Lord Of The Lost

The next day, William logged into Sequence Game and went straight to meet the Forum Master to collect his prized reward: the Dragon Scale Armor.

The loot they'd gained from Shadow Castle still had to wait another day to be fully distributed. Some of the items were still locked in the Gambler's backpack, inaccessible until a cooldown expired. However, the Dragon Scale Armor was already in the Forum Master's possession, and he was eager to pass it on.

[Dragon Scale Armor]

- Quality: Excellent

- Description: Created by a renowned master craftsman, this armor is as much a work of art as it is a powerful defense. Forged with actual dragon scales and dragon skin, it boasts impressive physical durability and magic resistance.

- Special Feature – Dragon Scale Body Protection: Greatly reduces incoming damage.

When William finally laid eyes on the armor, he was taken aback. The armor was exquisite, almost regal. A deep, oceanic blue served as the base color, while intricate gold patterns weaved across its surface, creating an elegant dragon scale motif. It looked like a dragon gliding through deep waters, both fierce and graceful.

The armor was full-body but designed with ease of use in mind; it automatically adjusted to fit the wearer's body. No need to put on each piece individually; it would shrink or expand as needed. The main piece, a dragon-head-shaped helmet, covered most of the face with its fierce, tooth-like guards, leaving only the chin exposed. Two rubies, cut to look like eyes, adorned the helmet, providing a subtle lens effect for enhanced vision.

The shoulder armor, thick and adorned with raised dragon scale patterns, extended outward with sharp edges, giving William an air of strength and authority. The arm guards covered his arms entirely, all the way to the wrists, with flexible joints that allowed for a full range of motion.

At the waist, the lines tapered in, and dark red dragon skin fit snugly, creating a look as sleek as it was functional. The design of the waist armor created a striking inverted triangle, like the physique of an athlete. The whole ensemble transformed William's slender frame into one of power and confidence, lending him an imposing presence.

From head to toe, the armor was a seamless blend of beauty and function, with shin guards, knee pads, and sleek, fitted combat boots completing the look. It wasn't just armor; it was a visual masterpiece, combining exquisite craftsmanship with a powerful, unified design.

William turned his arms, testing the range of movement. The armor was surprisingly light, hugging his frame comfortably without restricting his agility. He was thrilled with how well it allowed him to move.

The Forum Master, watching nearby, looked slightly worn out. His eyes had dark circles, and he appeared drained. It was clear he hadn't slept, likely staying up all night to appraise the equipment from Shadow Castle. Even mysterious elixirs to replenish his stamina hadn't been enough.

Despite his exhaustion, he couldn't help but look at the Dragon Scale Armor with a tinge of envy. Its properties made it one of the most coveted pieces they'd found, and he knew how much it would enhance William's resilience in battle.

"Lucky you were the first to ask about it," he said, managing a tired smile. "Otherwise, I might've kept it for myself."

William chuckled, patting the shoulder of his armor. "Well, I'll make good use of it."

With the upcoming alliance to fight the thieves, and wearing the Dragon Scale Armor, William was more than ready for whatever lay ahead.

Among the eight pieces of excellent-grade equipment they had recovered, the Dragon Scale Armor stood out, nearly maxing out the limits of what was possible in the excellent-grade category.

The Forum Master eyed the armor, explaining, "They say this armor is more ornamental than practical, but that's only true in comparison to the dragons themselves."

Dragons were creatures of unmatched beauty and power, a race that combined elegance with terrifying strength. When compared to them, even top-quality armor like this paled. According to the identification notes, the armor had been part of the Count's collection for centuries, one of his most prized possessions. Forged from real dragon scales and skin, it was irreplaceable; a rarity in the current era.

The Forum Master went on, "If a player aligned with the 'Dragon Clan' path wore this, it might even unlock some hidden powers..."

The strength of the dragon path was legendary. While few paths compared to the dragons, a select few, like the "Giant" or "Demon" paths, had similar renown. Still, the dragons were said to have vanished from the world long ago, and any hope of changing jobs to the "Dragon Clan" path was faint at best. To attempt such a change, one would have to slay a dragon, a feat bordering on the impossible.

Noticing William's curiosity, the Forum Master added, "Outside the border town, there's a place known as Dragon Valley. Rumor has it there might be clues there for starting on a 'half-dragon' path."

The half-dragon path was just the entry point for anyone seeking to embrace the ways of the dragons, akin to the hybrid form werewolves could achieve. Only after completing this path and attaining its unique traits could a player hope to reach the level of a true dragon; a possibility so remote that the Forum Master doubted any player would live to attempt it.

William borrowed a horse and left Border Town behind. His recent adventure in Shadow Castle had boosted his reputation in the area, thanks to the Forum Master's revelations about the black magicians and the werewolf thieves' plans. Now, with the Forum Master rallying players against the thieves, the town had come alive with activity. William had promised to return the horse soon, it was only for a quick journey.

He rode toward Iron Mine Village. Along the way, he passed groups of players heading toward Border Town, moving in groups of three to five. Some were players who had been ambushed by thieves and were now back in action after reviving. Driven by frustration and anger, they'd joined the crusade against the thieves without hesitation.

William took little notice, focused on his own mission.

[Map Notification: You have arrived at Iron Mine Village]

As he entered the village, a familiar voice shouted, "Whoa! Big brother! That armor makes you look incredible!"

William turned and saw the captain of the village guard, leading a group of twenty or thirty villagers, all looking at him with awe.

He gave a small smile, "How'd you know it was me?"

After all, he was fully suited in the Dragon Scale Armor, his face partially obscured by the dragon-head helm. He looked so different that even his own mother might not recognize him if she were alive.

The captain laughed. "Who else would ride in here looking like a mythical hero?"

William chuckled, feeling the energy around him build. With the Dragon Scale Armor and a mission driving him forward, he was ready for whatever awaited in the heart of Iron Mine Village.

The captain's eyes lit up as he pointed at William's silver-white knight's lance, admiring its sharp, half-meter-long blade. It was William's usual weapon, but in combination with the Dragon Scale Armor, it looked even more impressive.

"Wow, this setup is something else," he marveled, eyes wide. "You look like Armor Hero or maybe even Kamen Rider!"

A few other players gathered around, practically drooling over the Dragon Scale Armor.

"Man, where did you even find gear like that?" one of them asked, staring in awe.

No one could resist the allure of such a powerful, elegant suit of armor, it was the kind of equipment every player dreamed of.

William noticed the player called Cat Cart in the group and smiled. "Did you all just go out to level up?"

The captain shook his head. "Nah, there are way too many thieves roaming around now. It's too risky to grind levels out there."

William learned that most of the players here were at levels 6 or 7. They'd just returned from the Magic House and were getting ready to make their way to Border Town. The captain himself was now at level 7 and progressing quickly, with another player, Fantasto, close behind at level 6. Their leveling speed was decent, although a few players in the forum had reached level 8, especially after unlocking talents and gearing up with suitable equipment. With everything in place, monster hunting became faster and more efficient.

The Cat Cart player was also at level 7, which didn't surprise William. Talent-based upgrades were happening fast across the forum, and certain talents, like Cat Cart's resurrection ability, remained especially powerful.

"You're all heading to town?" William asked. "Perfect, would you mind returning this horse for me?" He hopped off, preparing to head to the Magic House himself. The rough terrain up ahead wasn't ideal for riding, so he'd have to go on foot.

The captain blinked in surprise. "Wait, big bro, you're not joining the fight against the thieves?"

Most players assumed that since William and the Forum Master had already teamed up, he'd be there for the big battle. But William just smiled and shook his head.

"Not this time; I've got other plans."

The captain's face fell. "Aw, no way! I was looking forward to teaming up with you!"

The captain had gathered all the top players from Iron Mine Village, hoping to join forces under William's lead. He figured that when they all got to Border Town, players would naturally break into groups by village for easier management and coordination. Since William was originally from Moonlight Village, the captain hoped that players from Iron Mine could just join up with him there, forming a stronger team regardless of the village names. It didn't matter if it was called the Iron Mine Team or the Moonlight Team; they just wanted to team up with someone as strong as William.

The captain couldn't help but feel safer with William in the group. If they encountered thieves with supernatural abilities, they wouldn't have to worry about getting wiped out. Having William by their side meant they'd always have someone to turn to, someone who could shoulder even the heaviest burdens.

He'd even been boasting to his group on the way over, talking up how, once they reached the border town, they'd get to follow William into battle, slay monsters, and level up faster than ever. He'd hyped everyone up with William's bold promises on the forum, saying, "We'll bring back 200 thieves' heads before the week's out!" To the group, William had already become a legendary figure, the ultimate leader.

But now…his plan was falling apart.

The captain's heart sank, realizing he'd been bragging about teaming up with William for nothing. He'd blown it, his "big brother" had other plans and wouldn't be joining their fight.

As the group stared at him in confusion, the captain could only laugh it off, scratching his head and hoping he'd somehow manage to pull his team together for the upcoming battle.