They weren't the only ones who had that thought. The moment Marcus Skeiner spotted the incoming wave of NPCs, he wasted no time. He issued a rallying call in the guild, summoning every available member to Duskridge.
Other players quickly followed suit, reporting the situation in their own guilds. Before long, the major guilds started mobilizing, sending reinforcements in droves.
Everyone wanted a piece of the action.
Within minutes, a flood of players teleported into Duskridge, overwhelming the once-quiet town. At first, some had retreated after hearing the system alert. But now, with reinforcements pouring in, the town became packed beyond belief.
Guilds from Northern Frontier Region—Wasteland Dominion, Eternal Glory, Unrivaled Honor, Whispering Bamboo, and others, each sent thousands of members.
Even Whispering Bamboo, a guild composed entirely of female players, showed up with an army of thousands, drawing the attention of every nearby player.
A Demigod-tier monster dropping a single piece of gear was an opportunity no one could ignore. The entire town sprang into action. Towers extended their ballistae and cannons, ready for battle.
The Evolved Ancient Riftwalker loomed above, its massive wings, dark as a raven's, casting an ominous shadow over the town. A deep hum filled the air as the creature chanted a spell, black clouds rapidly consuming the sky.
Yet, it didn't attack immediately.
It simply hovered there, scanning the town as if searching for something. For a long moment, neither side made a move.
Then, the system alert rang out.
[System Alert: Player 'NotADruid' is currently carrying a Divine Ability Scroll. Current coordinates: 56515.23674.15642. Remaining possession time: 30 minutes.]
Ethan's face darkened. "Oh, come on…"
Of all times, the system had to broadcast his coordinates now?
Everyone received the message. They checked the numbers. That was inside Duskridge.
Was the monster here because of him?
The Riftwalker was scanning the area like it was looking for something. Did NotADruid… steal its treasure to get the Divine Ability Scroll?
Speculation spread like wildfire.
Then, the Riftwalker's gaze locked onto a section of town. It uttered a guttural incantation, and the storm above thickened.
A hail of black fireballs rained down like falling stars, engulfing the houses below.
"Damn it! It found me?!"
Ethan burst from a building just as a fireball obliterated it.
Explosions rocked the ground. Each impact left a half-meter crater, debris flying everywhere. The earth scorched black.
Without hesitation, Ethan shifted into Panther Form.
He tracked the incoming fireballs, predicting their trajectory while weaving between safe spots. Luckily, the bombardment wasn't overly dense, but the sheer power behind each blast was terrifying.
Buildings collapsed, the streets shattered, and wooden shards and stone fragments pelted Ethan as he sprinted through the chaos.
Numbers flooded his screen as minor injuries stacked up. And then, the Evolved Ancient Riftwalker tucked its wings and dove straight at him.
A creature of this level… Ethan knew he didn't stand a chance. Even the slightest touch would be fatal.
Activating his boots' Swift Stride ability, his speed shot up by 70%.
A streak of black, Ethan bolted—
The Evolved Ancient Riftwalker slammed into the spot where Ethan had just stood. The ground collapsed beneath the impact, and even the creature itself staggered from the recoil before regaining balance.
Ethan had dodged the direct hit, but the explosion's shockwave still sent him flying.
A massive damage number floated above his head. Just the impact alone had wiped out half his health.
The Riftwalker, failing to land its strike, flapped its massive wings and ascended again. Meanwhile, Ethan quickly found another hiding spot.
Peering through a narrow gap, he watched as the creature circled above.
"If I were a Rogue, I could just Stealth and disappear," Ethan muttered under his breath. "No way it could see through my stealth from that high up."
But now? He had no choice but to keep running while being hunted like prey.
Through the gap, Ethan's gaze locked onto the Riftwalker. At that exact moment, its head snapped toward him.
As expected, the Riftwalker adjusted mid-air, tucking its wings back for another dive attack.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Finally, the ballistae and cannons stationed on the town walls and watchtowers roared to life. Massive bolts and cannon shells slammed into the Riftwalker's body.
It shrieked in pain, its altitude rising slightly in response to the attacks.
"You pathetic humans… all of you will die!"
Clearly, the assault had enraged it.
A guttural incantation rolled from its throat, words incomprehensible yet brimming with power. Above, the sky twisted, forming a massive vortex. From its swirling core, a fifty-meter-wide sphere of purple-black energy began to descend.
"Activate the town's barrier!" Roland Carter shouted from the tower.
[ALERT! ALERT! Duskridge is under attack by a high-tier entity!]
A siren blared through every player's interface.
A golden-transparent shield expanded over Duskridge, enveloping the town in a protective dome.
The dark sphere smashed against the barrier, detonating on impact. Like ink igniting, black flames splattered across the shield, clinging to it instead of dissipating.
The entire town trembled. Players felt the heat seeping through, even from behind the protective layer. Unlike normal fire, this dark flame continued to burn, eating away at the shield like corrosive acid.
The world outside turned eerily dark, as though smothered by thick ink.
"Fire!" Roland's command echoed through the city.
Every ballista and cannon unleashed another wave of destruction. Countless bolts, cannonballs, and magical projectiles tore through the sky, converging on the Riftwalker.
Players joined the assault.
Tens of thousands filled the streets, and nearly every guild had sent ranged fighters—Archers, Mages, Warlocks, and Priests, to battle the airborne threat.
Melee players? Only a few could be seen. Everyone had heard: This thing flies. So there wasn't really any point bringing a sword to a sky battle.
Despite the relentless assault, the Riftwalker kept casting. Under its attacks, the protective barrier began to crack.
The barrier shattered.
With nothing left in its way, the Riftwalker dove straight into the town. Its massive foot came crashing down. An entire building crumbled beneath its weight, debris exploding outward.
Players scattered. The real fight had begun.