Chapter 363: Bode

There was a curious border city named Bode that sat twelve thousand kilometers away from Crookes on the Eastern Continent.

“So, the rumors were real… there actually is a Vertical City in this world!” A youth with a large backpack gasped in awe at the sight before him. “How do I get up there?

The bulk of Bode was a straight stone pillar with craggy precipices poking out, each of which had compact houses built over it. With only the residence of Bode’s mayor was built upon the top of the stone pillar and having no obvious stairs built over it, there was no telling how one would get into the city. “First time here at Bode, kid?” A middle-aged merchant having some tobacco from a pipe eyed the youth as if he was small fry. “The people of Bode are called Bodians, and they are nonhumans who look like birds. If you are interested in trading, you just have to set up shop over at Bode’s Hand, although you would have to pay for overhead.”

“Bode’s Hand?” The youth repeated in confusion.

“That’s the one.” The merchant pointed ahead.

“Oh.”

The youth only realized then that the majesty of Bode had diverted all his attention away from a village beneath it. Upon closer look, it was made up of five small stone pillars that resembled fingers, which was little wonder how it got its name.

“Kid, you must be thinking that Nature is such a masterful artist, aren’t you? The truth, however, is that neither Bode nor Bode’s hand are naturally formed.”

“No way!” The young traveling merchant gaped—such a grand stone pillar didn’t form naturally? “There’s a legend circulating amongst Bodians… a long time ago, their kind were allies of the high elves who watched the skies for them. However, the high elves own burgeoning ambition led to them committing a crime the gods could not abide with, and because the Bodians wanted to stop the high elves, they commissioned the king of dwarves and his race to build a weapon that could keep them level against the high elves.”

The middle-aged merchant took a puff on his pipe with enjoyment, puckering his lips before continuing, “However, it was too late when the weapon was finally finished. The high elves were wiped out by the wrathful inferno unleashed by the gods, which in turn ushered in the long period of war between gods and demons, utterly wiping the world clean… and it is said that Bode and Bode’s Hand were the weapons left behind from that time.”

“To think that something like that actually happened…” The youth was captivated by the story. “Hahaha! Got you good, huh? The story was never recorded anywhere-it’s just the Bodians tooting their own horn!” The middle-aged merchant pursed his lips. “Alright, it’s our turn now. Get ready to cross the bridge.” And yet, that was when the ground began to move.

The earth where the five pillars of Bode’s Hand was suddenly split apart. Every last building over the area was instantly crushed as an actual colossal hand reached out from beneath ground, catching hold of the lower half of the Bode stone pillar. Soon, the barren earth shook violently, splitting and cracking everywhere.

Then, a titanic body rose from beneath the earth.

It was a giant that had the features of a dwarf, but stood over three-hundred meters tall!

As it mustered its strength, it pulled the entire city of Bode out of the ground!

Hence, all the houses and boulders that had been piling over the city for years fell off, revealing its true face.

It was a gigantic sword like no other.

Hence, the dwarven giant started to move slowly towards Crookes, twelve thousand kilometers away…

***

[Steel Earth Key (Novelty)]

[Item: A key forged by high elf royalty, a symbol of chosen members of their race and identification of those who embody Mystery. Only high elves who obtain this key are permitted into Steel Earth, the fourth stratum of the Elven Synchronized Intellect Nation (SIN). It appears to holds other functions as a novelty forged from Mystery as well.]

(Maximum users: 6]

(Usage: Players with the Steel Earth Key do not have to cross the Faint Crystal Stratum or the Deep Wall Stratum. They would be teleported directly to the entrance of Dark Sky, where they would pave the path into Steel Earth.]

[Note: The key is effective within a radius of 10km from the Elven SIN)

“We did it! So, this is the quest item to reach the next floor!”

After leaving the Elven SIN, Edward looked excited when he saw the key in Leah’s hand.

Edward and the others had stopped fighting the shining monsters after Leah died and got out-in fact, after Leah had retrieved the key, the light of the turtle monster had vanished without a trace, and soon what was left of it was all bones as various monsters swarmed it and devoured it.

Aside from Joe the oaf who got caught in the crossfire because he was too slow, everyone else made it out successfully.

Still, it was Edward’s first time being that excited.Since his party had become Players for a major chunk of the year, going through various adventures, near-death situations and deaths, this was undoubtedly the toughest obstacle they faced. They would at most die once usually, but in this event, everyone here has died at least twice, and were even left confused to the point of almost giving up. Even so, when it came to the lasting excitement from the conflict and the triumph over obstacles, such delights and sense of accomplishment was nothing that the average quest or adventure would give.

After all, humans were such creatures prone to addictions. This world notwithstanding, back on Earth where supernatural powers did not exist, many people would involve themselves in extreme sports without any self-regard, seeking excitement and accomplishment.

One might even say that the endless challenge of one’s own limits to develop and grow was a Player’s nirvana.

“Two more floors to clearing the Elven SIN!” Jessica, who joined the adventure halfway through was calmer than the others. “And it’s just four days left.”

“Need a breather, guys?” Edward asked the others.

“No need. I actually can’t wait to see what the next floor is like!” Mufasa exclaimed determinedly, now wearing his pink flatfish head mask once again.

“I think seizing the moment is better as well.” Princess Leah nodded. “Hold on…’in other words, the way to clear the third floor is by getting the key’… alright, I’ve posted the strategy.” Gou Dan looked from the Player forum page. “No problem on my end!”

“Alright! We’ll wait until Joe revives and we replenish our items, then we head towards Steel Earth!”