14 Religious Ceremony

"The ice dragon's HP is almost at its limit, Anna, now it's all on you!"

Anna pulled out her bronze-tier Dark Forest Bow. 

A steel arrow was drawn back on the string, aimed directly at the dragon's head.

"Ready!"

"3"

"2"

"1"

"Release!"

The dragon, already on its last breath, flapped its wings in the air.

Suddenly, a bolt struck its head, and the massive dragon plummeted towards the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

…

"Captain, why didn't the ice dragon drop any Exp or equipment after we killed it?"

"I'm not quite sure, it might be due to the special nature of Snowland."

"Let's not worry about that for now. The priority is to get the ice dragon to the giant."

This conversation took place among an elite team gathered around the ice dragon.

Darrell Mura felt lucky. 

His innate talent wasn't extraordinary, and his awakened class was a wood-related sculptor – a class primarily focused on wood carving, as the name suggests. 

Just when he thought he had no place in the world of awakeners, fortune struck. 

He awakened a miraculous secondary skill – Luck Compass.

By expending a certain amount of energy and time, he could craft a one-time-use wooden compass. 

This compass was imbued with a measure of luck, its arrow pointing towards dungeons about to spawn high-level equipment. 

It was this skill that led to Darrell Mura being chosen by an awakener team.

Guided by his Luck Compass, this team discovered many pieces of equipment overlooked by other teams. 

In just two years, they rose to become a level 30 elite team.

This time, Darrell Mura's Luck Compass pointed towards the newly emerged Snowland dungeon. 

Normally, a level 30 awakener team wouldn't bother with a level 15 dungeon, but the direction of the Luck Compass suggested that unexpected equipment was to be found here. 

And sure enough, they found a treasure – a near gold-tier piece of equipment, worth the effort of an ordinary elite team for several months!

"Darrell Mura, well done. Our ability to enter this dungeon and swiftly locate the ice dragon owes much to you," complimented the team leader.

Darrell Mura nodded excitedly. "A near gold-tier item is enough to take our team to the next level."

"Indeed, this is entirely your achievement," the leader acknowledged. 

"So, as a reward, if the near gold-tier weapon we acquire matches your attributes, you'll be the one to wield it."

"Yes, thank you, Captain!" Darrell Mura's smile revealed his teeth.

The team used a steel rope to tie around the neck of the deceased ice dragon, its head still pierced by an arrow, though no one paid it any attention. 

They began dragging it towards the capital of Snowland.

"Those level 15 awakeners are quite pitiable. They don't know that the gold-tier equipment is already in our hands. They're probably still searching for the ice dragon in the Frigid Region."

"Eating a bit of loss now will help them go further in the future, right?"

The members of Darrell Mura's team laughed together, feeling like they had completely outwitted everyone who entered Snowland.

After a while, they finally saw the towering city walls. 

"We're almost at the capital of Snowland, brothers. Get ready to welcome our team's near gold-tier equipment."

Darrell Mura's team was elated, already envisioning the blacksmith giant standing at the city gates, his raw and unattractive face seeming to become friendly, cheering for these victors.

"Respected giant, we have fulfilled your request. Here is the body of the ice dragon."

The blacksmith giant, seeing the corpse of the ice dragon, was also delighted, bursting into hearty laughter.

"Well done, that ice dragon was an old nemesis of mine. It ambushed me once when I was searching for something in the Frigid Region."

"Today, I've finally gotten my revenge."

The giant hefted the ice dragon's body onto his shoulder, appearing somewhat small in front of the dragon's massive corpse, despite his significantly taller stature compared to a normal person.

"Thank you, outsiders hired for transport," the giant said. "Your employer will be sure to reward you well."

Our employer? 

Is he referring to himself?

Darrell Mura sensed some discrepancy between the giant's words and their expectations, but no one dwelled on it. 

After all, they had the actual body of the ice dragon with them.

"Then, respected giant, when will you be dispensing our reward?"

The blacksmith giant furrowed his brow. 

"What are you talking about? What reward are you asking from me? This is nonsensical."

With that, the giant walked away with heavy steps toward the city.

"Mr. Giant, what about our near gold-tier equipment? Don't go!"

"Get out of the way, you mere haulers, or don't blame me for being rude."

The axe in the giant's hand glinted with a cold light, silencing the members of Darrell Mura's team in fear. 

The level information radiating from the giant suggested he was at least level 50 or above. 

Provoking the giant could mean death in this dungeon, a loss they couldn't afford.

"Ding! The blacksmith of Snowland has received the ice dragon's body. The reward of the gold-tier set has been issued to the corresponding awakener."

"The second phase of the Snowland quest has begun. Everyone can go to the main city of Snowland to receive a baptism at the church."

"Recite scriptures in the square near the church for three days, and you can level up regardless of the level difference."

Members of Darrell Mura's team were completely dumbfounded. 

After a burst of frustration and helplessness, they vented, "Where did this gold-tier set come from?"

"Wasn't it supposed to be a near gold-tier item?"

"Where the hell is my equipment?"

The team captain, in a fit of rage, slammed his hand against the stone of the city gate, releasing his inner fury.

"Damaging city property, a fine of 50 gold coins is imposed."

A soldier clad in pitch-black iron armor stepped forward, pointing a spear at the elite team's captain.

The captain clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, tempted to retaliate, but ultimately he deflated. 

He reluctantly pulled out 50 gold coins from his pocket and handed them to the armored soldier. 

There were many high-level NPCs in Snowland, and it wasn't worth creating a conflict over 50 gold coins.

After paying the fine, the team captain turned to comfort his members. 

"Although we don't understand why this damned dungeon is acting up and the promised equipment didn't appear, at least we can still gain a level."

The members nodded in disheartened agreement, accepting this as a consolation prize.

...

The second phase of the quest seemed to be a reward that could benefit the group as a whole. 

For elite team members above level 30, gaining one level just by reciting scriptures for three days was a decent offer.

Several team members went to the church in the city, swore their allegiance to the deity, and then gathered in the square to recite and pray.

Suddenly, a dazzling ray of light enveloped them. 

Following the source of the light, they saw a figure clad in golden armor standing before them.

He wore a golden crown upon his head,

A thick golden breastplate covered his chest,

His clothes and shoes, all fashioned from gold,

Even on his fingers were golden rings.

"Feeling the boost in all attributes is amazing," an excited male voice echoed across the square.

Henry was immersed in the benefits brought by wearing the gold-tier set, unable to pull himself away. 

Although his level was only 18, with this set of gold-tier equipment, he could hold his own against level 30s. 

But being a support, there was no need for him to act personally; he wore this equipment only because Anna and Emily had unanimously insisted he take it.

"Kid, where did you get that equipment from?" 

Darrell Mura walked from the center of the square to where Henry stood, gazing at him coldly.

Henry recognized this man as a member of the elite team he had seen at the ice dragon's location. 

Yet, he felt no guilt in his heart. 

After all, in this world where the strong prey on the weak, whatever means he used to obtain his equipment was a testament to his own abilities.

"None of your business," Henry retorted mockingly. 

The other had shown him no kindness, so naturally, he had no obligation to be courteous in return.