Reign of the Hunters

or a long time.
It made her very timid when she had to face Fleeting Time. 

 

Bai Mo could understand how Ye Ci felt.
He stared silently at her before finally speaking up, “I have a feeling that he’s a very responsible person.
While he can be childish at times, he’s still a very mature person.
He’ll make a good partner for you in life.” 

 

Ye Ci kept her eyes on the road, but her mind was filled with the times she spent with Fleeting Time.
She let out a sigh after a very long time. 

 

While Bai Mo was silent as if he had already fallen asleep, he was still conscious.
He sighed internally. It seems that daughters are bound to leave their families once they grow older.
She’s no longer the snotty little brat who used to follow me around.
I can’t protect her forever. He understood that one day a man would appear to take over his role as Ye Ci’s protector.
A feeling of sadness filled his heart, as if someone had snatched his precious daughter away from him. Damn you, Fleeting Time.
I’ll not let you off the hook that easily.  

 

The Spring Festival gave a large amount of high quality equipment to the players.
These equipment could only be crafted if not for the event.
And it was not an easy task. 

 

But thanks to the new equipment, the major guilds in the game were able to increase their efficiency in dungeon clearing.
Many of the BOSSes that had become obstacles to their progress were defeated with relative ease. 

 

Upwards Ho! had been busy with dungeon clearing as well.
Due to its rapid growth, the guild was now considered a medium sized guild.
Its members might not be as numerous as the likes of Golden Era, but the due to its preference for quality over quantity, it was still a very competent guild 

 

Many of Upwards Ho!’s players were skillful and well equipped.
They could easily make up for their lack in numbers with the quality of their players.
The guild had even organized its players into groups that would scour dungeons and farm equipment from the arena to raise their fighting capabilities. 

 

Ye Ci, on the other hand, had been busy exploring the Kira Mountain Range.
Perhaps due to the luck of the Spring Festival, she was able to locate the shrine once again.
And after a short exploration, she was able to completely master the terrain in the mountain range.
No matter where she was, she could easily navigate her way to the shrine. 

 

The bow was still held by the statue of the Goddess of Nature, which was in turn protected by a barrier.
Despite her best attempts, Ye Ci could not find a way to unlock the barrier.
She had to return to Natasha, but the NPC was of no help as well. 

 

But she received a hint from Natasha.
She was told that the warriors who accompanied Dau’er in his fight against Naga might know of the barrier’s secrets. 

 

And Ye Ci knew of a survivor of the war.
It was Andriel who was now a ghost. 

 

She once again returned to the Swamps of Despair. 

 

The area was still devoid of players, and even Ye Ci herself was barely able to make the journey due to her stealth capabilities.
The swamp was still guarded by the spirits of the dead. 

 

Ye Ci shivered as a gust of cold wind blew past her.
She carefully made her way to Andriel’s grave, careful to avoid detection by the wandering Undead around her. 

 

It sounded simple, but was no easy task.
She was sweating from exertion by the time she arrived by Andriel’s grave. 

 

She surveyed her surroundings while remaining in stealth.
A passing Banshee turned its head towards her, and she held her breath.
She was among one of the highest level players, but her level was still nothing compared to the monsters in the map.
A single glancing blow would be able to take her life. 

 

The Banshee’s hollow eyes remained fixed on Ye Ci’s position for a few agonizing seconds before it floated away.
Ye Ci let out a sigh of relief and extended her hand towards Andriel’s grave. 

 

A puff of green smoke appeared and took a humanoid shape.
It was Andriel. 

 

The deceased Elf stretched his body and took in a deep breath, “I felt a friend calling for me.
Let’s see who is here,” he lowered himself and smiled when he saw Ye Ci, “Oh, it’s you, young Elf.
It has been a long time.” 

 

“It has indeed, Andriel.” Ye Ci bowed at the Elf. 

 

“How’s Tamra?” Andriel smiled at Ye Ci.
He was in a great mood. 

 

Despite his experiences that were filled with tragedy, the Elf was indeed in a good mood. 

 

Ye Ci hesitated to tell him the truth, but Andriel could sense that something was amidst, “What is wrong, my young kinsman? Why are you hesitating?” 

 

“Andriel, your friend Tamra has arrived at our homeland.” Ye Ci finally broke the news to the Elf. 

 

Andriel was momentarily stunned.
He was quick to understand the words.
Sorrow washed over him, but he swiftly recovered from his feeling of woe, “That’s good.
We both yearned to return to our homeland.
At least he was able to return.