Let's turn back the clock to one year before the launch of "Glory Expedition OL."
When the ninth version of "Despair Expedition OL" launched and the level cap was raised to 190, players were still exploring the new maps.
As the top guild on the national server, "Golden Wind" had to start considering what new-version equipment and items it could provide professional clubs participating in the Expedition Cup to ensure the guild's profits for the quarter.
The simplest method was, of course, to find a World Boss that would not respawn before anyone else did, then organize an elite force to kill it in advance.
More than 2,000 salaried employees across the guild were mobilized at the beginning of the new version.
In the Starry Well of Strapolis, the Star Capital, they discovered clues regarding divine feathers. They ventured deep into city ruins within a hurricane and, with the analysis of professional story analysts, determined the location of the feathers' owner.
When Golden Wind's raid party of more than a hundred elite players braved enormous risks and crossed the "False Rift of Time and Space" beneath the Endless Sea to reach the World Boss's location—
They happened to witness Garuda, the outcast of the heavens on the verge of collapse, being solo-killed by the lone player "Lost a Leg."
—A World Boss.
Several limited-edition monsters appeared in every major version, and they would not respawn once killed.
Mechanically, World Bosses were designed to be killed through the combined efforts of an entire server. Thus, once they died, they would drop enough equipment, materials, and items for tens of thousands of players all at once.
For Golden Wind's commander, daring to challenge a late-version World Boss with just over a hundred elite players was enough to prove his exceptional command ability.
But for "Lost a Leg," this was already the seventh World Boss he had solo-killed.
The title of "Lord" was not something one earned casually.
After the first health bar of the Source of Evil Fire · Cursed Vermilion Bird (Avatar) was depleted, its health would be locked for a full sixty seconds.
Such a long stretch of time was naturally meant for players to recover and apply buffs.
But after spending two items worth thousands and successfully gambling on an instant-death chance, "Lost a Leg" did not know how to waste this time instead.
"Leg Lord! Approve my party request!"
Below, the players who had not yet run far noticed the suddenly appearing ally information and naturally realized that this was Leg Lord, one of the first players to join the game.
Having looked into the Second Playthrough, they naturally knew that Li Li could draw a golden item called Ember, which allowed players to recover one hour of their Main Account data. But only "Amulet Owl" had ever luckily obtained one.
This Ember, worth 3,000 Faith, was Li Li's true trump card.
Most people were still wondering when Leg Lord had gotten hold of an Ember, while a handful of quick-witted players had already sent him party requests.
In the Second Playthrough, party experience was divided evenly, and each player then received an additional 15% party experience bonus.
In other words, if Leg Lord was willing to bring people into his party, this Boss with a reward of 150 million Experience Points could generate an extra 93.32 million experience.
From Li Li's perspective, this reduced his share of player experience from 50% to 20%, but he had deliberately designed it this way to encourage players to cooperate.
"Two hundred thousand! Leg Lord, invite me to the party, and I'll transfer you 200,000 Soft Girl Currency right away." Seeing that "Lost a Leg" remained unmoved, a wealthy player launched a monetary offensive.
Although the Vermilion Bird was an avatar-type World Boss, and the kill rewards for a single avatar were not much compared to other World Bosses—
At this early stage of the server, even if the party seats were full, it would still be enough to raise everyone in the party to above level eighty.
"Three hundred thousand! Leg Lord, invite me!"
"One million! Leg Lord, look at me! Look at me! Look at me!"
"I'll pay a hundred million!"
After the first rich player named a price, the others began shouting as well, though most were merely joining in the commotion.
"Lost a Leg" hesitated for a moment before speaking to the players below.
"Five hundred thousand per person. No bargaining. Familiar customers only. There isn't much time. First come, first served."
"Me! Me! Me!"
"Leg Lord, hurry! I'm a familiar customer!"
The party led by "Lost a Leg" was quickly assembled.
With time running out, there was no time to collect payment before inviting people. He only brought in two wealthy players he knew in-game.
Those two did not lack money and cared about their reputations, so they were unlikely to renege afterward.
Beyond the mountains.
Father-in-law, having recovered from the damage of that song, could finally move freely again.
Even with the strength of his Hero Rank, Soul Annihilation had still injured him badly. He would likely need several years to recover.
While he had been controlled, the two players he had taken with him had escaped on their own.
More than that, he knew the evil god had locked onto his aura. He could no longer escape that Divine Bird's pursuit.
While he had been controlled by the divine song, he saw "Lost a Leg" make his move. But what he could not understand was why this mysterious man, who had suddenly appeared, did not flee with the Chosen Ones after succeeding in his ambush, and instead acted as though he had the evil god completely under control.
A powerful person capable of moving outside the city without any obvious aura of corruption clearly could not be above the rank of "demigod."
Since someone was carrying the burden for him, the man players called Father-in-law naturally fled toward the Alliance without looking back. He still had to return and determine which mole had sacrificed himself.
The long minute finally came to an end.
The Vermilion Bird, which had originally been completely crimson, was now cloaked in golden flames laced with hints of purple.
The fire erupting from its body instantly ignited the sky and earth, annihilating every substance within range.
This was its first time fighting the players, but it was not the players' first time dealing with it.
The experienced players had already led the NPCs out of the explosion range of the Vermilion Bird's resurrection. A few even imitated Tom Cat, standing with their hands on their hips and faces stretched forward at the edge of the golden flames' reach.
At that instant, the Vermilion Bird's fury reached its limit.
Its cry was like thunder, shaking the earth. The storm raised by its wings swept up waves upon waves of scorching heat, and it hurled down its all-burning AOE skills as if they cost nothing.
Just as it vented its rage without restraint, another arrow-like Spirit Calming Needle shot toward it.
The Vermilion Bird, which blotted out the sky, immediately turned into countless fire crows and scattered in every direction. Yet one inconspicuous fire crow was still locked onto by the Spirit Calming Needle, which pierced its body.
The next moment, a gigantic trident descending from the heavens smashed into the Vermilion Bird's head—just like the phantom white python from before, it was "Lost a Leg's" kick.
The blue trident pierced the Vermilion Bird's wing, but this time, the Vermilion Bird's violet-gold flames coiled around "Lost a Leg."
The holy evil fire, containing the power of curses, instantly inflicted a full three pages of debuffs on him!
Making use of the Shadow race's high-tier racial trait, "Lost a Leg's" body melted away. Through the gaps between shadows, he was reborn in a tiny shadow below.
He immediately gulped down a Regret Pill, instantly clearing all three pages of negative statuses.
For some reason, the Vermilion Bird's signature "soul special attack" was ineffective against him.
"Lost a Leg" naturally would not waste this advantage. He pulled out another Spirit Calming Needle, preparing to use this shameless item from the tenth major version to reliably take down this little bird that lagged three versions behind.
In any case, his Main Account trial only lasted one hour. This time, he could freely splurge on the paid items he had been reluctant to use from his inventory.
Before you continue