Chapter 128: Devastation

All across the Pike region especially the four Shifting Islands, demonic beings are splitting out of the ground destroying everything they can. For the past few hours, players have been pulled into a war with these beings. At the home of the Sunken Reek which is Red Iron Island, the demonic has done the most damage spitting the land causing some of it to sink into the ocean. The boys run towards the centre of the city. All the demons are avoiding that area and there must be something special there preventing from utterly destroying the city. They have to plough their way through the miasma of demons. Reaching the centre of town is an Entandrophragma tree with what looks like millions of branches in height which is two hundred meters is sunk into the ground. The mission was given to them by the Temple Master about the ancestral city. Reaching the tree is key to completing the mission but the trunk is underground on some kind of mechanism.  It is surrounded by bronze rings and an open slot that looks like something should fit in there. The boys look for any clues as to enter the tree and its surrounding mechanisms. 

Styx says, "we can't search endlessly the demons are longer not dying as soon they reach to that bronze line where this structure begins. Primo are you listening we have been at this for a while?" To him, it doesn't look like the Flower Garden Fort from the trailer. If this truly is one then the city is probably part of its control system it falling to the ground. They need to find whatever in the gaming clue they are looking for. Styx has even tried phasing into the space the tree is in only to be buffeted back and lost half his health. It seems the defences of this tree are still well entrenched even after all this time. Styx doesn't crawl like Tyr trying to read symbols from the bricks and metal rings. Styx has identified five of these rings. The most central which is actually gold, not bronze is the only one with writing on it. Styx meanders trying to solve the mystery they have to try everything they can think and so he does sometimes he is lucky. Unfortunately, Styx is not getting lucky today. The demons are getting more frenzied as they sacrifice themselves to the defences.

SKY Ocean Hunter is looking at the tree it canopy sits like a large bush, lushly filled with odd fruit that is crystalline in nature. SKY Ocean Hunter listens to the tree it is not uncommon for some Narlarks to plant themselves shortly before death. Though he drops that idea as soon as it pops into his head. The canopy is thick and can't be moved aside yet he feels they're missing something completely obvious. SKY Ocean hunter looks at the mission description it is not very long and a stupid idea fills his head. They could be overthinking things if they are only meant to find the city ruins should the mission clear not of triggered as soon as they arrived. Either they are looking for a specific thing in the city that is a representation of the city. The way the vines on the gate now look like the root of this tree to him. he picks at one of the leaves. Placing it in his inventory. 

[Mission Cleared!!!] 

[Find the Ruined city]

Reward: Plus one level

The Temple Masters' Spirit in a golden form appears before SKY Ocean Hunter she speaks to him, "Well done young traveller. You have done what many have been unable to do for years. The defeat of The herald has lifted his seal over the place. We can finally see the pathways to the city. we have to say it first. Go forth into the anti-chamber and retrieve the power crystal. Bring it back here and attach it to the root mechanism. Hurry we only have a few hours. The others have already powered the beacons. "

[Mission Received!!!]

[Restore power to the ancestral City]

Mission Info: The ancestral city was built around the ancient wonder. secure it remnants by powering its old core. 

Reward: Control of the Ancestral City. 

SKY Ocean Hunter accepts the new mission all over pike agents from Transseria have been handing out missions to fight the demons and restore some places of power. Some places are more important than in total there are four major incursion points on different islands and several smaller locations on smaller islands. The teams of Suken Reef Guild are pretty much self-guiding and go wild clearing the missions. The demon invasion is quickly escalating into a regional event. Many players is moving towards the islands trying to get away from prosecution and at the chance to get revenge a the demons. Many guilds like Forst empire, Crippiling Desert and others are looking forward to the flood of new recruitable players. 

The boys enter the pathway opened by the Temple masters' spirit a series of stairs going to the root of the tree. The stairs case long on the way down. The boys come across what Tyr describes as, "First Era tech." 

Styx questionable says, "Hermano how do you know this? They just look like fancy lights to me. Nothing super special about them at all." Styx wants to kick Tyr for stopping at almost every light nob or crystal filled with some magic power. Tyr is obviously doing this as each gives him a little insight into the inner working of the devices. 

While examining a damaged frame display module, Tyr says, "These lights are self-sustaining. The first thing lost during the collapses was the ability to create a self-sustaining mechanism. The sheer number of Artirium processes lost boggles the mind. Hell, we even lost how to create moving buildings. It used to be a whole field of study under the Techonmancer and certain Enchanting and Mechanical schools." 

Styx says, " That's just hogwash, what sort of building move." 

SKY Ocean Hunter says, " We still have them in the Barren Sea if they are the same thing. Some of our buildings can turn with the tide like the power generators. Even my family home has rearranging rooms." Tyr nods knowingly one of the biggest advantages they have is the diversity amongst the races in Sunken Reef. It means that as long as someone like Ninth Immortal learns some of the Arkenian Artirium processes she could make basic storm grounds. Which is one of the primary ways to claim space in celestial planes.

Tyr says, "That's where we all got it from. The flying cities of the Azardi, the Mountain peak Urdak Strom Forts made from enhanced permafrost. It's all stuff we in Liguria have just managed to pick back up along the way and in most cases, it is a poor imitation." They continue walking down the stairs as they are actually on a time limit of about four hours. 

SKY Ocean Hunter says, " We are going to go to all this place one day." His resolve is firm on this he really wants to explore the world after conquering the Barren Sea. Being Overlord of an Ocean would satisfy his royal obligations and boost the guild massively. Over the last month, they have grown in number but have deliberately avoided certain missions as they would be dragged into a regional conflict. SKY Ocean Hunter has been keeping an eye on the rising tension between the Eastern Empire and the Kingdom of Asrugo. 

Styx says, "Whatever you say Primo so long as I get to be with a girl some of the time I will have no complaints. She isn't having as much fun as she would the Mint has placed a lot of restrictions on them so they are doing thousands of glorified fetch quests or as Frey calls them Bitch Quests." Styx chuckles at that as long as he has known Frey this is maybe the sixth time he has heard her swear. 

SKY Ocean Hunter says, " Well that depends on Lux. She was the one who demanded the girls go alone because we are all op and make everything less fun for them." SKY Ocean Hunter sticks out his chest at that he is very proud that his deadly girlfriend considers him so strong. She was even complaining about my control over my water is an unfair advantage." 

Tyr says, " Don't tell me she tries to duel you. I thought she got over that you should just let her win and make your life so much easier. At the exact same time, Styx and SKY Ocean Hunter huff at Tyr disappointed at how little he knows about women. 

SKY Ocean Hunter says, " Bro she explained to me like this one time. It is the best feeling in the conquer something you thought you could never beat. The rush of power you feel is better than anything." Since then SKY Ocean Hunter has always fought his hardest against Lux and she has learnt some painful lessons. 

They arrive at the damp dark dungeon floors the roots tower over them like balconies. Ahead is a somewhat scary-looking demon. On its back is a massive crystal chained to its body.