Bizarre Voyage: Summoning The Fourth Crisis

This meant... he... was the only one.

But unlike the scenario Luo Ge had imagined—being so powerful as to be unique—Ryan’s strength was pitifully weak.

When Li Miao and Shore found him in the tavern, he was already severely injured and on the brink of death, unable to defeat the meatball monster or purge the encroaching Madness.

And he was a ”Firewood Gatherer.”

Furthermore, in one of his few lines of dialogue, he had said, ”I am also a Firewood Gatherer.”

This implied that ”Firewood Gatherer”… must be an organization or faction, one that already existed in this world…

At this thought, Luo Ge’s gaze fell upon Noxia, who stood before him.

He had deliberately let Noxia listen in while the two players were reporting, hoping it might jog her memory.

This time, it seemed Noxia had a pleasant surprise for him.

”The Firewood Gatherers… they come from the Eternal Holy Altar.”

”Their purpose is also to save the Primordial Fire.”

From the Eternal Holy Altar, to save the Primordial Fire…

Luo Ge’s brow furrowed in deep thought.

Look at that. This world wasn’t just stagnant water after all.

However, the information Noxia provided was still quite limited.

”Have you recalled any other memories?” Luo Ge asked.

Noxia gently shook her head.

Seeing this, Luo Ge didn’t press further, but he silently committed the term ”Firewood Gatherer” to memory.

As the players delved deeper in their exploration, more of the truth would surely be unveiled.

”Mr. Luo Ge, in my eyes, you are the true Master of the Firewood.”

Noxia’s eyes were clear and resolute, but she seemed to have misunderstood something.

After all this time, having come to know Luo Ge and his Warriors, Noxia was thoroughly convinced of this.

Luo Ge glanced at her, feeling a little strange. ’I have no intention of becoming any Master of the Firewood.’

He just wanted to uncover the truth behind this world’s collapse. A deeper thought was simply to see if he could find a way to leave this place.

Besides, his attitude toward these Firewood Gatherers was merely one of curiosity.

Even if the Firewood Gatherers were an ancient faction, they were unlikely to come into major conflict with him.

After all, judging from Ryan’s situation, they also seemed to be exploring this shattered world.

But Noxia was clearly overthinking things; it seemed she was worried that this would trouble Luo Ge.

Noxia pressed her lips together, her voice still firm. ”No matter what, Noxia will always follow you.”

”...”

’Why is she so stubborn…’

Luo Ge shook his head inwardly. Fine, he’d let her think whatever she wanted.

...

Meanwhile, in the chat group created by Li Miao and the others.

After logging off, Li Miao quickly typed out an account of his experience and posted it in the group.

However, most of the group members were not online, as they were already in the game at this time.

Brother Miao Won’t Fail the Exam: ”...This is the reward from the Candlekeeper. Where are you guys exploring now? Have you run into the mysterious character in the tavern and triggered the special quest? @all”

Storyteller: ”I haven’t even had a chance to log on yet, but... a special reward. I feel like this quest was a pop-up event. @Brother Miao Won’t Fail the Exam”

Brother Miao Won’t Fail the Exam: ”I have that feeling too. The reward for this quest is too powerful. An extra Skill Slot. None of us have found a way to expand our Skill Slots yet.”

Poems and the Faraway Place: ”I’ve arrived. Didn’t encounter it.”

Storyteller: ”Then it really must have been a sudden, special quest. And it looks like it might have been a one-time thing, probably related to the Spirit Candle’s overall game plot progression... Damn, I need to make a video about this.”

Brother Miao Won’t Fail the Exam: ”What the hell? Faraway, you’re that fast? Who’d you enter the instance with?”

Poems and the Faraway Place: ”Guagua.”

Brother Miao Won’t Fail the Exam: ”Alright then... Do you think I should save this Spirit Candle’s Blessing for now or use it? @Poems and the Faraway Place”

Poems and the Faraway Place: ”Save it.”

His reply was, as always, concise.

Li Miao naturally chose to follow the expert’s advice.

Poems and the Faraway Place: ”The Priest in the center of the square. Be careful. A bit tricky.”

Brother Miao Won’t Fail the Exam: ”Priest? You mean the one in the red robe in the square?”

...

[Blood Robe Priest]

[Tier: Embers]

[Level: 16]

[Warfire: Blood Robe Priest (Fire Ignition available)]

[Talent: Unknown]

[Skill: Unknown]

[Explanation: Beneath the blood-colored priest’s robe lie Madness and gore. The惨状 in the square seems to be its handiwork, for reasons unknown.]

”Heh heh...”

”All... are my nourishment...”

”And that includes... you!”

In the center of the Seaside Town’s square, the Blood Robe Priest, holding a Banner of indiscernible material, slowly turned, its body trembling uncontrollably.

Its bloodshot eyes stared intently at the newcomers, its hoarse voice filled with irrepressible excitement.

Before it, Battle Bliss, wielding a Bloodstained Great Axe, and Bu Long were locked in a fierce battle with a group of [Sacrificial Living Corpses] that had dropped from wooden poles.

”What is this crap, putting on a mysterious act!” Seeing this, Battle Bliss snorted in disdain and roared, ”Bu Long!”

”Got it!”

Bu Long, who had perfect synergy with him, understood immediately. Without hesitation, he planted his Large Shield before him, activated Knight Charge, and rushed forward with a roar, head down.

In an instant, Bu Long drew the aggro of more than half the Sacrificial Living Corpses.

With Bu Long keeping those things busy, Brother Mangzi roared, raised his Bloodstained Great Axe, and charged the Blood Robe Priest, leaping into the air for a powerful, heavy-handed swing!

”Heh heh...” Facing the oncoming Brother Mangzi, the Blood Robe Priest neither dodged nor retreated, merely chuckling as it raised the blood-red Banner in its hand.

BOOM—

The paving stones of the square cracked as the Bloodstained Great Axe embedded itself deep into the ground.

”Huh?”

The Blood Robe Priest, which had been right in front of him, had suddenly vanished before Brother Mangzi’s eyes. He frowned.

After a quick scan of his surroundings, Brother Mangzi locked onto a blood-red figure among the Sacrificial Living Corpses.

”Trying to run?”

Brother Mangzi grinned menacingly.

”Not a chance!”

Locking onto his target, he kicked off the ground, his body igniting with roaring Warfire, and charged forward with the Bloodstained Great Axe that was wider than his own chest.

CLANG—

The ”Blood Robe Priest” in his vision raised a hand to block. The Great Axe struck its hand, yet it produced the sound of metal on metal.

At the same time, a sore ache shot through his arm, and a chunk of his Blood Volume was reflected back at him from the blow.

’Whoa, this Blood Robe Priest is pretty tanky, and it even has reflect damage…’

Brother Mangzi wondered to himself.

Then he saw the ”Blood Robe Priest” get sent flying by his axe swing, one of its arms bent at a bizarre angle as it stared at him in astonishment.

”Brother Mangzi, why are you attacking me?”

The bloody illusion gradually faded, and the ”Blood Robe Priest” before Brother Mangzi’s eyes suddenly took on the appearance of Bu Long.

”Bu Long?” Brother Mangzi froze, stunned. ”How is it you? Wasn’t I attacking...”

”Watch out!”

Just as he stood there in shock, the sound of rushing wind came from behind. Bu Long, who was in front of him, suddenly gritted his teeth, scrambled to his feet, and quickly raised his Shield to block for him.

WHOOSH!

An overwhelming wave of blood instantly devoured Bu Long’s entire body.

After gritting his teeth and resisting for a moment, the latter silently turned into a pile of Wax Ash.

Brother Mangzi hadn’t held back on that last axe swing. The Powerful Strike, enhanced by Warfire, had landed directly on Bu Long’s Shield, and even the shockwave alone was enough to put Bu Long in a world of hurt.

”Bu Long!”

Brother Mangzi’s pupils contracted. Snapping back to his senses, he looked toward the source of the Attack.

He saw that the Blood Robe Priest hadn’t used Instant Teleportation or moved at all; in fact, the large crater he had just created was right beside it.

It had merely used some kind of Magic to trick him!

’So that last axe swing… I landed a direct hit on Bu Long, who was pulling aggro for me!’

”Brother Mangzi, hang on! I’m going to resurrect right now.”

Bu Long’s Wandering Soul called out before drifting toward the Spirit Candle.

But Brother Mangzi didn’t hear a thing.

He glanced at the pile of Wax Ash before him, then at the still-chuckling Blood Robe Priest in the distance…

’Son of a bitch… you dare to mess with me…’

Rage mobilized every ounce of Power in Brother Mangzi’s body.

The next moment, the veins all over his body bulged, and the muscles in his arms, gripping the Great Axe, tensed like steel cables.

CRACK!

The ground where Brother Mangzi had been standing abruptly shattered.

He himself was already charging forward, wildly swinging his Bloodstained Great Axe, like a bulldozer fitted with meat grinder blades, advancing at high speed through a spray of blood and gore!

[You have slain a Sacrificial Living Corpse]

[You have slain a Sacrificial Living Corpse]

[...]

Flesh and blood flew wherever his blade passed.

After flipping sideways to dodge a Blood-colored Shockwave fired by the Blood Robe Priest, Brother Mangzi swung his Bloodstained Great Axe in a full, wide arc.

”DIE!!!”

All the terrifying Power in his body, his entire forward momentum, was channeled into the Bloodstained Great Axe at that moment.