Chapter 49

A city in the frozen land.

Weed walked through the desolate city alongside the Ice Dragon.

People and Lessers frozen solid.

It was mysterious, and yet it strongly smelled of a quest.

“Could this be related to the Hellfire difficulty?”

(It doesn’t seem to be. I believe this is a place that originally existed within the Distorted Rift.)

He had discovered the rift outside the city.

It allowed travel to other parts of the Distorted Rift, but curiosity about the city itself grew.

“Feels like I’m alone in a world that’s already perished.”

A city like this might have resembled Roanoke when only a handful of survivors were left—just corpses and burnt, collapsed buildings.

—”A city in a place this cold… it’s hard to believe, Master.”

“Indeed.”

He walked through the streets, conversing with the Ice Dragon.

The Lessers were frozen mid-attack on humans in the streets, homes, and even rooftops.

Humanoid monsters that resembled rats.

They were about 150cm tall, wielding various weapons like spears, swords, bows, and daggers.

(Lessers are very fast and quite strong.)

“What level are they?”

(It varies by type. The weaker ones are around level 30, while stronger ones go up to level 60—and they keep getting stronger. Judging by the protruding snouts and developed fangs, these appear to be Lessers from Afranadel.)

“What are Afranadel Lessers?”

The AI provided a more detailed explanation.

(Lessers are classified into 12 groups, with slight differences in appearance, making it difficult to distinguish them at first glance. Afranadel Lessers are specialized in gluttony. They devour prey alive. Their teeth are strong enough to chew through steel. Estimated level: 45.)

In Roanoke, being defeated by a Lesser meant being eaten alive.

“A whole city swarming with monsters around my level…”

When Weed reached the central plaza, he saw fallen mages and soldiers, and a magic circle engraved on the ground.

He lightly touched the glowing magic circle, and a message window popped up.

Ding!

You have discovered the city Sulium in the frozen lands.

Sulium, attacked by Lessers.
The city’s soldiers are still fighting, but hope is all but lost.
The mages and summoners destroyed a shard of the Rift as a last resort, triggering the Distorted Rift.

“I don’t know if this was the right decision.”

“Whether to save even one life… or to kill the Lessers. I will send this city into the Rift.”

The city of Sulium was transported to the frozen land via a Rift.
Its residents couldn’t withstand the extreme cold and froze—so did the Lessers.
You have achieved a rare historical discovery:
You’ve found the long-lost city Sulium.
You may report this discovery to the nobles.

• Fame +500

• Strength +2

• Spirit +5

• Max HP +50

Achievement: Discovering a perished city in the frozen lands.

“The entire city was transferred here due to the Lesser invasion…”

Weed felt his effort had paid off.

When everything in Sulium froze, the goddess Trinity—lover of adventure and peril—intervened.

Ding!

Sleeping City: Sulium

The city Sulium, which holds a shrine to the goddess Trinity, arrived in the frozen lands.
As her followers died from cold and Lesser attacks, Trinity put the city into slumber.
Adventurer, bring 20 Flames of Purification to warm Sulium again.

The sleeping citizens, soldiers, and starving Lessers will awaken.
You must defeat the Lessers and prevent the city from becoming a ruin.

The more survivors, the greater the rewards.

If more than 300 residents survive and the Lessers are wiped out, Sulium will remain a pioneering city in the Distorted Rift.

⚠ Warning!

If you reject the quest, all sleeping humans in Sulium will die.
You will suffer a curse from the goddess Trinity:

• Fame is halved

• Strength and HP are permanently reduced by 20

If you reject or fail the quest, Sulium will remain a ruined city within the Rift.
The growth of Lessers across the continent will be accelerated by 5%.

💠 Trinity’s Grace
You may invite up to 5 other users to assist you.

Difficulty: S
Quest Type: City Salvation

A high-stakes quest triggered during Hellfire difficulty mode.

Rejecting it came with real penalties.

“How do I get the Flames of Purification?”

(They’re natural treasures that can warm a 300-meter radius for four years. Obtainable from active volcanoes or through hero points.)

“S-rank… but I have no choice but to do it.”

Weed was rapidly growing through the Hellfire difficulty challenge.

He was earning traits, bonus stats, and legend points at a fast pace.

Even if the difficulty increased, he could endure it.

“If I succeed, clearing Hellfire difficulty will become much easier. Even if I fail, I can escape.”

The city was littered with corpses.

It was precisely for a moment like this that Weed had learned Dark Rule using legend points.

“I can raise dead citizens—those already dead and those about to die—as undead.”

He had no emotional attachment to Sulium’s people.

His dry sensibility meant that only someone like Britina—whom he had heard and fought alongside while blind—could stir any feelings in him.

Weed licked his lips.

“I will save the people of Sulium.”

Quest accepted.
You may now select players to invite to the great adventure.

“Invite, huh…”

Unlike the earlier stages of Hellfire, he needed people who could actually pull their weight.

* * *

Pale was the most skilled archer in the Kingdom of Leon and the leader of the Arpen Guild.

“They took away the ranch management rights.”

“Guild Master, monsters have taken over our farmland!”

When Pale returned to Roanoke, Arpen Guild was in bad shape.

Other guilds were expanding aggressively, and users were leaving.

Despite not being a small power, Arpen was being targeted by rival guilds.

“Pale’s gone—time to steal their assets.”

“It’s a big guild, but full of noobs. They won’t go to war easily.”

“If we don’t take it, someone else will. Are we just gonna sit and watch?”

Guilds in the Leon Kingdom formed loose alliances to seize Arpen’s properties and users.

Fearful of war, some users left the guild, joining stronger forces for their future.

Pale returned and visited the heads of rival guilds.

“Please return the business rights of the Arpen Guild, including the ranch.”

“Haha, that’s a bit much. Everything was legally obtained. If we return it now, how will our guild look?”

Guild leaders in Leon were no pushovers.

After the Roanoke incident, they had spilled blood fighting other users.

“And now you ask us to give it back?”

Even so, they couldn’t ignore Pale’s fame, influence, and power.

Pale smiled kindly.

“I’m only asking because I know it’s difficult. Isn’t it better to resolve matters peacefully when possible?”

“…Are you threatening us?”

“I can, if needed. But for now, I’m just making a polite request. You know troubled times are coming. No need to make unnecessary enemies, right?”

“…”

Through negotiation, Pale reclaimed some lost assets.

Still, some major guilds refused to return what they took.

“What an idiot. The world’s changed. No point in being generous.”

“Only the strong survive. Train hard and crush whoever opposes you.”

“Back to playing king in Roanoke, huh? Good luck. Without Pale and a few others, Arpen’s a joke.”

The powerful guilds even ignored what bordered on threats.

“This place has become harsher than I expected.”

Upon returning to Leon, Pale could clearly see people had changed.

Those who once smiled and praised him were now ready to draw swords to protect what’s theirs.

“I need to solidify our base before Weed returns…”

Pale chose to grow the guild through hunting and quests, avoiding war when possible.

As long as they trained and improved, Weed would one day return from the Hellfire difficulty.

“If he dies in Hellfire, we’re doomed… Though he probably won’t.”

Though anxiety crept in, Pale continued to grow the guild in Leon.

—Weed: Pale-nim, do you have a moment?

A whisper arrived from Weed.

—Pale: Huh? Have you cleared the Hellfire difficulty?

If Weed had finished his character’s creation, he’d be an unstoppable force.

No one could imagine how powerful someone who conquered Hellfire would be.

—Weed: Not yet. A small quest popped up during the challenge.

—Pale: A quest?

—Weed: It’s nothing major, but I need to gather five players.

—Pale: Oh, I see. Then I’ll come help.

If Weed said it was “nothing major,” Pale would gladly help.

It would be fun to quest together, just like in Royal Road.

—Weed: I’ll summon you in an hour. Just bring some basic gear.

—Weed: It’s cold here, so bring warm clothes or winter gear.

—Pale: Is it winter over there?

—Weed: Yeah, it’s not unbearable, but cold enough. Better to be prepared.

—Pale: Got it. I’ll get ready now.

Then Pale recalled Weed needed five players.

—Pale: Mind if I recommend a few people?

—Weed: Recommend?

—Pale: If people knew you were back, Kalice and Roam would definitely want to help.

—Weed: Hmm…

—Pale: You don’t like them?

—Weed: The names sound familiar, but… who were they again?

Kalice, the Black Lion who led a famous guild, and Roam of the Roam Guild.
Both were elite players with powerful reputations even in Roanoke.