BXBX NOVEL Chapter 42: Chapter42-Goblin Invasion!
After two months of gameplay, players had largely divided into three groups.
The first group, like John and his companions, were always at the forefront of exploration, eager for the rewards of first completions.
The second group consisted of ordinary players who improved their skills by learning from the trailblazers, seeking the most efficient ways to enhance their abilities.
The third group, though smaller than the ordinary players, were the laid-back players who went with the flow.
They would seize opportunities when they arose but never actively sought them out.
Within these three main categories, players had further specialized.
There were those passionate about farming, trading, forging, and various other classes, each finding something they enjoyed.
The first large-scale event brought hope to those who refused to be left behind—a chance to catch up with others.
Beneath the server announcement was a detailed description of the event, including its duration, gameplay mechanics, and the method of redeeming rewards.
In essence, players would earn points by hunting goblins, which could then be exchanged for powerful items at a temporary point shop in Calia City.
Among these items were [Epic] quality gear, though the points required were staggeringly high.
"No objections if I claim first place in this event, right?"
In the Alchemy Materials Shop, Exiled Immortal sat with his legs crossed, a smug expression on his face.
His talent, [Windwhisper], was perfectly suited for this kind of large-scale raid event.
Although his words had a touch of boasting, he indeed possessed the strength to back them up.
"Look at you, so pleased with yourself. Anyone would think you\'re already in first place. Be careful you don\'t end up eating your words," Helena remarked, clearly annoyed by Exiled Immortal\'s demeanor.
Indeed, Helena\'s strength was nothing to scoff at, but she lacked the means for large-scale AOE attacks.
In terms of efficiency, she was several notches below Exiled Immortal. She might rank in the event, but it wouldn\'t be very high.
"Being first isn\'t just talk. Be careful you don\'t crash and burn," John said with a roll of his eyes before turning to Lily. "How about you? Confident?"
"Um... should be fine. With Big Wolf helping me, I\'ll do my best!" Lily replied.
"Don\'t push yourself too hard. Just do what you can," John reassured her before taking out a nearly meter-wide sphere from his player backpack and gently placing it on the table.
Seeing this, Exiled Immortal frowned in confusion. "John, what\'s that thing?"
"Trigger magic trap. As for its effects, you\'ll find out once the event starts. In any case, Exiled Immortal, if you want to secure first place, you\'ll have to work twice as hard as usual."
"Tch, when it comes to real strength, all tricks are just clouds in the sky, got it? The first-place reward for this event is mine!" Exiled Immortal declared.
The twelve-hour wait seemed much longer than expected.
Every player was immersed in the excitement of the upcoming event, eagerly anticipating its start.
They failed to realize that, while the event promised rich rewards, it also carried significant risks.
With an average level of around 15, the seemingly endless waves of goblins charging towards Calia City were far more terrifying and overwhelming than anyone had imagined.
It was inevitable that many would perish in this large-scale event.
This much was already clear, but everyone comforted themselves with the thought that they wouldn\'t be the unlucky ones.
[Countdown: 4 hours 17 minutes]
"Why hasn\'t it started yet? This waiting is killing me... John, are we really going to charge out of Calia? It seems really dangerous to me."
"Staying in the city will be even more dangerous. Once the event begins, all NPCs will go into standby mode, and countless goblins will flood into the city to chase players. In such a confined space, we won\'t be able to move freely.
Moreover, with so many players around, it will quickly turn into chaos. Only by leaving the city and fighting outside can we avoid such a scenario. With our strength, as long as we stick together and watch each other\'s backs, we\'ll be fine."
"John has a point. If the number of goblins is as overwhelming as he says, a significant number of players won\'t be able to handle the pressure and will panic. If they affect us, it won\'t be worth the risk."
"Exactly. So, just before the event starts, we\'ll leave through the west gate and head to the nearby abandoned fortress to intercept the goblins coming from all directions.
It doesn\'t matter what methods we use, as long as we can kill the goblins.
But remember one thing: at all times, the safety of our companions is the top priority.
matter what danger we face, as long as it doesn\'t compromise our own safety, we must rescue each other immediately. Understood?"
"Understood."
Unlike most optimistic players, John wasn\'t exactly pessimistic, but he wasn\'t overly excited either.
He had participated in over a dozen similar large-scale events in his previous life and had seen countless players perish in monster tides.
The sacrifices of these people had taught John two things.
Never be complacent, and never underestimate the enemy.
Time passed little by little.
With only five minutes remaining before the event started, John and his companions left the alchemy materials shop.
Since the event wouldn\'t affect the NPCs in the city, Fara\'s materials shop remained absolutely safe after they left. Following their plan, they arrived at the abandoned fortress.
Although it was a distance away from Calia City, it was still within Calia\'s territory and would be affected by the goblin tide.
Additionally, the fortress\'s treacherous terrain made it easier to defend.
John\'s only worry was that if the fortress fell, they would have nowhere to retreat.
However, with the successful development of the Trigger Magic Trap by John, there was no need to worry anymore.
"All thirteen Trigger Magic Traps are buried, John. By the way, are these things really effective?"
Exiled Immortal squatted down, looking at the exposed trigger. Just as he was about to reach out and test it, John stopped him.
"If you don\'t want to be skewered like a porcupine, I\'d advise you not to do that. You\'ll die a miserable death."
"...Is it really that exaggerated?"
Though Exiled Immortal was reluctant to believe it, the thought of the exaggerated power of the golem that John had repaired made him withdraw his hand reluctantly.
[Countdown: Five, Four, Three, Two...]
"It\'s starting."
John let out a long breath.
As soon as he finished speaking, a deafening bell rang out from Calia behind them.
The next moment, at the farthest point of their vision, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of goblins surged forward like a tide!
The green-skinned, short-statured, hideous creatures brandished their wooden spears or bone weapons, running wildly and letting out ear-piercing screams.
For a moment, even John was a bit dazed.
Not to mention Exiled Immortal, Lily, and the others, who had never experienced anything like this.
They stood there, stunned.
Seeing this, John quickly shouted, snapping everyone back to reality.
"Stay calm, everyone. We\'ve made ample preparations. Stick to the plan!"
The group awoke as if from a dream and each took their assigned positions.
Exiled Immortal soared through the air, surrounded by dozens of sword shadows that whistled through the wind, effortlessly slicing through the goblins rushing forward!
Lily cast Spirit Summoning, and the spirit of a giant wolf suddenly appeared.
Its claws, powerful enough to split mountains and shatter stones, smashed down heavily, easily turning goblins into minced meat!
Helena, donning her armor, wielded a long whip that danced through the air.
The whip stirred up dust and stones, severing goblins with each crack!
However, the most dazzling performance came from the golem and the Trigger Magic Traps.
The golem, with its massive body and sturdy armor, moved through the goblin tide as if it were an unchallenged force.
Each stomp, each swing, resulted in a large number of casualties.
The Trigger Magic Traps performed far beyond John\'s expectations!
Each time a trap was triggered, spearheads shot out like a torrential downpour, reaping countless goblins!