"There are more players now."
After distributing the elite-grade equipment to Ivsha and the others, Kurose Akira led them toward a medium-risk demon cave.
Compared to the low-risk caves, the number of players gathered here was noticeably higher, and the average adventurer level was significantly elevated as well.
The reason was simple.
So far, twenty-six demon caves had already been cleared, leaving only medium- and high-risk ones remaining. Because the high-risk caves were brutally difficult, most players naturally flocked to the medium-risk zones instead—causing the population here to swell.
"There are a few dangerous ones here," Loserine whispered softly at Akira's ear.
Following her gaze, Akira's eyes settled on a mage in a blue robe. His level had already surpassed Level 50, making him the highest-level adventurer currently present.
Besides him, there were also several knights and beastman warriors hovering close to level 50. None of them looked weak.
"Hey, friend. Interested in teaming up with us?"
A male player walked up to Akira and extended an invitation.
Akira was just about to refuse when the man hurriedly added,
"Wait—don't reject me yet. Hear me out first."
He smiled."There are a lot of powerful guilds gathered here right now. Even C+-rank guilds are competing for this demon cave. You know how it is—everyone's trying to climb the event rankings. So this isn't just about clearing the cave anymore."
Akira immediately understood what he meant.
A guaranteed victory had turned into a competition between players.
No wonder, when he arrived, the players were clearly clustered into different factions.
That realization gave him pause.
Should he join a faction…?
Facing pressure not only from demonkind but also from other players—even his guild would feel the strain.
Just as Akira was weighing his options, a hearty laugh suddenly cut through the tension.
"Fuli? Fuluo? What are you two doing here?"
Everyone turned toward the voice.
A figure wreathed in blazing red strode into view.
"Honglian?"
Akira was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected to run into the flame elf warrior here of all places.
"Sorry, sorry!"
Honglian hurried over and casually wrapped an arm around Akira's neck, grinning brightly.
"He's with us—don't get any ideas."
"Tch!"
The male player snorted in dissatisfaction and turned away.
"Too tight—!"
Akira quickly patted Honglian's arm, struggling to free himself.
Honglian stood nearly two meters tall, making Akira—at 182 centimeters—look slightly small by comparison.
Although elves were generally taller than human women, Honglian's height was exceptional. Combined with her physique-focused warrior build, her sheer physical strength left Akira completely unable to resist.
"Hahaha! Sorry, sorry!"
She quickly let go, smiling as she lightly patted his back in apology.
"Aunt Honglian, why are you here?" Fuluo asked curiously.
"For the same reason as you," Honglian said with a grin, rubbing Fuluo's head."Following the guild master's orders to clear this demon cave. Still—didn't expect you girls to get this strong in just a few days."
"That's all thanks to the Guild Leader!" Fuli replied without hesitation.
"Want to join us?" Honglian suggested, pointing toward a distant faction. "It's safer that way."
"Sure."
Akira nodded. Teaming up with familiar faces was clearly the best option.
More importantly, since Honglian's arrival, she had surpassed even the Level-50 blue-robed mage, becoming the highest-level adventurer on the field.
And to Akira's surprise—the blue-robed mage was also part of Honglian's faction.
With two adventurers above Level 50, their group stood head and shoulders above the rest.
"Come on. I'll introduce you."
Honglian led Akira and his party toward her faction.
As they approached, a mustached male player looked at Honglian with curiosity.
"What's this? You know him—or does Feiyan know him?"
"He's my friend," Honglian said casually. "I haven't mentioned him to the Guild Master yet."
She patted Akira's shoulder and introduced him.
"This is Lu Bo, Guild Master of July Sky."
"Nice to meet you," Lu Bo said warmly, stroking his mustache.
"Likewise," Akira replied.
His gaze drifted past Lu Bo to the blue-robed mage behind him.A guild master with a name and reputation was at least C-rank.
"This is Guild Master Shen Siqi," Honglian continued, gesturing to a black-haired woman with a ponytail.
"Hi!" Shen Siqi waved with a smile.
"Hello."
"And this is her cousin, Shen Jun."
A square-faced man with a buzz cut stepped forward, smiling honestly.
"I'm Shen Jun."
"Kurose Akira."
"Since you're Honglian's friend, you're our friend too," Shen Jun said sincerely."If you run into trouble, call for us. We'll do everything we can to help."
Shen Siqi added with a grin,"Brother, his adventurer level might not be high—but his actual strength? I wouldn't underestimate him."
"Is that so?" Shen Jun laughed sheepishly and scratched his head.
Akira chuckled."Understood. I'll be counting on everyone later."
"Mutual support—mutual profit!" Lu Bo laughed, twirling his mustache.
Suddenly, Akira remembered something and looked at Honglian.
"By the way—where's your Guild Master? She didn't come?"
Honglian shook her head."She usually doesn't enter the battlefield personally. She's coordinating our forces across three demon caves at once—she's got no time to spare."
Akira's interest immediately spiked.
Commanding adventurers across three demon caves simultaneously—even a C+-rank guild would struggle to pull that off.
And with only high- and medium-risk caves remaining, even top guilds had to go all-out.
"So… your guild only sent you?" Akira asked, puzzled.
Honglian smiled."Most of our members are tackling a high-risk cave. I'm the only one assigned here. Plus, we had urgent matters earlier and only joined the event today—we're playing catch-up."
Akira frowned slightly.
Joined today?
From her tone, it was clear her Guild Master was aiming for a top-three ranking.
A B-rank guild, perhaps…?
Akira narrowed his eyes.
If a B-rank guild had entered the event, they were clearly targeting the top-three contribution rewards.
Any reward tempting enough for a B-rank guild—
He couldn't afford to miss it.
"All right, let's move."
Lu Bo stood up, brushing dust from his clothes.
"I heard this demon cave has an Undead Lord, and there might even be a special hidden boss. Hopefully, we'll get lucky."
"Undead-type demons?" Akira murmured.
His thoughts drifted to the necromancer from the Shadow Mountains—though that cave had actually been full of ghouls.
Soon, the players entered the medium-risk demon cave.
The entrance was a massive cavern. Compared to low-level caves, this one felt like an entirely separate world.
Inside, towering gravestones filled the landscape. Above them, a dim, artificial night sky loomed, pitch-black and oppressive. From time to time, ghostly wails echoed through the air, sending chills down the spine.
"What kind of hell is this? Why are there graves everywhere?" Lu Bo muttered uneasily.
Akira was just as confused.
The entire cave was essentially a vast cemetery, spanning hundreds of hectares. Millions of gravestones dotted rolling hills, creating an eerie, suffocating atmosphere.
Yet despite all that—
There wasn't a single demon in sight.
"That's strange…" Shen Jun said. "Let's split up, but don't go too far."
"Agreed. If anyone encounters the Undead Lord, report it immediately," Lu Bo warned. "That thing's a nightmare."
"Got it."
The group split into three teams.
Shen Jun and Shen Siqi headed south.Lu Bo moved east.Akira went north—with Honglian naturally following him, keeping the teams' combat power balanced.
"Why can't I sense any demon presence?" Akira frowned.
"This land is interfering with our perception," Lucia said calmly, as if everything were under control."But—we're already at the key location."
As she spoke, she drew out the Sun Scepter.
Kneeling, she gently tapped it against the ground.
In an instant, golden ripples of energy spread outward like waves, sweeping across the area.
The earth stirred.
One by one, skeletons clawed their way out of the ground, jaws gaping as they let out bone-chilling roars and surged toward them.
"So they were hiding underground!"
Honglian reacted instantly.
She hoisted the greatsword on her back. Flames erupted around her body, blazing in resonance with her immense mana.
"Let me show you the taste of real fire!"
With a roar, she drove her greatsword into the ground.
A torrent of flames exploded outward—like a fire dragon charging forward.
Where the flames passed, skeletons were reduced to ash, leaving behind scorched earth.
"Ridiculously convenient," Akira muttered.
As a flame warrior, Honglian was an absolute engine of destruction in group combat. Her fire erased everything in its path.
…Might be a class worth considering someday.
Meanwhile, Ivsha and the others joined the fight. Against their attacks, the skeletons crumbled like dry grass.
System notifications flooded Akira's vision.
[Skeleton defeated. Contribution +1!][Skeleton defeated. Contribution +1!][…]
In mere moments, hundreds of skeletons were wiped out.
Contribution gained: +160.
"Your guild members are incredible," Honglian said, resting her greatsword on her shoulder, genuinely impressed.
Watching Ivsha and the others fight, she couldn't help thinking—
At the same level, she wasn't even sure she could beat any of them.
"They really are," Akira said with a confident smile.
"You're making me look forward to your performance in the guild wars, kid," Honglian laughed, patting his shoulder."But let me warn you—my guild has never lost."
"Never lost?" Akira raised an eyebrow.
Guild wars were brutally competitive. Remaining undefeated was proof of overwhelming strength.
"By the way—are you the strongest in your guild?" Akira asked.
"Of course not," Honglian replied with a grin, holding up three fingers."I'm ranked third."
"Third…?"
Akira's understanding of her guild deepened instantly.
If Honglian was only third, then her guild was unquestionably top-tier even among B-rank guilds.
B-rank guilds numbered only in the hundreds among hundreds of thousands of players—true elites.
"I can't tell you specifics," Honglian added conspiratorially,"but our number one is way stronger than me. Ten of me wouldn't be enough to beat her."
She chuckled."Rumor has it our Guild Master spent ten thousand gold just to recruit her."
"Ten thousand…?"
Akira's eyes widened.
That was wealth worth tens of millions.
An adventurer valued at ten thousand gold—
At minimum, Legendary-tier.
Just as Akira was processing that, Lucia suddenly sensed something.
She lifted her head, gazing toward the distant sky. Golden-red light flickered in her eyes.
At the same time, Akira felt the Soul Crystal Orb in his inventory flare with intense light.
The Red Dragon Mother's voice rang out urgently:
"Kind one! The Soul Crystal Orb is reacting!"
"It's reacting…?"
Akira's gaze sharpened.
Why would the little red dragon be inside a demon cave?