Chapter 46 – The Allied Team

Three hours after the new update launched, the fastest players had already reached level 56. Teams like War Banner had even found and killed new world bosses. The entire Huaxia Summit server was brimming with energy, eager to make their mark at the start of this leveling race. But where were the bosses, and how to kill them—those were the real questions.

Of course, the first issue was far more critical—there were no unbeatable bosses, only undiscovered dungeons.

“Now that the map has expanded globally, we’ll need to split up. Don’t overlook any scenic spots that might hide dungeons,” Polly analyzed the situation objectively as he deployed the team. “Blood Bull, head to Europe. 2B, take North and South America. Crossplayer, you’re on Oceania. 438, handle the North and South Poles. Healer, Africa’s yours. I’ll stick around Asia.”

“Deputy Commander, I’ve already upgraded to 715…” the Demon Refiner protested weakly.

“Hmm, 438 still sounds better,” the Deputy Commander concluded calmly, then asked respectfully, “Commander, does this arrangement work for you?”

When assigning tasks, you call me Healer. Now you remember I’m the Commander?

Tch.

“The Commander agrees, so it’s settled. Move out.”

Which ear of yours heard me agreeing to this?!

No one paid attention to the figurehead Commander’s silent screaming. The squad scattered, each heading to their respective Teleport Master.

Fang Zheng, filled with grievances but powerless, reluctantly set off for Africa. For the next fifteen minutes, all he did was stare at the sun from the vast African savanna…

The hell?! What kind of place is this to spawn a dungeon?!

[Legion] Polly: Quick, gather at coords XX, XX.

The sudden message in the channel made Fang Zheng’s eyes light up. Without hesitation, he rushed to the location—Birdy-kun was truly reliable!

The coordinates Polly provided were in the Mesopotamian Plains. After teleporting there, Fang Zheng followed the coords through a winding path before finally arriving at a massive but dilapidated ancient palace. The area was littered with mobs and scattered rubble, but no other structures, making the palace stand out. Yet, the path was so convoluted that without the coordinates, it would’ve been nearly impossible to find.

“Damn, Polly, you’ve got eagle eyes! How’d you even find this place?!” 2B exclaimed while his Blood Warrior hacked away at mobs, clearly in an adrenaline-fueled frenzy.

Polly ignored him and suddenly asked, “Where’s Crossplayer?”

Fang Zheng then realized that out of the six squad members, only Crossplayer hadn’t arrived. Not only that, but his voice was also missing from YY.

“Probably disconnected,” 438 volunteered. “I’ll message him in the channel.”

[Huaxia] Refined Into a Demon 715: Crossplayer, the Deputy Commander found something! You’re the only one missing, hurry up! We gotta beat the other guilds! Coords XX, XX

…

Crossplayer was summoned.

But he wasn’t the only one summoned. =_=

[Legion] Crossplayer’s Blessing: Commander, is it really okay for him to post this in World chat…?

[Huaxia] Big H: LMAO, you think this is your guild channel?

[Huaxia] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: Ghost Server, you’re too selfless!

[Huaxia] Greatsword: Stop laughing, gather up.

[Huaxia] Big H: Huh?

[Huaxia] Greatsword: Do I need to repost the coords? =_=

Meteor Blitz was blatant about it, but most guilds acted without announcing it. Before Crossplayer’s Blessing could even reach the location, Meteor Blitz, Huaxia Dominion, War Banner, and countless other guilds or random parties—both recognizable and not—had all arrived.

The scene instantly turned into a cacophony of drums, firecrackers, fluttering banners, and a sea of people… and corpses everywhere—the last referring to mobs.

The five members of the Ghost Server Legion stood at the palace entrance like the Demon Cult besieged by the Six Major Sects atop Bright Peak. The only difference was that the Demon Cult had Zhang Wuji descending from the heavens to save them, while a gentle breeze only brought them Crossplayer’s Blessing.

The remorseful Demon Refiner was on the verge of tears: “Commander…”

“Don’t call me Commander!”

Now 438 wanted to die. =_=

Among the arriving teams, War Banner was the most conspicuous. First, their gear—judging by the shine—was on par with Mad Lad’s. Second, their names—glancing around, they were all “War-[Something],” clearly a clan-based faction. Huaxia Dominion and Meteor Blitz also had a cohesive lineup, though they had one or two unfamiliar faces mixed in, likely because the update had just launched, and their core members hadn’t logged in yet, forcing them to fill spots with other guildmates.

Despite the crowd, Fang Zheng’s team stood right at the palace entrance. To enter, others would have to pass by them, so no one acted rashly. It wasn’t that they feared losing to Ghost Server—it was that nearly all of Huaxia Summit’s top forces were gathered here. If a fight broke out, the uninvolved teams could swoop in and reap the rewards.

Thus, probing became crucial—

[Local] War-Snow Wolf: Ghost Server, thanks for the coords. Since you shared them, you won’t stop us from entering, right?

Fang Zheng gritted his teeth, about to type, but Polly was faster—

[Local] Polly: You’re welcome, but you seem mistaken. We’re not here for a dungeon.

[Local] War-Sorrel: That’s just ridiculous. Do you think we’re idiots?

[Local] Big H: Hey, no need to be so serious. We’re all on the same server, we’ll see each other around~ Little P, if you’re not here for the dungeon, then what are you doing? Heritage preservation squad?

Fang Zheng was fried to a crisp by “Little P.”

The man in question, however, remained unfazed—

[Local] Polly: Leveling. We finally found a quiet grinding spot, but now… I’m devastated.

[Local] War-Sorrel: I take it back. This guy clearly thinks our IQs are in the negative…

[Local] Polly: That’s the truth. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. The palace is right behind us. If you think there’s a dungeon inside, go ahead. We won’t stop you.

[Local] Harry Porret: Then why are you still standing there?

[Local] Polly: I’m not eight hundred zhang wide. Just walk around me. ^_^

Fang Zheng had no idea what Polly was scheming, but since he was stalling, Fang Zheng didn’t dare interrupt on YY, afraid Polly might slip up like 438.

The other teams were equally baffled.

After about two minutes of silence, War-Snow Wolf was the first to step past Polly. Soon, the entire War Banner team skirted around Ghost Server and charged into the palace. Seeing that Ghost Server truly wasn’t stopping them, the rest of the crowd rushed in as well.

In no time, the area outside the palace was deserted again.

The Ghost Server squad, led by Polly, remained rooted in place, solid as a rock.

“Birdy? Aren’t we going in?” Fang Zheng’s meaning was clear—since they’d been exposed, they might as well enter the dungeon and fight for speed. They still had a chance.

“No,” Polly said succinctly. “Wait for the mobs to respawn. We’ll grind here.”

Crossplayer, who had just rejoined YY, asked immediately, “Are we seriously grinding mobs here?”

438, having found the culprit, pounced: “Why’d you even leave YY?! I hate you—”

They claimed to be grinding mobs, but since the killers had entered the palace, the mob corpses remained unlooted. Fang Zheng and the others could only stare and wait. After a while, the corpses were still there, but teams began exiting the palace.

This time, Polly casually sat down on the ground, completely relaxed—

[Local] Polly: Could you loot the mobs you killed? We’re waiting for respawns to grind.

His words sounded so convincing that even Fang Zheng began to doubt—was there really no dungeon here? Recalling Polly’s earlier message, he hadn’t said he’d found a dungeon, just to gather quickly. The team had assumed the pro gamer had made a discovery.

As Fang Zheng wondered, War Banner and Huaxia Dominion also exited. Only then did he realize Five Peaks Pavilion was missing.

[Local] War-Snow Wolf: It’s just an empty shell inside, nothing at all! You tricked us!

[Local] Polly: I already said I was here to grind mobs. You’re the ones who assumed the worst. [sad]

[Local] War-Snow Wolf: …

[Local] My Blood for Xuanyuan: Are you really Polly?

Fang Zheng scoffed. Of course it was Polly—who else could be this shamelessly earnest? =_=

[Huaxia] Tides of Time: “LFG for Eskimo Ice Cave dungeon! Just saw a team enter! Coords XX, XX”

The sudden message diverted everyone’s attention.

The game was never short on people who sabotaged others without benefiting themselves. This guy, unable to form a team to enter the dungeon himself, had simply broadcasted the coordinates for everyone to fight over.

Fang Zheng didn’t know how the team already inside the dungeon felt about this, but the crowd in the Mesopotamian Plains was getting restless. With an actual dungeon name, this was far more credible than 438’s “Deputy Commander found something.” Soon, one or two players used Town Portal Scrolls, then it became a mass exodus. Like the earlier charge into the palace, within minutes, the plains were quiet again, leaving only the dilapidated palace bathed in the sunset’s glow, giving off an aura of desolation.

2B: “What now? We’re not seriously grinding mobs here, are we?”

Polly didn’t answer. Instead, he stood up, turned to face a waist-high pile of rubble, and slashed at it twice. The rubble shattered, and the entire palace began to tremble!

From the top of the ruined palace, countless massive pillars slowly rose, supporting another palace that soared into the clouds!

Fang Zheng was stunned. The dreamlike structure, wreathed in mist, was faintly visible, ethereal and unreal.

No wonder Polly had stayed motionless earlier—it was a diversion to keep others from noticing the rubble!

His Deputy Commander was truly devious~\(≧▽≦)/~

“Before they figure it out, let’s go in.”

Polly dashed into the palace first, the squad close behind.

With the dungeon triggered, a spiral staircase appeared at the far end of the empty palace. The Ghost Server team climbed it, nearly dizzy from the twists and turns, before finally reaching the dreamlike location.

The map name in the top-right corner finally changed from Mesopotamian Plains to—

Hanging Gardens of Babylon!

…

Behind a large tree near the palace

[Legion] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: Drink, they went in.

[Legion] Drink Till You Drop: Wait a bit longer. Two minutes won’t hurt.

[Legion] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: You’re worried about running into them and making it awkward?

[Legion] Drink Till You Drop: Less trouble this way.

[Legion] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: But hiding like this is kinda dirty…

[Legion] Drink Till You Drop: Remember who’s in the palace right now—Ghost Server Legion.

[Legion] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: Suddenly, I feel morally superior!

…

Entrance to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Ghost Server squad hit a snag. The issue was simple: when Fang Zheng talked to the NPC to enter the dungeon, he was told the dungeon required a 12-player team.

Ghost Server Legion, counting both online and offline members—even those who had quit—only had eight.

The old version of Huaxia Online had no team-based dungeons except Desert Stronghold. The squad was caught completely off guard.

“What now? Where do we find six more people?” 2B grumbled.

Fang Zheng still had City Toppling Beauty, but that account…

Polly: “I have an extra account. I can ask a friend at the internet café to help.”

Fang Zheng was puzzled: “Since when do you have an extra account? I’ve never seen you use it.”

Polly replied, “I have.”

Fang Zheng was baffled: “When?”

“Just now.”

“Huh?”

“Eskimo.” Polly dropped the keyword.

Fang Zheng thought for two seconds and understood.

No wonder that guy’s message had been so timely, so perfect—it was practically tailor-made to bail them out… Birdy-kun had ascended! His shamelessness had reached new heights!

In YY, a series of sighs could be heard—the Ghost Server teammates with lingering consciences mourning the poor souls rushing to the Arctic in search of the mythical ice cave.

…

Drink Till You Drop had imagined many forms the dungeon entrance might take, but six wooden-stake-like players were not one of them.

[Local] Polly: What a coincidence, here for the dungeon too?

[Local] Drink Till You Drop: Why haven’t you gone in yet? =_=

[Local] Polly: Waiting for you. ^_^

[Local] Drink Till You Drop: …

[Local] 2B Fighter Jet: Quit wasting time! Listen up, this dungeon needs a 12-player team. If you know what’s good for you, join us!

[Local] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: Are you serious? Five Peaks Pavilion needs to team up with you? We could form a dozen teams in minutes, believe it or not!

[Local] Milk is Mom: Oh, we believe you~~ But with so many teams, the commotion might scare someone into posting the coords again~~~ Then it won’t be a dozen teams—it’ll be a dozen to the power of a dozen. The competition will be so fierce, so terrifying~~>_<

[Local] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: Why is this guy the Legion Commander…

[Local] Polly: Think about it slowly. Drink, team up or not? Hurry up.

[Local] Drink Till You Drop: If we don’t, you’ll really post the coords?

[Local] Polly: Not me—the Commander will. You know how it is, I’m just a humble Deputy. ^_^

[Local] Nicknamed White Dragon Horse: Why do I feel like this guy’s even better at drawing aggro now…

Fang Zheng suddenly remembered—back then, Polly had ambushed White Dragon Horse’s wife, Vivian, leading to Five Peaks Pavilion’s pursuit, his expulsion from Huaxia Dominion, and eventually his repeated PKs…

[System] Drink Till You Drop has invited you to join a team.

For the sake of the greater good, Fang Zheng accepted. Soon, the status bar displayed a full team of twelve, a spectacular sight.

[Team] Polly: Let’s work well together.

[Team] Drink Till You Drop: Likewise.

Tch. Polly’s got an even broader mind.