Game of the World Tree

⤷ A Hidden Quest! The hidden questline has been triggered!

A string of excited cheers flooded the player’s chat group.

Of course, there were also some who voiced out some of their confusion:

⤷ Oh… Why is there a penalty for failing the quest this time?

⤷ There is indeed a penalty but look, the reward is also very high! Plus, we can also get an exclusive title if we complete the quest well. With the 5000 CP, you can definitely get a purple equipment or five lottery draws. It would take several days of grinding otherwise!

⤷ This just shows how terrifying the penalty is…5000 contribution points…

⤷ Uh, guys, just be careful, don’t be reckless.

In the group chat, lively discussions like these unfolded as players engaged in conversation with one another.

Meanwhile, certain troublemakers, led by Demacia, who had initially wanted to cause chaos, swiftly discarded their plans upon seeing the penalty.

Seeing their reactions, Evé’s lips curled into a faint smirk.

For the players, there is indeed nothing better other than to use tasks and contribution points to control them.

At this moment, the elder on the stage spoke.

He revealed a sly smile, looking at the audience below and chuckled:

“Welcome to the Church of Despair.”

After speaking, the ordinary citizens who were successfully controlled by the Abyssal Worms and were standing alongside the players respectfully bowed towards the elder preacher and solemnly uttered:

“Praise our Lord… the great God of Despair!”

However, their facial expressions were rather stiff, even a bit pallid, giving them a really uncanny appearance.

Seeing their behavior, the players quickly caught onto it and mimicked the brainwashed locals, assuming a stiff facade and also loudly proclaiming:

“Praise our Lord… the great God of Despair!”

Observing the hundreds of respectful figures from his podium, the elder’s smile faded slightly.

“Ah… it didn’t work.”

He shook his head discreetly.

It didn’t work?

Despite the elder’s low voice, Evé, whose attuned to the subtlest nuances due to her divine perception, still discerned his words distinctly.

Suddenly, she felt a stir within her heart and once again focused onto the Abyssal Worm that’s shivering inside her.

Seconds later, upon closer examination, she discovered something different.

Hmm? There is something hidden?

This time, Eve noticed that there was a hidden power concealed within these mutated Abyssal worms.

Specifically, this hidden power contained an evil and chaotic essence with a deep sense of despair.

Without a doubt, this power belonged to the Ancient Dragon of Despair, Nidhogg!

This power is hidden deeply and concealed by the unique malevolent aura of the abyssal worm.

Even Evé, with her divine abilities, hadn’t recognized it immediately.

So… these worms not only serve as a means for the Despair Church to brainwash others but also as a method to select their believers!

Evé realized as she changed her mind and directly killed the Abyssal Worm dwelling within her.

The moment the Abyssal Worm died, a malevolent energy instantly erupted from its body, engulfing Evé in an instant.

For a moment, Eve’s senses were assailed by a cacophony of ravings echoing within her ears.

That was the whisper of the evil god, Nidhogg’s bewitchment.

For ordinary beings, simply hearing these ravings would drive them into sheer madness, turning them into fanatical worshippers of Nidhogg.

But of course, for Evé with a strong divine soul, these ravings were just a minor irritation.

So these Abyssal Worms are not only a means of controlling others but also a way to assess a person’s potential…

These Mutated Abyssal Worms may be bizarre, but they are also quite fragile.

For beings with strong willpower, they can rely upon their own soul power to kill these worms, but then… the evil ravings hidden in these worms will be triggered, completely transforming the host into a true follower of Nidhogg!

Through this double layered scheme…Nidhogg can brainwash anyone and only select those with powerful souls as his followers.

Beings with powerful souls have the potential to grow into fanatical believers and even saints.

They provide more potent power of faith to a true god.

In no time, Evé quickly understood the other party’s intentions.

With this in mind, she had a sudden thought.

In an instant, several players who were prominent on the contribution or combat rankings, such as Lunchbox, Calabash, Salty Cat, and HootyBird, released strange smoke from their bodies.

The worms within them were also discreetly killed by Evé.

Of course, Evé also protected their consciousness from the subsequent evil ravings that came seconds later.

As a malevolent aura enveloped the individuals chosen by Evé, the other players stood in stunned silence, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

Meanwhile, Lunchbox and others were surprised to find that they had suddenly comprehended a new skill:

【Transform into Despair Scaled Creature】

“Huh? What kind of new skill is this?”

Little Salty Cat took a screenshot and shared it in the group chat.

Soon, other players gathered around, commenting:

⤷ Oh… Transform into Despair Scaled Creature? Isn’t that name similar to the monster we fought with Meryer before?

⤷ But why don’t I have this skill?

⤷ I don’t see it in me either.

⤷ Me too.

Of course, you don’t have it because I only bestowed it to a few people.

Evé sarcastically muttered to herself.

At this moment, the elderly preacher on the stage suddenly became energetic.

He looked at the few people below who were surrounded by malevolent energy and exclaimed:

“Five! There are actually five!”

However, he quickly calmed down, as his expression returned back to normal.

He then chuckled and said to the people below:

“You all go back for now…await the next summons from our Lord.”

Then, he turned to Evé and the others:

“You guys…on the other hand have to stay instead.”

⤷ Whoa! Did the system choose Little Salty Cat and them? On what basis did they get picked? I’m so jealous!

⤷ Ahh! Are they the only ones who can proceed to the next stage of the quest? Goddammit! Why wasn’t I chosen?!

As Little Salty Cat and the others were enveloped in malevolent energy, messages filled with envy bombarded the group chat.

Seeing this, Little SaltyCat happily typed.

⤷ It’s because you guys have bad luck!

Then, she looked at Evé and excitedly whispered:

“Sister Feng, you got chosen too huh?”

Evé smiled slightly and replied briefly:

“Good luck.”

⤷ Ah… being wealthy is already enviable enough, but why does she have to be so lucky as well?

⤷ I found out, I’m not suitable for this game…

⤷ Tsk, is there a problem with me being wealthy and lucky?”

Little Salty Cat rolled her eyes.

As the old man’s words fell, those ordinary people that was fully parasitized by the Abyssal Worms respectfully bowed and then left one after another in an orderly manner.

However, the players who were not chosen remained somewhat hesitant to leave and began causing a fuss within the group chat.

However, when they remembered the penalty listed in the questline message, they eventually reluctantly bowed and withdrew.

Watching the players leaving one after another, Little SaltyCat typed with a smile,

⤷ Don’t worry guys, I’ll livestream the next stage of the quest!

After the rest of the players finally left, the old man nodded at Evé and the others:

“Follow me.”

With those words, he swiftly pivoted and strode ahead into the dimmed section of the amphitheater.

Little Salty Cat and the others exchanged glances before trailing behind the elderly preacher.

Meanwhile, Evé lagged slightly behind and positioned herself at the rear.

Behind them, nearly a hundred figures draped in hooded cloaks snuffed out their candles before following them a step behind.

The group quickly entered a darkened path, turning left and right, before eventually arriving at a cavern entrance leading to the underground sewer.

The old man didn’t hesitate and entered first.

Several players frowned slightly, turning off their smell perception settings in their system, and followed.

Of course, at the same time, they also didn’t forget to start their own live broadcasts and recordings.

At the same time, those players who weren’t chosen also began entering their live stream and watching their actions.

The underground sewer stretched deep and damp, shrouded in a hazy mist.

Without warning, a rat, startled by the group’s sudden arrival, darted out from the side and disappeared into the mist.

Then, smoke suddenly rose from the rat’s body, and in an instant, the entire body corroded into a pool of blood.

Seeing this, the old man’s expression grew grave.

He extended his hand, retrieved a handheld lamp, and ignited it.

A subtle fluctuation spread not long after, and the eerie mist dispersed slightly.

The old man breathed a sigh of relief, and then continued to move forward with the team.

“Be careful not to touch the mist,”

He warned.

As the team slowly advanced, the mist slowly closed behind them.

Holding the lamp, the old man continued walking.

In the narrow passage, only the footsteps of the group echoed continuously and after about ten minutes of walking, a huge stone door appeared in front of everyone.

The stone door seemed quite ancient, carved with complex and mysterious patterns, and adorned with some unfamiliar writing characters.

Yet Evé immediately recognized it.

It was Ancient Draconian Language from the Dragon Era, meaning “Land of Vitality.”

Evé raised an eyebrow slightly.

Land of Vitality…

Like Elvish, Draconian Language was a script with strong magical sensitivity. Each word in Draconian Language had a special meaning and held mysterious power.

And “Land of Vitality,” in some translations of Draconian Language, also holds the meaning—the Lair or the Origin of Birth.

In other words…

This is a place where a powerful being is preparing to revive itself.

As for who this particular powerful being is, Evé already has the answer within her heart.

— 300 —

【 THE LAIR 】

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