"Shit! Orgod is here! Run for it!"
"Don't let that bastard steal the kill! If anyone tries to grind down the boss's HP, I'll kill you myself!"
"His Infamy bar is completely gold… He must have racked up millions of Infamy points by now."
The Crimson Lizard King soared into the sky, passing by the floating coliseum. Players riding flying mounts scattered like startled sparrows.
"Eat!"
The Crimson Lizard King's blood-red eyes locked onto the Golden Dragon, saliva dripping uncontrollably from its maw.
"Damn, why's it raining on a sunny day?"
"This rain feels sticky… That's weird."
Players waiting outside the item shop, hoping for NPCs to return, quickly took cover.
"This must be holy water!"
Infinite Dimensions was filled with all kinds of eccentric players, and one immediately proposed the theory that this was some kind of blessed liquid that could enhance attributes if consumed.
And so…
"That does look pretty tasty. I'd have to agree."
Hearing the Crimson Lizard King's thoughts, Orson—surprisingly—nodded in approval.
The Golden Dragon lay lazily in the arena, dozing off like a giant, golden, crispy roast chicken, making it incredibly tempting.
The Golden Dragon opened one eye, giving the passing Crimson Lizard King a wary glance.
Imperial Count Bibienne crossed his arms and snorted. "Step forward and fight, you fool rushing to your death!"
"If it's called The Golden House, there should be plenty of money inside, right?" Orson murmured.
He completely ignored Bibienne's provocation.
The arena challenge lasted seven days. Even if he won, he'd have to waste an entire week stuck there. Not worth it.
"What, scared? Hahaha! I thought he was some big shot, but turns out he's just tucking his tail and running!"
"Eight A-rank class players and one S-rank player took turns attacking, and we only shaved off 13% of its health. If we keep this up, we might actually stand a chance!"
As Orson flew past the coliseum, players watching from below ridiculed him.
Being a Triple Crown winner was impressive, but one person alone couldn't match a coordinated raid party.
"A High-Rank Dragon Knight isn't that easy to take down. Infinite Dimensions isn't dumb enough to leave such an obvious healing exploit."
Orson shook his head, amused.
The stronger a Dragon Knight, the more broken their abilities.
The boss had only lost 13% HP, yet its first-phase mechanics hadn't even triggered—which only happened at 20% HP.
How could they possibly think they could brute-force their way through the Golden Dragon Knight with sheer numbers?
These players only saw surface-level mechanics.
More importantly, the Golden Dragon wasn't just a stronger Earth Dragon—it was a full upgrade. It had the Earth Dragon Guardian Enluka's monstrous defense and even greater attack power, making it an absolute powerhouse in both offense and defense.
Combine that with Dragon Knight combat techniques…
Bypassing the Golden Dragon to defeat Bibienne, the temporary city lord, was nearly impossible.
That's because High-Rank Dragon Knights had an absurd trump card—Life Link.
If either the knight or dragon died, the other would perish instantly.
At this stage of the game, that was basically invincibility.
To put it bluntly, the Light Dragon Emperor had deliberately set up this arena match to pressure Orson, forcing him to work for the empire.
This entire arena challenge?
It was nothing but a staged performance.
"Oh, so you're trying to pressure me?"
Orson chuckled, steering the Crimson Lizard King toward the southwestern imperial territories.
An hour later, they landed outside Golden City, in an unassuming little village.
A crystal-clear stream ran through the area, with majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance. The ground was covered in a vast sea of crimson flowers, painting a breathtaking scene.
This place was known as Barrel Town.
Soon enough, players would discover its beauty, and it would become one of Infinite Dimensions' most famous scenic tourist spots.
For now, however, the monsters here ranged from Level 50 to 60, and there were no high-profit dungeons nearby, so barely any players visited.
An elderly woman carrying a water bucket approached.
"Adventurer, is there something I can help you with?"
"Where is Xyla, the master brewer?" Orson asked.
"Oh, are you here to buy wine?"
Orson nodded slightly.
The woman sighed. "Ah, he's been missing for days now. If you're looking for wine, I can take you to his son, Jenkins."
[Option 1: Insist on meeting Xyla and follow the old woman's directions to Phoenix Forest, where you may get lost.]
[Option 2: Go to Jenkins and buy the finest wine available.]
[Option 3: Insult Barrel Town's wine, calling it trash.]
Orson smirked and, without hesitation, chose Option 3.
As soon as he spoke, the regional chat automatically generated a message:
Orgod: "No offense, but Barrel Town claims its wine is famous across the empire. In reality? It's just weak, flavorless donkey piss."
[Xyla's disciple Ross is outraged and swears to cut you down!]
[Xyla's grand-disciple Kelly is furious and threatens to rip your mouth apart!]
NPCs immediately started spamming the chat, and a system message popped up:
[If you lack sufficient combat power, you will be attacked by the villagers!]
[Do you wish to leave before things escalate?]
Orson chose to stay.
Another automated taunt appeared in the chat:
Orgod: "They say the divine brew of Barrel Town is so good that even phoenixes are addicted, circling the village for days without leaving."
Orgod: "But let's be real, even if you gave it to me for free, I'd still find it disgusting."
Orson winced internally.
Damn, this system is savage.
This wasn't even him talking—the game was auto-generating trash talk and making him say it!
A moment later, another NPC chat message appeared:
[Jenkins, son of Xyla, is furious and is heading your way, wielding a club to "invite" you for a tasting session!]
Within a minute, hundreds of villagers surrounded Orson.
A middle-aged man, clearly Jenkins, stepped forward, gripping a stout wooden club, his face twisted with rage.
"Who dares insult my family's legendary wine? You're gonna drink it right now, or I'll beat your ass!"
A wooden table materialized, piled high with an assortment of fine liquors. A thick, intoxicating aroma filled the air.
This wasn't like the cheap rum and dark ale sold in city taverns.
Each bottle was worth at least ten gold, and some even provided permanent attribute bonuses upon first consumption.
Many guilds spent fortunes on these types of drinks to celebrate major victories.
Of course, the stat bonuses were minor—the real value was in the experience.
Since Infinite Dimensions was neuron-linked, players could fully taste and savor the drinks, making them highly sought after by connoisseurs and heavy drinkers alike.
Jenkins slammed a jug onto the table. "Drink. Now. Or I'll kill you."
[A "courteous invitation" from Jenkins to taste his family's wine.]
"Uh… courteous? Seriously?"