MMORPG: I was BUGGED-Chapter 249: The Castle of Doom

Xin held his breath anxiously as he watched others enter the gate. His greatest fear wasn’t just the risk of blowing their covers but whether Hilda could successfully cross the teleportation gate.

When his turn finally came, the transition was seamless. The virtual world shifted as he crossed the threshold, and the Arch Gate closed behind him with an ominous resonance once all of them had entered.

Silence fell like a veil over everyone as they suddenly found themselves in an entirely different dimension.

Xin immediately turned to look behind him, sighing in relief when he spotted Hilda, who wore a clueless expression, seemingly unaware of his worries.

"Good thing you can cross that gate," he whispered.

Hilda beamed. "Like I said, I don’t have that restriction on me."

Xin nodded, silently thanking the developers for overlooking such crucial details.

But then again, in the first place, no NPC would willingly venture into this realm.

Xin looked around. They were transported into a vast, open field that seemed to stretch into eternity. The horizon was endless, with a sprawling landscape that extended far beyond the reach of sight. The grass beneath their feet was a lush green, gently swaying in an unseen breeze.

At the heart of this expansive field stood a majestic castle, an imposing structure crafted from ancient rocks. It rose with an air of grandeur, surrounded by sturdy walls and a protective moat that added an extra layer of defense.

The castle’s architecture hinted at a rich history, each weathered stone telling a tale of battles long past.

The drawbridge served as the sole entrance to this fortress, connecting the outer world to the mysterious realm within.

"I can’t believe I’m back here again," a voice whispered, reaching Xin’s ears.

"Honestly, this isn’t the place I want to return to."

"Then why accept it?"

"They needed experienced solo players who have fought the monsters here, and the price they offered is hard to resist."

"So it’s money, huh."

"What else could it be?"

"Well, one of the guilds offered me a Legend-grade equipment if we successfully defend this castle."

Their conversation continued, and Xin listened intently, hoping to glean any hints about the impending battle. He was clueless about the strategy, and that lack of knowledge could blow his cover.

He could only hope that they would brief everyone on the plan again, giving Xin some insight into what to do when the battle commenced. He couldn’t just walk out of formation and disrupt the flow of the battle. He had to keep a low profile and not attract attention.

His purpose was clear –– gather as much information as possible about the Castle of Doom. This was the only plan he had in mind to enter without paying an exorbitant price, like revealing the secrets of how to clear the Abandon Fortress.

As the adventurers took in the scene, the drawbridge stood lowered, inviting them to embark inside.

"Let’s go!" someone shouted, prompting the group to move toward the entrance of the castle.

"Once inside, all the guilds will have a meeting. Solo players can explore the area, but be in the time square at noon for the briefing."

Xin breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness for the plan review; it was standard operating procedure, so it was expected.

As Xin entered the castle, the interior unfolded before him. Despite its age, the castle displayed an imposing size, with walls capable of accommodating thousands of soldiers within its structure.

Upon crossing the threshold of the Castle of Doom, Xin found himself in an eerily normal setting.

The interior appeared conventional at first glance, with NPCs bustling about, engaging in their daily activities. Yet, a subtle undercurrent of fear lingered in the air, evident in the cautious glances and tense expressions worn by the castle’s inhabitants.

As Xin surveyed the surroundings, he noticed the mayor of the town approaching.

The mayor, a stout and worried-looking NPC, hurried toward them, a plea for assistance etched across his face. The usual storyline unfolded as he explained the dire situation –– the imminent threat of monstrous forces poised to consume the castle.

The leaders, pressed for time and already knew the storyline, spared little patience for the mayor to finish his words.

Before the Mayor could complete his desperate narrative, the leaders readily accepted the quest.

The mayor’s expression shifted from anxiety to relief, grateful for the immediate response, and he hurriedly provided the necessary details.

As the leaders set forth to strategize and prepare for the impending battle in the town hall, Xin couldn’t help but observe the NPCs going about their tasks with a heightened sense of urgency.

The fear reflected in their eyes mirrored the severity of the situation, and Xin quickly realized that his charisma (CHA) probably wouldn’t be effective here.

Forming Relationship Levels with NPCs seemed out of the question when he tried to talk to one of them. There was no prompt on his screen, saying that his Relationship Level increased, unlike with his previous encounters with NPCs back in Eternia.

He was already aware that his infinite CHA had its limitations.

For one, it didn’t work on NPCs without the Relationship Level function. It also failed to form romantic connections with non-marriageable NPCs, although it did function with the same genders as long as they’re marriageable.

As the guilds departed for their private meetings, Xin found himself among the remaining solo players, about twenty strong in numbers.

"I wonder why we’re not invited to that meeting?"

Xin overheard their gossip.

"Who knows?"

"We’re only here for hire, so they need to be careful about distributing information."

"I bet we’re just cannon fodder."

Xin recognized the names above their heads; most of them were familiar from the top solo rankings.

"Hey, John."

Xin initially ignored the call until the persistence of the voice jolted him. He turned to find Victor standing there, looking bewildered.

"I’ve been calling your name for a while now. Is everything alright?"

". . ." Xin couldn’t utter a word. Victor’s sudden appearance in front of him had left him speechless.

"Hoi. Are you okay?"

Xin slightly shook his head and reminded himself that he was now John and that Victor didn’t seem to recognize him.

"Y-yeah." Xin cleared his throat and answered in a confident voice. "Yeah. Just thinking about this castle and where to explore first."

Victor crossed his arms, his brows furrowing. "You are? I thought you’ve already been here."

". . ." Sweat trickled down Xin’s back.

Fortunately, Hilda came to his rescue. "Hey, John. Let’s go explore the city."

Before Victor could open his mouth, Hilda dragged him away, and Xin silently thanked her for saving him.

As John and Brody walked away, Victor’s brows furrowed even more.

"Since when did those two became friends?"