Chapter 36: Guardian Knight's Jackpot

[You have leveled up!]

…

[You have leveled up! Congratulations on reaching level 92.]

Instantly, his level started rising from killing the Field Boss. Similarly, the party members also gained a couple of levels for their assistance, but not as much as Odin, who had to carry all the fighting.

Based on their contribution, they received a fair share of EXP, with Purphoros reaching level 76, Malfurion reaching level 79, and Elyse, the DPS from the newbies group, reaching level 81.

The Leviathan Party stood silently for a moment, watching the now-lifeless body of the once fearsome Hobgoblin Champion.

Odin reached a point of exhaustion from going into a frenzy fighting Boss after Boss Mob. As things settled, all of his buffs began reaching their end, including the reverted Werewolf Transformation.

The tall, imposing man in dark leather armor, with wolf influences around him, akin to a rich condottiere, made his return, all of the fur, muscle, and ferocious features of a Werewolf dispelling from his handsome features.

As if nothing big just happened, Odin sheathed his sword nonchalantly and turned to his party members.

"Let's wake up those peasants, and put them somewhere safe while we continue the advance."

"Malfurion, after you dispel those folks from their abnormal states, you should check if there are any springs in this cavern."

"Maybe you'll strike gold and actually clear the quest in one go," Odin said with a half-smirk, his voice a little rough from the prolonged fight.

Malfurion shook his head slightly, though a tired smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He leaned heavily on his staff, the magical energy surrounding it flickering faintly as he tried to conserve his little stamina.

The wear and tear of the battle were beginning to show in the Druid's posture, his usual calm demeanor strained by fatigue.

"Hah, you'll have to bear with me, Guildmaster. My Stamina reached (24/100) and I didn't even make an impact against the Hobgoblin… I'm quite pathetic if you think about it." Malfurion replied, his voice low, clearly disappointed in his performance, but Odin just brushed it off.

"You folks did just fine, for a bunch of newbies at level 72-77 to hang along with a Boss monster at level 125. Not many are capable of such feat, so you know."

"I don't know… We have gained many passives from being inside a party with you from your Saharan Successor Class."

"Ah, that's fair. But, still, the fact you didn't die in a couple of hits is commendable. Don't stress yourself too much, just look at that kid, Purphoros, he's all hyped for reaching level 76, no worries in sight."

"I wish I could have that type of mentality…" He chuckled weakly, his eyes closing briefly as he tried to steady himself. "I fear I'll just drop somewhere if I push too hard."

Odin's expression softened, his smirk fading into something more understanding. He knew all too well the toll this fight had taken on everyone.

He himself was close to reaching a mental burnout from being highly alert for 10 minutes, not allowing any mistakes or distractions to interfere with his gameplay. However, by now, he was a veteran, a professional who could keep his sanity even against 30-40-minute Boss Encounters.

Still, that is true when being inside a 20-member raid team composed of only the best in the guild.

Without a doubt, he was deserving of a break.

"Take your time," Odin said, his voice steadier and more deliberate now. "I'm not planning on advancing anytime soon. Honestly, I'm just as drained. Mentally, I'm wiped."

He ran a hand through his sweat-soaked hair, his eyes briefly closing. "We'll hold here for a while, regroup, and get everyone back on their feet. There's no rush to push forward while we're all hanging by a thread."

"Besides, this isn't the location of the Hobgoblin Tribe based on what information I gathered from Knight Valens and the soldiers. We'll need to pass this forested path, and reach the ravines of Wyrnwoods, closer to the mountains."

Odin glanced back at the scattered villagers around the summoning circle, who were in tatters but fortunately alive, then to his party members, who were similarly worn down but happy for their new-level gains. "Once they're freed from the Illusion, make sure to pacify them. We don't want any of those villagers to run out from the Cavern without us being the vanguard."

As he was talking with Malfurion, Odin was multitasking by checking the loot he gained from all the monsters slain inside the Cavern, including the two Field Bosses.

Those three newbies deserved attention from their Boss, and since he wasn't particularly attracted by most of the loot, except a couple of Skill Books and a miscellaneous item, 'Voucher: Entry to Gates of Hell'.

He paused for a moment, mentally cataloging the items, then smirked to himself. 'Time to bring some Christmas cheer.'

Odin approached Malfurion first. The druid's robes were in tatters, and his usually confident stance was slightly hunched. His staff, which had once been bright with magical energy, now flickered weakly as if reflecting Malfurion's drained state.

"Malfurion," Odin called out, causing the druid to turn toward him, weary but attentive.

"Yes, Odin?"

"I still have something else to give you. Your reward for surviving the encounter with the Goblin."

"I don't need any rewards. The EXP is more than enough for what I contributed."

Odin clicked his tongue, giving a disapproving look. "Tsk. How can I agree to that? I've got a reputation to protect, you know. Can't have it getting around that I'm withholding loot after a raid. Besides, you did your part with those clutch Entangling Vines that slowed or cut the goblin shit's escape path when we needed it most."

Malfurion smiled weakly, shaking his head. "Fine, if it'll keep your reputation intact, I'll accept."

"Good man," Odin said with a grin, opening the exchange window. "Here, take these, Ring of Decay and Frika's Ritual Blade. The ring should help you slow enemies and weaken their defenses, and the blade will boost your spellcasting and mana regeneration. Just don't lose them to some trash mob after we part ways, alright?"

Malfurion's eyes widened as he took in the items Odin was offering. He was not one to get excited easily, but the sheer quality of the loot caught him off guard. As a Druid, he had no problems wielding a Dagger, especially a small, one-handed dagger that weighed like a knife.

Meanwhile, the ring glimmered with dark, malevolent energy, and the blade pulsed with an aura of pure mana. The specs of the Dagger made it a great upgrade when he reached level 115.

It was beyond anything he'd expected.

"I… I'll be careful. Thank you, Odin," Malfurion said, inclining his head in gratitude. His tiredness seemed to fade just slightly as he examined his new gear.

Odin waved it off. "You've earned it. Now, get back to work."

Next, Odin turned to Elyse. She stood a short distance away, her staff resting against her shoulder. Her flame-tinged hair was wild, sweat and soot mixing across her features.

Despite her weary appearance, her amber eyes gleamed with satisfaction at the levels she had gained. She had performed well, but Odin had something special in mind for her.

"Elyse, come here. Got something for you too," Odin said.

She raised an eyebrow, approaching with a curious smile. "What are you giving me, Master? Could it be that it is the Hag's Staff? It should be Overpowered for a Unique Staff." she teased, though her tone showed genuine interest.

Odin shook his head. "Not this time. You spent that hard earned money for 'RedHorizon' staff, wouldn't it be a shame to discard it like a pair of bra? This one I will keep because it contains a kit for a new Class, the Hexer."

"You're getting something different. This…" Odin opened the exchange window and placed some magical materials in it, "—is going to help you advance your Tower of Sun quest. You got an Epic-rated Magic Material in 'Shard of the Dark Power' which can earn you plenty of contribution points with the Magic Tower, enough to proceed with the Elemental Ascension Questline."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Wait?? How do you know that I had to do Elemental Ascension for my 1st Awakening?"

"Eve also had to do that Questline, and back in the days, it was way harder to collect the materials enough for Contribution Points."

Elyse's breath caught in her throat as she saw the material. "This… this is perfect," she said in disbelief. "I'll not be able to complain that you forgot about, little me."

Odin smirked, pleased with her reaction. "Thought you'd like it. Consider it a step toward your goal."

Elyse's usual fiery attitude dimmed momentarily, replaced by a rare expression of sincere gratitude. "Thank you, Odin. Seriously. This means a lot. I might actually reconsider a career inside Satisfy with a Boss like you guiding me."

"I'm not in the position of telling you what to do, but I guess it is a better career path than relying on sugar daddies."

Odin nodded, satisfied, before turning to the last of the trio, Purphoros, the Tanker.

By now, after learning that Odin was distributing the loot, the Guardian Knight had been nervously fidgeting since Odin began this process. He didn't know what to expect since he almost wiped his party several times, only to be saved by Malfurion and Elyse.

His large frame seemed almost awkward now as if he wasn't sure what to expect. He knew the loot had some Warrior gear in it, but he didn't want to assume Odin would hand it to him.

When Odin finally stepped toward him, Purphoros straightened up, trying to look calm and composed. But the truth was, he was on edge.

"Purphoros," Odin said, his tone casual but firm. "I know you've been working hard to keep the front line stable. It's time to reward that effort accordingly."

The exchange window opened, and Purphoros's eyes bulged as he saw what Odin placed inside: Dazan's Berserker Greatsword (Unique), Hobgoblin Champion's Helm (Epic), Wolf Champion's Breastplate (Epic), Wolfblood Gauntlets (Epic)... all of it gear that would make him not just stronger, but a near-unstoppable among the starting players.

It was, without a doubt, the jackpot of this session.

Odin could only sigh inwardly because this guy was truly a lucky ass. Most of Dazan's loot was catered toward a Hybrid build where you had a boost in DPS but also in HP regen and defense.

"You… you're giving all of this to me?" Purphoros stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

"You still can't use most of it until you level up, but you better not disappoint me, kid," Odin said with a smirk. "Work hard, and make sure you level up fast. I'm expecting big things from you."

For a second, Purphoros looked like he was about to kiss Odin and hug this man, no, God, out of sheer gratitude. His face flushed, and he took a step forward, eyes glistening. "Odin, I-"

But just as he moved, Odin's calm crimson eyes flickered with a sharp, almost murderous intensity. The sudden shift in Odin's gaze made Purphoros freeze mid-motion, his gratitude turning into a nervous chuckle as he stopped.

"Get lost. Help Malfurion in pacifying the NPCs he wakes up."

"Th-thank you, Odin. I promise I won't let you down, Yes, yes, sir, I'll help Malfurion, no questions asked. You want me to bark, I'll do a Woof, you want me to spit on Seuron's face, with pleasure. You want me to fuck a Goblin gall, with all my heart." Purphoros said, standing at attention, looking more like a soldier before a general than a knight accepting a gift.

"..."

"Kid, you need therapy. If you want to check yourself, I'll hook you up with Veradin's number."

He shook his head a bit before walking toward one of the rooks outside of the Summoning Circle where the villagers were bound, choosing to be in proximity if things would turn for the worse, and as Malfurion was doing his casting, he was tinkering around with his Status Window that accumulated a vastness of stat points that would feel overwhelming in distributing them.

'Let's leave it at that, and instead learn the Skill Books from the goblin.'

'Hah, to think there will come a day when I would be glad to learn something from a goblin. Times have changed… I miss my old Knight Skills.'

'How are you doing, kimchi old fucker? Hope you're still alive because you're my salvation.'

[Skill Book: Black Wolf's Howl]

Rating: Epic | Type: Active

A primal cry that echoes through the night, striking fear into the hearts of foes. The bearer channels the essence of the black wolf, invoking both terror and ferocity in the heat of battle.

The greater the skill's mastery, the more profound its impact on both allies and enemies.

'Learn it.'

[You have learned 'Black Wolf's Howl']

[Black Wolf's Howl - Lv.1]

Rating: Epic | Type: Active

[Unleashing a terrifying war cry with the ability of taunting foes. The howl demoralizes enemies in a 7 meters radius, having a 55% chance of placing them under a Fearful or Confused State while also reducing their attack and defense by 15% for 30 seconds.

At the same time, the howl increases the user's attack power by 25% and movement speed by 5% for 15 seconds.

Skill Resource Consumption: 350 MP

Skill Cooldown Time: 240 seconds.]

--

[Skill Book: Iron Arm]

Imbues the user with unyielding strength, fortifying their defenses against overwhelming assaults. The iron will of the bearer manifests as an impenetrable barrier, reflecting their resolve.

As the skill levels up, the duration and resilience of the defense increase, granting the user a moment of reprieve amidst chaos.

'Learn it.'

[You have learned 'Iron Arm']

[Iron Arm - Lv.1]

Rating: Epic | Type: Active

[Reduces all incoming physical damage by 40% during the shield's duration (60 seconds)

Grants a 20% chance to reflect incoming physical attacks back at the attacker.

While the shield is active, all debuff durations are reduced by 50%, bolstering the user's resilience against negative effects.

Skill Resource Consumption: 220 MP

Skill Cooldown Time: 180 seconds.]

--

'Nice, Both are Epic-rated skills. I was expecting Unique for the Howl, but no complaining here. They are a great addition to my basic combat skill-kit.'

Stuck in his mental world, Odin didn't concern himself with the newbie trio.

At the same time, Malfurion stood before the unconscious villagers, bound by the insidious illusion woven by Frika the Accursed.

His breath was still heavy from the intense boss encounter, but he took it slowly, conserving and trying to regenerate his Stamina Energy since they had more ahead of them.

These villagers had suffered enough, and the lingering remnants of the dark magic still held them in a twisted reality. The druid gripped his staff, eyes flickering with green mana.

Purphoros shuffled up beside him, his new gear stowed away in his inventory, and you could consider this Guardian Knight the happiest guy in Satisfy.

Despite his earlier jest and nervous energy, there was a solemnity to his posture now. "Malfurion," he said, "where do we start?"

"Hold them steady," Malfurion instructed. His voice, though weary, was firm. "The Illusion magic still has a hold on their minds. They won't wake calmly."

Purphoros nodded, moving to carefully steady one of the unconscious villagers. At the same time, Elyse, standing nearby, channeled a small orb of flame between her fingers, just enough to keep herself ready should things go south. The trio worked in sync. They didn't need words to communicate the gravity of the situation.

Malfurion raised his staff high, the faintest glimmer of green magic gathering around its tip. His spell wasn't grand or flashy, but pure Druidic magic aimed at dispelling illusions and restoring clarity to the mind.

With a soft, ethereal hum, the energy spread out in ripples, washing over the villagers.

One by one, their eyes fluttered open.

The first to awaken was an older man, his face gaunt and covered in grime. He blinked, confusion mixing with fear as his body jolted to life. "W-where am I?" His voice trembled, eyes darted around the dark cavern, memories of the horrors he'd endured under the goblins flooding back.

"You're safe now," Malfurion said softly, kneeling beside him. "The goblins are gone. You're free."

The man's face twisted in terror as his body shook. "Gone? Free? But they… they were everywhere. We were trapped, tortured. How can we be free? This must be another trick!"

As more villagers woke, a ripple of panic spread among them. Whispers turned into cries of terror. Men and women, once shackled by Frika's dark magic, now found themselves disoriented and frightened, their minds still grasping at the horrors they had endured.

Elyse, sensing the rising tension, stepped forward. "Relax," she said, her voice cool and calm. She extended her hand, conjuring a small flame… a harmless ember that hovered above her palm.

"We're here to protect you. We killed the monsters. You're safe. Look around, there are no goblins."

But words alone could not shake the trauma etched into their minds.

That's when Odin closed his Status Window and other interfaces and stepped in.

His presence was commanding, and regal, as he approached the panicked group. The crimson energy surrounding him pulsed with power, but it wasn't violent or aggressive. It was controlled, dignified.

He emanated a subtle aura of authority and calmness, and the villagers, whether out of instinct or fear, began to quiet down like sheep after returning to their shepherd.

"Listen," Odin said, his voice deep and smooth but with an unmistakable edge of command. "I'm aware, you've been through hell, from having your homes raided by monsters such as the Dire Beasts and then those goblins… I get that."

"Yet, you also have to understand that the monsters who tortured you are no more. You're free now. We'll take you back to your homes. Everyone will make it out alive, safely."

The villagers, still trembling, felt the weight of Odin's words. His crimson aura, flickering like the remnants of an ancient battle, held them in quiet awe.

The more they looked at him, the less fear they felt. It was as if Odin's presence was smoothing over the chaos in their minds, bringing them back from the edge.

'This should be another hidden effect of Red Energy. I've heard that Duchess Basara, when she uses Red Energy, could make even the most obnoxious and rowdy Knights into shy lambs.'

"I'm Odin, the Guildmaster of Leviathan," he continued, his gaze sweeping across the villagers. "We've dealt with the goblins and trolls around this region of Wyrnwoods. We'll have to recuperate for a bit, so please, stay calm, stay together, and no harm will come to you."

"Also, make sure to listen to my comrades, and lastly. Don't try to escape. Nothing good will come by alerting the enemy of your escape."

Gradually, the villagers began to settle, their breaths slowing as they clung to Odin's calm. His aura, the crimson energy that radiated from him, seemed almost otherworldly, like a beacon in the darkness that promised protection.

Purphoros took a deep breath, relieved at how quickly the situation diffused. "Guess we're not needed after all," he muttered, glancing at Malfurion.

Malfurion gave a tired smile. "Odin has that effect."