy Commander Sun shared a similar face of surprise, keeping his eyes on Song Jian cutting through the pack of monsters.

“Deputy Commander Sun, what’s happening?” Captain Zhou, along with a dozen soldiers, quickly reached Deputy Commander Song and saw the frantically roaring mutated zombies. He too registered a surprising look on his face.

“Use the terrain layout, establish defense lines, resist the monster onslaught!” Deputy Commander Sun immediately commanded.

“Yes!”

Soon after, the soldiers swiftly built a defensive line with wood and stones on the road. They prepared a cover that was over a metre high and watched the horde of zombies approaching cautiously.