Chapter 436: Stepping into the demon territories
While Mark and Kate busied themselves with the guild work, the portal suddenly flared and out stepped a familiar face. Ghost stood with a big smile on his face. "What the hell is this? You bastards are always up to something."
He looked around with genuine amusement and took the environment in. Even for Ghost, it took a second to get used to Bloodlands.
"You got here faster than I expected." Damon grinned. "Does that mean you are joining my guild?"
Ghost chuckled at Damon’s words, running a hand through his messy black hair as his eyes swept across the jagged obsidian spires and the Blood Crucible bubbling at the heart of the outpost. "I will think about it."
"That’s all I ask." Damon smiled and patted him on the back. He did not bother pressuring him as he knew about the man’s character a little too well. Even in his last life, Ghost always preferred moving alone and settling his things on his own.
Ghost gave Damon a sideways glance, smirking and raising a brow. "That’s it. That’s the sales pitch I get?"
Damon laughed. "What else do you expect? A dinner date?"
"At least a movie and a hot dog."
Damon was about to say something when Kate and Mark walked over. "Who are you talking to?" Kate looked around curiously.
This time, it was Ghost who disappeared without a trace. Damon shook his head helplessly. "Why do you always run away?"
Mark gave him a look which Damon shamelessly ignored and shouted at nothing in particular. "Good luck in the Bloodlands."
"Ghost?" Kate asked.
"Ya." Damon nodded.
"Did he join the guild?" Mark was curious.
"No. Not yet." Damon looked in the direction where a few birds shrieked and flew away. It seemed like Ghost had selected a destination to first explore the place.
"I hope you get your shit sorted out soon," Damon mumbled and then turned towards Kate and Mark. "We should also get started soon. We don’t have a lot of time before the raid, and I want to accomplish a few things before then."
"The outpost?"
"Meh. It will take care of itself. There is nothing for us to do with that thing for now. The defense should be up and running, and once the guild is established, we can tie up the merpeople faction with the guild and together bolster the outpost."
"Hmm. That may be right. But we need some guild members first to start up the guild. Do you have anyone in mind?" Mark opened up his system interface and asked. More precisely, they needed ten starting members.
Damon thought for a moment and then nodded. "I will send you over a list of twenty names. See if any of them would join."
"We can always just announce the formation of the guild. I am sure there would be a flood of players wanting to join." Kate suggested, which both Damon and Mark together rejected.
"That would be a disaster. Think about it, sis."
"First, we need a solid base. Once we set up the base, we can take everyone else in and see if anyone stands out." Damon explained.
After discussing guild affairs for a few minutes, Damon then called the roc over. "Let’s go." One by one, the whole group got onto the giant bird. Ellora, Kaelthorn, Riven, Mark, Kate, and Damon.
"Erin is not coming?" Both Ellora and Kate asked at the same time. It was very clear that they were happy about it.
"She will be joining us later." Damon didn’t say anything else as he opened up his system interface and his map. The best course of action for them at the moment would be to head over to the vampire territory first. However, getting there wasn’t a simple matter.
The roc lifted off with a thunderous flap, the ground shrinking beneath them as the jagged fortress spires receded into the distance. The air was sharp and cold up here, stinging their faces.
Damon leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing as the horizon split open before them, a storm of blood-colored clouds looming faintly over the direction they were headed.
That was the forest of doom. They would technically have to cross that to step into the vampire territory. The forest of doom was a vast stretch of wilderness that was all over the Bloodlands. All the territories were built around that, no one daring to step inside the forest itself.
Apparently, the forest had once been a battlefield where ancient vampire lords, wraith emperors, and demon kings clashed, and their lingering hatred had poisoned the land itself. As a result, the place was teeming with aberrations and unusual monsters that were ridiculously overpowered.
In his last life, players avoided this area like the plague. Damon had always wanted to explore it, and he would definitely do it now that he had returned here for a second time. However, he did not plan to go there just yet.
They needed to go over to the vampire territory first and settle there. It was a good place to flex his title and position and collect as much intel as possible.
If they wanted to avoid crossing the Forest of Doom, then the journey to the vampire territory would take several weeks, if not months. But Damon knew a shortcut. He wasn’t all that worried.
All they needed to do was get smack dab in the middle of the demon territories, access this shortcut, and make their way into the vampire territory. It was a simple matter.
At least the one who talked about it made it seem that way. Damon doubted if it would really play out that way. Soon, they covered the outskirts and arrived at the inner region. More and more demonic creatures had started to pop out, and even some small demon villages.
Damon’s voice cut through the rush of wind as the roc began its descent. "Let’s get down. It’s better to travel on foot here onwards."
After everyone got down, Damon gave the roc a quick pat and sent it back to the outpost. With the bird guarding the skies there, the fortress would have another layer of protection when enemies came.
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Golden ticket bonus Chapter!