Volume 5: Protracted War Chapter 118: The Lost Artifact (2)
The team escorting the "Holy Disk" and the "Twelve-Winged Golden Angel Statue" is presided over by two level nine professional cardinals and a paladin of light, and participated by expert players from Supreme Honor, Holy Heaven, Angels on Earth, Real Madrid, etc. In fact, it is just a bait placed in the open to attract the attention of the "Resistance Alliance" and lure us to launch an attack. The main force escorting the "holy relics" is an NPC army lurking in the dark, led by two level ten professional cardinals and a paladin of light. It was these two level ten professional NPCs of light who took action personally, and entangled the two level nine professional Undead Holy Mages and Magic Paladin who participated in the operation, making it impossible for them to escape.
Perhaps because of the series of victories since the "World Heroes Conference", the "Resistance Alliance" has been a little arrogant. While the morale is greatly boosted, a general optimistic mood has been fostered. They believe that with our current strength, we are not inferior to those players of the Light profession, and even have the upper hand. We have initially acquired the ability to compete with the Church of Light. In such an environment, the optimistic thinking has more or less influenced the leaders Long Xingtianxia and Desert Eagle, who underestimated the Church of Light's highest authority to mobilize the Light profession NPCs at this stage.
The plan of dividing troops and ambushing in three continents formulated by Long Xing Tian Xia, Desert Eagle, Qing Wu Fei Yang and other masterminds can effectively intercept the team of the Church of Light "sending treasures" and take the initiative, but it also disperses the strength of the "Resistance Alliance". Although the number of people dispatched is much higher than that of the Church of Light, and the overall strength is still above them, each team lacks enough top players to sit in, and there is no way to pose a fatal threat to the enemy in the shortest time, so that they can protect the "holy objects" after being attacked and hold on until the reinforcements arrive. In addition, in order to allow each team to have the ability to fight against the ninth-level professional cardinals and light paladins, Long Xing Tian Xia and his team had to apply for six ninth-level professional dark NPCs for assistance. This seemingly safe approach is actually the biggest failure, which allows the Church of Light to obtain the authority to dispatch tenth-level professional NPCs. The ambushers were ambushed, and facing the crazy counterattack of the enemy who had an absolute advantage, the "Resistance Alliance" was soon defeated. More than 2,000 master players who participated in the action were almost wiped out, resulting in the worst defeat since the establishment of the alliance.
With the failure of the "Resistance Alliance" interception operation, the two "holy objects" of "Holy Plate" and "Twelve-winged Golden Angel Statue" were safely transported to the grassland city in the southern continent, and the Church of Light began to rebuild the destroyed cathedral. Through this victory, the Church of Light's momentum rose again, especially the dispatch and participation of the level 10 NPC of light profession, which greatly deterred some other forces that were ready to move, and they withdrew the olive branches that had just been extended to our "Resistance Alliance", making our plan to peacefully gain control of the city and establish an open base encounter more troubles.
Not to mention how much negative impact this defeat has on the reputation of the "Resistance Alliance". In my eyes, it is just a small defeat in the long-term war between the two major camps of light and darkness. To be a little irresponsible, the ones who need to review and take responsibility are the people in charge, such as Long Xingtianxia and Dame Feiying. It is not something I, a director who has no "political ambitions", should care about. What makes me sad and sigh is the ninth-level dark professional NPC who died in this operation, to be more precise, the Undead Holy Mage.
It would have been fine if it was any other NPC, as they were not related to me in any way, and death was not a big deal. However, the one who unfortunately died in battle was none other than Igfil, whom I had met once in the "Castle of the Dead", the NPC who wore the "Control of Death" on his right hand.
When a person dies, at most he can be resurrected by consuming a little energy from the dead old man. At most, his ability will be reduced and he will no longer be in the same position as before. However, the artifact in his hand cannot be taken back. It fell into the hands of the bastard who killed him in the end. I already have an artifact, "Death's Touch", and another artifact, "Death Scepter", has also begun the process of unsealing. I have what I need in the bowl and the pot is not empty. I don't want to be too greedy for another artifact, but the lost "Death's Control" is a pair of equipment that can be paired with "Death's Touch". If I can't get it, I'm afraid I can only wear a left-hand glove for the rest of my life. And it is said that a set of equipment often produces additional attributes. No matter from which aspect, I am eager to take "Death's Control" for myself.
I had originally planned to wait until I became stronger and made a few more great achievements, then I would go to the dead old man to discuss whether it was possible to get Yigfell to reluctantly give up the "Death Control" to me, or even find a way to get another artifact of the same quality to exchange with him. After all, we are all family members, and in order to fight against the Church of Light together, there should be room for negotiation, and there is always a glimmer of hope for success. Now, Yigfell suddenly died in battle, and the artifact fell into the hands of others. It would be even more difficult to get the "Death Control" again.
Although after much inquiry and questioning of many players from the Southern Continent who participated in the battle, no one could tell who had killed Igfil, it was always someone from the hostile Church of Light, either an NPC or a player. According to the rules, seizing the artifact of the dark profession was a great achievement, but if it fell into the hands of an NPC, there would be no hope at all - those stubborn guys would definitely hand over the spoils as soon as possible. The most likely result would be that the "Angel of God" Michael would seal it with divine power and keep it in the Temple of Light. To get it, unless one could pick the Temple of Light, the home base of the Church of Light, that would require facing the "feat" of the Pope of Light, the twelve cardinals, and the Knights of Light. The difficulty would probably be even greater than the ultimate showdown between the twenty-five strongest men of light and darkness, and it could only exist in imagination.
There is another situation where Igfell dies at the hands of a player of the Light profession. Although there are NPCs of higher levels such as level 9 and level 10 present, it is unlikely that players of level 6 professions will be able to achieve such a great feat. However, theoretically, if a surprise attack is launched when Igfell is seriously injured, it is possible to get something for free. If the "Death Control" falls into the hands of a player, it must be handled more flexibly. In addition to handing it over to the Church of Light in exchange for corresponding merits and rewards, after all, it is a divine artifact that is more likely to be withheld privately and sold to us necromancers for huge profits. In this case, whether it is bought or exchanged, there may still be a glimmer of hope to obtain the "Death Control". At this point, everything can only be left to fate and my luck.
