Hearing the system prompt, Orson chose to repair the Watchtower without hesitation.
"You have unlocked the unique skill [Celestial Vision]."
Guild Leader Exclusive Skill: [Celestial Vision]
Effect: Infinite Dimensions is now under your divine surveillance. While within the Watchtower's range, consume 200 MP per second to gain full visibility of explored areas. Outside the Watchtower's range, MP consumption increases tenfold.
Orson's eyes lit up. This skill was fascinating—a surveillance system akin to having a satellite feed.
He casually clicked on the Pondenorlin City marker on the map. A split-screen display appeared, revealing a bird's-eye view of the city.
MP-200
MP-200
Zooming in, he could see every street and alley of the city. When pushed to the limit, the skill displayed absurdly fine details, down to NPCs' and players' hair textures and facial features.
Is this… a voyeur's dream come true?
Orson's expression froze as he glanced at Madman, who was still rummaging through Skyfeather's remains. If this skill fell into his hands, the man would undoubtedly misuse it in horrifyingly creative ways.
Fortunately, rogue players lacked mana pools. Even if Madman somehow became a guild leader, he'd be left to stare helplessly at the MP cost.
"The Celestial Legion isn't your average NPC faction."
Orson pondered.
This floating island was positioned between the borders of the Light Dragon Empire and its nemesis, the Dark Dragon Empire. During a war, every strategic movement of either empire would be exposed to the Watchtower's all-seeing gaze.
It was essentially a wallhack.
No wonder the Celestial Legion had managed to fend off an assault from over a dozen dark dragons.
But who overran this fortress? And who sealed it underground?
Pulling back from the Celestial Vision, Orson surveyed the entire floating island.
Most of the structures lay in ruins. The area around the white tower was relatively intact, but other parts of the island resembled termite-eaten wood, littered with gaping craters and rubble.
"Danger ahead. Level 30 required to proceed further."
Though eager to explore deeper, Orson couldn't bypass the level restriction. Reluctantly, he returned to the Bone Dragon Stronghold.
"Orson, Wedge is asking about the base sale. She's willing to pay a premium to buy our primary stronghold," Bradley reported.
"Tell her to go wash up and dream on."
"Got it."
Bradley chuckled and relayed the message. Orson shook his head. Does she seriously think I'd sell the Bone Dragon Stronghold?
Not only was the base priceless, but their mutual hatred ran so deep that each wanted the other dead. Where did she get the audacity to ask?
"She says you're a toad lusting after a swan and should drop dead. What should I reply with?"
Bradley smirked mischievously.
Orson's face darkened. "You've got some nerve, man! Just ignore her next time."
"Relax," Bradley laughed. "In my eyes, even if you're a toad, you're one dapper toad."
"Get lost!" Orson tossed him the four deed certificates, instructing him and Madman to handle the auction.
In major towns, player-specific auction houses ensured anonymity and blurred item details to prevent conflicts spilling into the real world.
"Carrying around so much gold feels amazing," Bradley mused. "What if we grab Iron Cavalry and just vanish? We could buy a resort and live like kings!"
The two joked, grinning ear to ear, while Orson ignored their antics. With his eyes set on improving his strength and level, he had no time for distractions.
Arriving at Pondenorlin City via a teleport NPC, Orson's presence immediately caused an uproar.
"Holy crap! A super red-name is here! Get him!"
"Are you nuts? That guy's a monster! Even Usher avoids him!"
"Red-named players daring to enter a city… terrifying!"
Some players hesitated, but others had greedy ideas. Orson's three legendary items were well-known. Killing him would net them a fortune.
Unfortunately for them, Orson was leagues above their level.
"Stand down!"
"Apprehend him!"
The city's guards—a squad of heavily armed NPCs—rushed to surround him. Players gathered to watch the spectacle.
"This guy may be strong, but even he can't take on all these guards!"
"Should we try to kill him in the chaos? One lucky hit, and we'll be set for life!"
Before they could act, Orson leapt onto Crimson Lizard King.
"Level 30 elite mount?!"
"I never realized his mount was this massive… the aura alone is terrifying!"
With a flash of magic, Orson unleashed a Flame Dragon, sending the guards flying. Crimson Lizard King followed with a wave of flames, leaving the guards wailing in agony.
As his mount soared skyward, Orson clasped his hands together. The ground beneath erupted with an Earthquake, trapping the guards.
A blur of motion, and he vanished into the horizon.
"That's insane… just insane! He obliterated those guards like they were nothing."
"Now I get why even Usher couldn't stop him."
Eventually, Orson arrived outside Purple Thunder Fort, where his quest tracker indicated the Dragon Maiden taskline was nearby.
The area was a hilly terrain covered in toxic plants called Demonic Vines. Touching them inflicted continuous poison damage.
He learned this the hard way when Crimson Lizard King's HP plummeted after landing. Its swollen snout resembled a winged dog's.
After recalling his mount to the Battle Space, Orson encountered his first enemy.
[Corrupted Goblin: Level 30]
HP: 20,000
Attack: 400
Skills: Poison Stinger, Frenzy Drums, Rapid Volley
A swarm of the tiny creatures emerged from the underbrush, shrieking in high-pitched voices. Resembling goblins but smaller, their wiry limbs wielded crude firearms and crossbows.
"Am I really about to get stomped by these things?" Orson muttered, narrowly dodging a mine-like explosion from a Demonic Vine.
"Waaagh!"
The goblins screamed as they charged, clumsily firing their weapons. Their projectiles were wildly inaccurate, but the cacophony of their cries grated on his nerves.
Resorting to brute force, Orson unleashed a barrage of Chaos Magic Balls, carving a path up the hill.
The goblins were relentless. Reaching a cave halfway up the hill, Orson prepared to rest when—
"Waaagh! An intruder! Waaagh!"
More goblins poured out of the cave, their numbers in the thousands. They were accompanied by a player painted entirely green, mimicking the goblins' appearance.
The player was almost naked, wielding a tiny magical cannon and screaming alongside the goblins.
"What the…? Is this guy… cosplaying?!" Orson stared in disbelief, momentarily at a loss for words.