The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 1259: Azov’s Headache

Back at the Alliance House, Azov called a meeting of the Myths to order, all forty of them who had gone into the dungeon today.

Opal had arranged the amphitheatre in the upper loft for them, using illusions to make it look like an ancient marble building once you came up the stairs.

The sight reminded Karl that he hadn’t made time to make the arena plinth yet, and he mentally moved it up his priority list.

”What are you plotting?” Azov asked, startling everyone who thought that he was going to start with questions about the dungeon.

But instead, he was looking directly at Karl, as if this was all his fault.

”Nothing, we set a record, and what happened, happened.” Karl replied.

”Not that. Just now. I sensed the chaotic aura around you, and it is too much like that old woman. What are you plotting?” Azov replied.

Of course, the ancient Immortal would be well attuned to the Chaos Dragon. And now that Karl’s constitution had improved, and had evolved in her direction, it made it even easier for Azov to guess when he was thinking of something new.

”Oh, I was thinking that with the skills I have, I might be able to make an artificial trial ground, an arena where combatants could go to fight it out with safeguards in place.” Karl explained.

”And why would you want to do that?”

”To help them advance, of course. Dungeons are the best way to advance, but an artificial trial ground, like I made for the Golden Dragon Nation, is a close second.

However, I could also make it into an arena, with single challenges, or combat between visitors. Doesn’t that sound fun? It even allows me to set safety protocols, to remove the injured combatants from the arena and heal them.” Karl explained.

Azov sighed. ”Well, that’s actually sensible. I apologize for doubting you. I thought that you might be thinking of ways to use [Illusionary Domain] as a trap spell in combat.”

Cara smirked, and Azov winked at her.

[He said that so that we didn’t guess what he was actually worried we were thinking about.] The badger noted.

[If it is worse than badger filled illusionary worlds, he’s got an excellent imagination.] Dana agreed.

[We could make it a Naga Swamp filled with Illusionary snakes that have the Elemental’s Wrath transformation.] Remi suggested helpfully.

[And bugs. Everyone hates bugs.] Thor agreed.

[I’m starting to understand why the Chaos element drives Azov to drinking.] Dana joked.

Azov cleared his throat. ”Alright, with that out of the way, I am going to need a full outline of everyone’s future plans for the Dungeon. As most of you know, I have a monitoring spell that senses social disturbances, and this one was strong enough to register.

Partially because you are all Myths, and near the peak of the power level on the continent. But mostly because the upheaval caused by a rapid change in item quality won’t go unnoticed.”

Deve raised his hand. ”Sir, isn’t that a good thing? It’s been nearly impossible for us to get good gear. Now, we have a reliable source of strong Mythic and low Immortal Rank gear to bring our raiding teams up to a new standard.”

Azov sighed, and the King pinched the bridge of his nose, attempting to stave off a headache.

”If it was just the Guilds of the Zilaz region who have a good relationship with the Nara Group Alliance, it would be fine. But nobody else has a source of better gear either.

They are all going to want access.

And then, during the next trial, how many challengers will there be for control of this dungeon?” Azov replied.

Deve shrugged. ”I am not convinced that the number of challengers will matter. We’ve got a Karl.”

Azov hated to admit it, but Deve had a point. Karl’s power level was so absolutely ridiculous that in an open challenge format, it was unlikely that he would lose. No matter who was sent at him.

Half the challengers would give up just facing Cara, and by the time the challenges came around, most of Karl’s team should be advanced to the Mythic Rank.

Though, realistically, most of the challengers wouldn’t be able to even harm Rae.

They simply lacked a skill that could harm a non-corporeal being.

But that was part of what the blue dragons were working to eliminate. Even if they advanced the warriors to Paladins and Crusaders, the least versatile class would gain Holy Skills that would harm her in Night Haunter form, and other creatures of similar nature.

”That might not be true by the next challenge. With Immortal Rank gear going out, there are going to be some exceptional new skill effects available. The whole challenge standard will change next round, and that is something that I would like to keep from getting out of hand.

We’ve already changed the rules once this year, and I don’t intend to change them again, but I will be watching for rising stars, especially at the Totem Rank.” Azov reminded them.

Karl chuckled. ”Loading up a Totem Ranked champion with Immortal Ranked gear and a bunch of Epic skills will throw the entire challenge system for a loop.

Fortunately for you, they can only pick one dungeon to challenge.”

The King frowned. ”What if we have them head to other dungeons to see if it happens again? If it’s not just this one dungeon, the imbalance will be more widespread, all over the region. That should limit the infighting for the right to access one specific dungeon, and make more of them targets for powerful champions.”

Azov looked at him like he was wondering if he dropped the boy on his head as a child.

Making the problem a regional issue instead of a localized issue didn’t actually solve the problem. But the King wasn’t thinking beyond his own borders. The entirety of the Dragon Isles were going to want to at least give the improved dungeon a try to see if it was worth the effort.