Volume 1, Chapter 84 – Epic Storyline

Early the next morning, when the sky had only just begun to brighten, Tianyin was woken by the deep blare of a horn outside.

At the same time, Mengyao, who had just logged into the game and checked the forums to learn what was happening at the Northern Fortress, heard the System’s cold, mechanical voice in her ear.

════════♡════════ Player Mengyao has entered an Epic Storyline. Participation is mandatory. Choose your faction. 1. Stronghold (Tribe) 2. Kingdom (Alliance)

Notice: if the player does not select a faction, a random faction will be assigned automatically. ════════♡════════

“Master…”

Hearing the System’s voice, Mengyao’s expression turned strange.

“What’s wrong?”

“Master… Master, it sounds like they’re fighting outside…”

“Eh?”

Tianyin was stunned for a moment, not quite processing what she’d heard.

“Fighting? Who’s fighting?”

“Dummy… Master, the Northern Fortress is under attack by the Stronghold~”

Hearing Mengyao’s words, Tianyin finally reacted and remembered the state of high alert she’d seen in the Northern Fortress yesterday.

“Well… Xiaomengyao, even if the Northern Fortress is being attacked by the Beastmen from the Stronghold, what does that have to do with us? We just need to stay here quietly and wait it out, right?”

“But Master… Master… I…”

Mengyao looked troubled. After all, being forcibly assigned to a battle by the System wasn’t something she could control, and Tianyin didn’t really know what to say.

If she were to say directly that she had been forced into the event by the System, logically speaking, an NPC like Tianyin shouldn’t even be able to understand that.

Of course, Mengyao didn’t know that Tianyin wasn’t an ordinary NPC.

“Hmm? Xiaomengyao, did you want to say something?”

“Master… for some reason… I… I might have to join the defense of the Northern Fortress…”

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Technically, Mengyao could ignore the System’s quest. Even if her faction was determined, as long as she stayed hidden in this attic, no one would come looking for her.

However…

Mengyao knew very well that epic storylines came with many benefits. Not only could they rapidly boost her level, but the System would also provide special equipment and item rewards.

Of course, that alone wasn’t enough to make her eager to join the battle.

The real reason was Tianyin.

As Tianyin’s disciple, Mengyao could pull her Master into the storyline as well. That way, not only would she receive rich rewards once the event ended, but Tianyin would also gain a huge amount of experience points for leveling up.

That’s right, experience points.

In other words, Mengyao was going through all this trouble just to help Tianyin level up…

“Join the battle?”

Naturally, Tianyin had no idea what Mengyao was thinking.

She frowned, confused.

“Is something like this really mandatory? Xiaomengyao, can’t you just stay here?”

Although Tianyin thought the damned System was acting strange, since her disciple had already said as much, she wasn’t about to be a rigid loli about it.

“I see… but will it be dangerous?”

“I’m not really sure… I just have to go. It might not be too bad.”

Mengyao’s words were vague. Because she was a player, the System could interfere directly with NPC behavior, forcing illogical things to make sense within the game world.

That was precisely to avoid awkward situations like this. After all, just yesterday Mengyao had been neutral and unrelated to the Northern Fortress, and now she was being forced into the event…

Of course, Mengyao didn’t know that this System mechanic didn’t actually apply to Tianyin.

“Alright… I get the gist of it…”

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It wasn’t hard to guess that this was the System’s doing. Tianyin sighed helplessly, but there was nothing she could do, it was something beyond her control.

“Master? I’ll go check the situation outside first… If it’s not too serious, I’ll come back.”

Seeing Tianyin’s worried look, Mengyao asked cautiously.

“You don’t have to worry about me, really…”

Tianyin knew that as a player, Mengyao would revive even if she died, so she wasn’t too concerned about her safety.

What she was more worried about was this sudden storyline.

Normally, the annual Stronghold assault on the Kingdom was just routine, but now Mengyao was calling it an epic storyline…

Epic? Are you kidding me? An epic event every year? That sounded far too abnormal.

And this time, the Stronghold’s invasion was happening much earlier than usual too…

“Uu… Master, I’ll go take a look outside. If something happens, I’ll come back, okay?”

As she said that, the System’s voice rang in Mengyao’s ears again. This time, it was to announce that the random faction selection had been finalized.

Because she was inside the Northern Fortress, she was automatically placed on the defending side.

“Alright… be careful, Mengyao. If things get bad, come back to me and Bingxue, okay?”

“Got it, got it, Master, I’m going~”

After watching Mengyao leave, all the other players in the Northern Fortress received the same notification at the same time.

════════♡════════ Faction determined: Kingdom. Please proceed immediately to the barracks in the Northern Fortress to assemble and prepare to repel the Stronghold’s attack. ════════♡════════

After giving the Kingdom players their mission, a system-wide announcement echoed in every player’s ear.

【System Announcement: The Epic Storyline ‘Rise of the Undead’ has officially begun.】

In an instant, the previously quiet early morning exploded into noise.

On the forums outside the game and among players across the in-game world, everyone began discussing the announcement.

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“Epic Storyline: Rise of the Undead?”

What?

What the hell?

What happened?

Where do we join?

Is the game getting an expansion update?

Countless discussions filled the player base. The hottest topic was: “Where exactly is the Undead Race rising from?”

That’s right, the System only told players that the Epic Storyline “Rise of the Undead” had begun, without any further hints.

Of course, among all the players, there were some who took this as their chance to shine.

Specifically, the players who had recently turned into undead using the Frost Sword.

So, rather than asking what the event was about, those undead players were much more concerned with finding their faction’s main force, to join up and claim their share of the spoils.

But setting that aside.

After Mengyao’s departure, the same announcement echoed in Tianyin’s ears.

“Epic Storyline: Rise of the Undead?!!!”

Tianyin immediately connected it with the upcoming battle between the Kingdom and the Stronghold at the Northern Fortress. Coincidentally, the System had classified this event as an epic storyline too…

“Wait… what if the ‘Rise of the Undead’ starts from this very battle?”

The thought struck her suddenly, it didn’t seem impossible. Maybe the Rise of the Undead referred to this war exactly…

Undead… undead…

Tianyin’s mind flashed back to all the undead players she had seen on the way here, leveling up with undead monsters…

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“Wuu… but even if the Rise of the Undead is an epic storyline, what does it have to do with me?”

After thinking about it for a while, Tianyin realized she was overthinking things. Even if the undead rose up, it had nothing to do with her. They could rise all they wanted, she’d just mind her own business. There was no connection between them.

“Seriously, I really can be an idiot sometimes…”

Tianyin sighed at her own overreactions. But just then, while she was mumbling to herself, Bingxue, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly wrapped her arms around Tianyin and held her tightly.

“Yyaah…”

Being suddenly hugged by Bingxue, Tianyin noticed that even though the undead girl’s body didn’t have any smell of decay, it carried a faint, pleasant scent, and was unexpectedly soft. However, because Bingxue was undead, her body was completely cold. So when the lightly dressed Tianyin was pulled into her arms, she shivered from the chill.

“Xiaobingxue… y-you… why are you suddenly hugging me like that…”

Tianyin said helplessly, but instead of letting go, Bingxue tightened her embrace.

“Xiaobingxue??”

Even Tianyin, as dense as she could be, began to sense something was wrong.

“What’s wrong, Xiaobingxue? Did… something happen?”

“…”

To Tianyin’s surprise, Bingxue didn’t write a reply this time like she usually did.

Instead, she simply looked up at Tianyin with those jewel-like ice-blue eyes… filled with helplessness.

Helplessness.

And it was at that moment that Tianyin finally realized, the girl’s small, cold body… was trembling.

She was afraid?

Tianyin’s mind went blank.