Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 232
>Chapter Title: Forgotten Tomb
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A rare spectacle unfolded where tens of thousands of mouths spewed every curse under the sun.
It was a sight you wouldn't see just anywhere, yet not a single person was impressed.
Of course not.
They had to squeeze in one more curse instead of wasting time on admiration.
The message that had enraged them so was none other than,
[The Great Lion King's trial has concluded.]
[You can no longer enter the Lion King's Tower.]
[The Great Lion King's trial content has ended.]
Three simple lines.
"What the hell is this? Concluded? Who decided that!"
"You f***ing b****. What kind of s*** is this?"
"Content ended? We can't enter the tower anymore?"
"No way, forcing the content to delete after all this!?"
It was more than enough to send the users into a frenzy—the first content shutdown any of them had ever witnessed.
The conclusion of the Lion King's trial was shocking, but their immediate fury overshadowed any awe.
Who the hell decided to end the content on their own?
"My chance? I didn't even get to try, and it's over just like that?"
"They told us to HODL! Said HODLing leads to victory!"
The sense of betrayal was indescribable for those who had deliberately HODLed for the future.
Out of the tens of thousands gathered here, probably half hadn't even attempted a challenge.
Their anger was utterly justified, and naturally, that fury sought a target, heads tilting in unison.
No disagreement on the target. It was clear.
The man who had just cleared the first hidden stage.
The man who achieved early passes three times in thirty minutes.
The man they were certain would cause a massive incident!
"Kaiser…… how the hell did you end the content? Insane."
"You f***, you already took your trial, so of course you say that. This is too much!"
"Just eat well and live well yourself? Why block the path for innocent folks like us?"
"Kaiser, where are you! Show yourself!"
They knew he'd cause trouble, but not this kind of trouble.
They knew that even if they challenged the Great Lion King's trial, they wouldn't get anything as good as what Extermination or the Empress had obtained.
But not getting it at all was different from never getting the chance for life.
"Who does he think he is, Kaiser?"
"We can't let this slide. Confront him the second he shows……"
That was when the fuming users rolled up their sleeves.
[World Quest: Forgotten Tomb has been generated.]
[World Quests are open to all users, with rankings based on contribution scores.]
[Rewards will be distributed according to ranking.]
[Rescue the Forgotten King slumbering in the Forgotten Tomb.]
"……Huh?"
"Eh?"
Four message windows suddenly floating above their heads.
It was enough to halt the users mid-rage.
Some blinked in disbelief, others gaped with jaws on the floor, and some just stood there dumbfounded.
From those frozen with fists raised, unsure how to react, to those rubbing their eyes.
"……World Quest?"
A faint mutter from somewhere snapped them out of their stupor.
Just uttering the words was enough.
"Crazy…… a World Quest?"
"Why's a World Quest opening out of nowhere?"
"All users can participate…… looks like a real World Quest, but what?"
"No, it's been over half a year with no word."
"Even the Top 10 Guilds said it wouldn't open for years."
It brought reality crashing down on those too stunned to process.
Such an absurd event instinctively drove them to seek reasons, and one came quickly enough.
What else could explain the current situation?
"……No way, did ending the trial trigger the World Quest?"
"Then…… Kaiser opened the World Quest?"
"Whoa?"
Once they pieced it together, attitudes flipped in an instant.
Amid sighs of realization, urgent voices erupted.
"K-Kaiser, where are you? Come out!"
"Ahh…… Lord Ka-shin always has deeper intentions."
"What's ending the trial! Now I get to do a World Quest! Yes! Mom, I'm doing a World Quest!"
"Hurry forward! Snagging even one interview line is jackpot!"
For entirely different reasons now, voices calling for Kaiser filled the space before the Hidden Castle monument—voices that had moments ago been ready to devour him.
* * *
This attitude shift wasn't limited to the scene.
[Great Lion King's Trial Content Abruptly Ends. Culprit: Kaiser?]
[What Was the Black-Light Trial Kaiser Undertook?]
[Trial Concludes Amid Massive White Lion Effect! Onlookers Stunned.]
[Guild Official Outraged Over Forced Shutdown of Long-Awaited Content……]
[Kaiser's Monopoly! Is This Really Okay?]
Headlines had been viciously condemning Kaiser's trial conclusion.
-Bro, Kaiser did it again!!!
-Wo, World Quest! World Quest dropped!
-F*** yeah, my pornstash! Thank you!!
But the World Quest news flooded communities in seconds, sending reporters scrambling.
As if those condemnation articles had never existed, they switched tunes immediately.
[Kaiser Opens World Quest!]
[First World Quest in Half a Year! Trial's End Was Just Fertilizer for This?]
[This World Quest's Theme: Forgotten Tomb!]
[Top 10 Guilds Expected to Mobilize Amid Unforeseen World Quest Hype……]
-Lion King trial? Who cares about that crap! I'd just get garbage weapons anyway!
-Years later or whatever, might as well do the World Quest now!
-Wow, Forgotten Tomb…… what's the vibe? Already hyped.
-Journalist losers lololol flipping scripts so fast lmao
-Sigh, I believed in Ka-shin. This is what happens without faith.
-Weren't you cursing him earlier? Pretty sure I saw your nick.
Comments were overwhelmingly positive.
Regrettable as the Lion King trial shutdown was, it paled against a World Quest's prestige.
-Top 10 Guilds all jumping in?
-Most are on New Continents, so time lag. First New Continent folks get a head start, farther ones will be late.
-World Quests don't end in a day or two anyway.
-Gonna be insane fun. Proper rankings this time?
-Power plays incoming. They've had that unspoken truce forever.
What excited them most was the mega-powers.
Their informal accord had held for nearly a year.
No real clashes since the Adventure King Barion's World Quest half a year back.
With a real showdown brewing, how could they not be thrilled?
[Top 10 Guild, Cheonoecheon. Spotted Waiting at Entrance……]
[Top 10 Guild, Babylon Also at Entrance! Pegasus Master vs. Armory Master Clash!?]
[Blue Tower Master's Disciple, Mightiest Ice Mage Repias. Declares Participation, Sparks Buzz……]
[Top 10 Guilds and High Rankers on New Continents on Alert! Scrambling to Respond……]
[Dragons' Battle! Who Will Claim First Place?]
[Meanwhile, Unlike Their Exclusive League, Empire-Free Cities Erupt in Festival Atmosphere……]
-Wow, matchups got my balls quivering 5,000 times a second already……
-Extermination? When's Extermination coming?
-Extermination's way later. Distance is nuts.
-Shipping needs a damn overhaul.
-Cheonoecheon and Babylon took the lead. Usually Empire high rankers snag first, but equal start here.
Living up to the hype, mega-powers charged from the jump.
Communities overflowed with it.
"Man…… watching others fight is always the best."
"Doesn't our Master think the same?"
"Well, yeah. Honestly, can't resist a good fire or a brawl?"
Ast smirked, closing the community window and looking up.
'Wonder if I should like this or not……'
He was nonchalant now, but moments ago, he'd been floored—nearly keeling over.
The message about the Lion King's trial concluding.
The epitome of grinding demanded ultimate patience for HODLing, yet forced shutdown? Absurd.
Like getting backstabbed by a trusted ally—head-spinning.
Without the follow-up World Quest message, he might've clutched his neck from hypertension.
'Heard he was doing a different hidden stage route…… but concluding it? Geez.'
Did trouble follow that guy everywhere?
Nearly two years of god-gaming, yet first forced content end—just dry laughter.
A storm in the post-balance god-game lull.
Thinking of his old comrade, Ast chuckled and rose slowly from his chair.
'Heart skipped a beat for a sec, but ends up good.'
A sec…… he'd gripped his neck for a full minute muttering "K-Kaiser you b******," but sincere.
This World Quest barred NPC entry.
User-heavy Empire rankers at a disadvantage vs. guild-structured Top 10s.
'Perfect timing too. Opened while they're obsessed with New Continent clears.'
Only Cheonoecheon and Babylon left here among Top 10s.
Plenty of shot at first-mover.
'Thanks for the gift, punk.'
Bittersweet giving-medicine-after-poison, but top World Quest ranker meant massive rewards and glory.
Ast glanced at the community one last time before leaving.
-But where's Kaiser? No sign of him?
-Oh yeah? Thought he ended the trial. Hasn't shown since?
-Dunno. Distracted by World Quest……
-Well, he probably first-entered already.
-Yeah…… Anyway, he's not the main event. Matchups are wild—no room for him.
'Where the hell is this guy? No whisper reply. Was gonna help a bit……'
The very one who triggered it, radio silent.
Ast clicked his tongue in mild annoyance, then shook his head.
'He opened it himself. He'll handle it.'
From Demlock days sticking together, lesson learned: worrying about Kaiser was pointless.
Hero Guild days, low level warranted it—but now?
No need. He could fend for himself.
'Unless he's blocking someone else's path.'
Ast smirked and exited the guild building, striding out.
The unusually bustling streets led to the fountain, where clustered users waited. Beyond them, a rough-hewn portal shimmered.
"Ah, Master. Sub-Master."
His subordinates amid various faction users bowed to Ast.
"Prep done?"
"Yes! All set perfectly. Just waiting for the entrance."
"Good."
Seeing his Babylon guildmates decked in gleaming high-end gear—reassuring, heartwarming.
Then, the portal's glow sharpened, a crisp alert ringing.
[World Quest Dungeon Portal to 'Forgotten Tomb' has opened.]
[Rescue the Forgotten King from the site of the catastrophe.]
….
Ast grinned boldly at the timely portal.
"Alright, let's go."
Top 10 Guild, Babylon.
They plunged fearlessly into the World Quest Dungeon, Forgotten Tomb.
And……
"Babylon, those gear-whore bastards—we won't lose to idiots like them, right? Good, entering. Gear up the second you enter."
"……Hope there's material worthy of a gift for the Tower Master."
"We're light on numbers. But that means mobility. Win with speed. Find the Forgotten King!"
"Strategy? Don't care—just smash into 'em good!"
Cheonoecheon and Repias.
Countless other high rankers too.
Legends poured through portals from every corner.
The greatest-scale dungeon assault ever had begun.