Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

The Tretidian Capital, a prosperous and majestic place, was unrecognizable. What was once a bustling, lively city was now desolate and practically destroyed.

Many buildings were in ruins, with crumbling walls and rubble strewn everywhere.

The streets were partly empty, echoing only the uneasy silence that permeated the air.

The sky above the city was filled with monstrous creatures, flying in circles and casting eerie shadows over the ruins by the moonlight. These creatures looked like something out of a nightmare, with black wings and flaming eyes. Their howls and screams echoed through the empty halls of the city, creating an atmosphere of fear and despair. They were lamia, a type of vampire.

The city was shrouded in a blanket of darkness and smoke. Crackling flames consumed what was left of the buildings, illuminating the horizon with an eerie light.

The air was permeated with the acrid smell of burning wood, and ash floated through the air like leaves in a dreary autumn.

Some survivors still wandering the streets were desperate, with blank stares and expressions of anguish. They remembered the last attack perfectly, carrying with them the pain and the weight of what they had lost last time. Some sought shelter in the ruins, trying to find some form of safety amidst the chaos. Others dragged themselves through the city, helpless and without hope.

With every step they took, you could hear the sound of breaking glass beneath their feet, the creaks of collapsing structures, and the whispers of the wind, as if the city itself was mourning its fall.

As the fire consumed the city, the glow of the flames illuminated the despair in the eyes of those witnessing the destruction. It was an apocalyptic vision, an image of hopelessness and desolation that touched the soul deeply. Yet even in the midst of all this devastation, a thread of hope persisted. The surviving players clung to this hope, feeding on the courage that still remained in their hearts. They knew it was time to unite, to face the monsters that ravaged the city, and to fight for their survival.

Moreover, new fighters had just arrived, and among them is Kaizen with Ragnarok resting on his shoulders.

Kaizen contemplates the destruction-filled landscape of the city he has chosen to be his home with disgust. He has a serious countenance on his face, and when he spots a singular being looking at him as he floats in the sky, Kaizen looks to Andrew, who is on his right side, and says:

"I'm going to be a little busy here. If it's not too much for you, run to the palace and tell them Klaus sent you, they will know who you are. Protect the Princesses especially."

Andrew's eyes widened for a moment, but he quickly nodded. "You can leave it to me."

That being the case, Kaizen now had time to focus on the creature that was staring at him from afar, among the hundreds of lamia that were flying over the city.

Kaizen narrowed his eyes, staring at the singular creature. It was an imposing, shadowy figure, with outstretched wings and eyes glowing with an evil fire, but in a different way from the other lamia. This seemed to be their leader, with an aura of power and cruelty that inspired fear in even the bravest hearts.

Without wasting any time, Kaizen pointed to the Ragnarok, wielding it firmly. The legendary sword reflected the light of the flames, seemingly thirsting for blood and battle.

As Kaizen surmised, the figure felt affronted by him and, to strike back, pointed at Kaizen with an index finger, which made all the lamia, even those who were busy carrying or attacking people, immediately stop everything and form a horde to attack Kaizen, who did not move even an inch back.

As the horde of lamia approached, the wind blew violently, bringing with it a cold, cutting air.

Kaizen remained motionless, his eyes fixed on the leader of the creatures, transmitting determination and courage.

"I don't have time for this..." muttered Kaizen to himself, adjusting his grip on the Ragnarok handle.

When the lamia were only a few feet away, Kaizen landed his first blow. The sword sliced through the air with overwhelming force, creating a wave of energy that dispersed several nearby lamias and a crystal mountain rose up, like an iceberg, killing dozens of blades.

[You killed a Lamia. You gained +5000 XP.]

[You killed a Lamia. You gained +5000 XP.]

[You killed a Lamia. You gained +5000 XP.]

[You killed a Lamia. You gained +5000 XP.]

...

[The amount of XP you received will be doubled.]

[You have received +110000 XP.]

[Congratulations! You have just reached level 114!]

[Congratulations! You have just reached level 115!]

[Congratulations! You have just reached level 116!]

[Congratulations! You have just reached level 117!]

The leader's eyes sparked with anger when, and he launched himself towards Kaizen, moving with astonishing speed, tearing the distance between them in an instant and when the claws of this being collided with Kaizen's sword, the friction between them generated a burst of energy, driving away all the players who were nearby.

The impact of the collision reverberated throughout the city. The ground shook under the intensity of the confrontation, creating cracks that spread like cobwebs. The debris from the surrounding buildings flew through the air, propelled by the force of the collision. And the great crystal structure, formed by the first Ragnarok swing, was shattered.

Kaizen held his posture steady, sustaining the clash between his sword and the claws of the Lamia leader. With his muscles tense, he channeled all his strength and concentration to resist the enemy's relentless advance. Every second was crucial.

Determined to turn the tables, Kaizen let the sword consume a little more mana and unleashed a powerful blow. A shockwave propagated from the Ragnarok, shattering the balance and throwing the Lamia leader backwards.

The creature recovered quickly, now with an even greater fury.

"Do you think you can stop me, human?" growled the leader of the lamia in a guttural voice as his wings beat violently. "You are just a dog before me!"