Bizarre Voyage: Summoning The Fourth Crisis

Some time had passed since the release of the Spirit Candle: Warfire expansion.

The first batch of veteran players to reach the Level cap had, one after another, ignited their Warfire, promoting their Tier to ”Embers.”

After their promotion, some players set their sights on the [Giant-tailed Sea Monster], attempting to hunt it down.

However, because it had a tendency to flee at a moment’s notice and was incredibly fast, no players had managed to successfully kill one yet. They could defeat it, but they couldn’t finish it off.

In addition, they discovered that although the update announcement hadn’t mentioned it, they could now store their excess items and equipment inside the Spirit Candle.

Hoarders rejoiced!

The veteran players, accustomed to sharing information, quickly compiled a rough list of Warfire classes and various related details, posting it all on the Spirit Candle Forum for new players who were still in the dark.

”After promoting to Embers, the amount of Wax Oil needed for Resurrection also increased... which isn’t surprising.”

”As for the Warfire classes...”

”Warrior, Knight, Mage, Close Combat Mage, Swift Mage, Swift Knight...”

”These names sound a little lazy. Did the devs get lazy...”

Li Miao smacked his lips and grumbled.

”It has a simple, back-to-basics kind of beauty,” Mushroom said diplomatically.

Faraway didn’t seem to care. ”The Warfire system probably isn’t this simple... Judging by the Fire Ignition from the sailing log and the nature of Warfire itself, there should be further additions.”

”Makes sense...” Li Miao nodded in agreement.

”You say that every time Faraway Lord opens his mouth,” Shore chuckled.

”So are you saying Faraway is wrong?”

”Of course he’s right.”

”...” Sometimes, Li Miao really wanted to strangle him.

...

Listening to the veteran players’ discussions and complaints, Luo Ge couldn’t help but feel speechless.

’You think coming up with good names is easy? I haven’t even figured out what to call my own Warfire, and you scrubs are already getting picky...’

Luo Ge shook his head.

After glancing at the remaining Wax Oil on the Spirit Candle interface, he materialized from within the Spirit Candle.

”The Candlekeeper?”

The group of veteran players sitting and discussing things by the Spirit Candle were surprised by this.

Luo Ge gave them a slight nod without saying much and walked straight toward the Spirit Fire Port.

After he had walked some distance, a group of players watched his back and began to mutter amongst themselves.

”What’s the Candlekeeper up to? Why’d he just appear out of nowhere? He scared me...”

”No idea. Should we go ask him?”

”You go try.”

”...You should go. I’m afraid if I bother him, my affection rating will drop. Niuniu is still in solitary...”

The group of players was too chicken, only daring to follow sneakily from behind.

Ever since the game enabled players to perceive the Life Value of hostile creatures a while back, some fearless players had tried their luck with the Candlekeeper...

The result was outrageous.

Not only could they not perceive the Candlekeeper’s Life Value, but he could also kick people offline!

One unlucky soul had all his Wax Oil deducted and was locked out of the game for a day. The game even sent a notification stating that any further attacks on the Candlekeeper would result in a permanent ban...

The legendary account deletion technique!

So terrifying, so terrifying... They’d never seen an NPC in any game with that much power...

This made the players even more reverent toward the Candlekeeper.

Faraway, however, didn’t seem to mind. He walked right up and asked, ”Candlekeeper, where are you headed?”

Luo Ge glanced at him and said calmly, ”I am following the Spirit Candle’s guidance to draw in a new chaotic region.”

’I’m not planning on putting out another update announcement for drawing in this new region.’

’Frequent updates not only seem a bit fake, but the loss of Wax Oil is the real issue.’

’After all, things are different from the beginning. Back then, the players’ monster-killing efficiency was low, and sometimes I even had to subsidize them.’

’But now, these players are progressing at lightning speed, and their monster-killing efficiency is very high. Forcing players to log off for an update is a loss for me.’

That was why Luo Ge had simply included an explanation in the previous update announcement and no longer concealed the method for drawing in new areas.

”Drawing in a new chaotic region...” A thoughtful look flashed in Faraway’s eyes. He then asked, ”Can we watch?”

”As you wish. But don’t get too close, or you might be affected.”

Luo Ge appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly, he found it rather amusing.

’It seems Niuniu, that troublemaker, and his audacious behavior wasn’t entirely without its benefits.’

’Making an example of him was clearly effective.’

”Thank you.”

After expressing his thanks, Faraway quickly returned to the group of players. Following a brief discussion, he led them in following Luo Ge from a distance.

Soon, Luo Ge arrived at the Spirit Fire Port and once again touched the Traction Fire.

He hadn’t released any new player slots recently, so he had plenty of Wax Oil.

After consuming fifty Wax Oil, the Traction Fire flared to life and began its search.

[Searching for region...]

[Search complete. Three regions have been marked!]

[Region 1: Unknown Island (Requires 511 Wax Oil to draw in)]

[Region 2: Ruins of an Unknown Battlefield (Requires 1256 Wax Oil to draw in)]

[Region 3: Unknown Islands (Requires 914 Wax Oil to draw in)]

After reviewing the brief information provided by the Traction Fire, Luo Ge made his choice.

[Confirmed Region 1 to be drawn in: Unknown Island...]

[Consuming 511 Wax Oil. Now drawing in...]

The same immense spectacle, the same ethereal giant anchor!

Only this time, it didn’t sink toward the seabed. Instead, it shot out nearly parallel to the surface of the sea, extending rapidly toward the Dark Boundary!

DONG—

The next moment, the giant anchor suddenly pulled taut, the tremendous sound shaking one to the core.

With a hum, the surrounding space trembled, and the process was complete.

After the ethereal giant anchor vanished,

a section of the Dark Boundary was replaced by Gray Mist, signifying that players could now enter a brand-new, unknown region!

[Traction Successful!]

[Region Drawn-In: Unknown Island]

[Passage to this region has been constructed!]

[Note: The sea area surrounding this island can be unlocked by anchoring the island!]

’An island that comes with its own sea area?’

Luo Ge was somewhat surprised and began to ponder.

’It seems that chaotic regions like islands probably come with an associated sea area, just like the seas near Candle Island...’

Of course, he didn’t forget to send a mass announcement to the players.

[Attention! A new region has been unlocked and is open to all players!]

[To explore, please take a Spirit Fire Raft and head there on your own.]

The moment this announcement went out, the players following behind erupted into chaos.

”This cutscene is so well-made! The details are incredible...”

”Oh my god, so that black and white flame was for the Candlekeeper to use! No wonder nothing happened when we touched it...”

”The Candlekeeper just opened a new map for us directly? How awesome is that?”

”Didn’t you read the update announcement? This must be the change to how maps are opened that they mentioned. No more server downtime for updates, yay!”

”What’s that mean? We got a new map and new monsters?”

”Hey, hey, stop pushing, stop pushing! I’m gonna fall! Ahhhh!”

SPLASH!

The Spirit Fire Port was now packed with a crowd of gawking players. Amidst their heated discussions, some unlucky soul was shoved into the sea and was now flailing in the water.

Looking at the Gray Mist beneath the Dark Boundary, Luo Ge could keenly sense that the repulsive force there was even stronger than in the Near-Sea Cave.

’If I wanted to explore it like I did the Near-Sea Cave, I’d probably have to spend a lot more Wax Oil...’

’But the players don’t seem to be subject to this restriction.’

’As much as I’d like to lower the difficulty for the players, it seems that when it comes to exploring unknown regions, they’ll ultimately have to be the ones to take the lead...’

’In that case, I’ll have to change the way Milestone Spirit Candles are placed as well...’

Luo Ge withdrew his hand and turned to face the crowd of players.

”The new region is open. Pass through the Gray Mist, and you will arrive at a brand-new Unknown Island.”

”After you enter, the Will of the Spirit Candle will always be with you. It will guide you to light a milestone in a suitable location.”

”From here on, I’ll leave it to you...”

With that said, his figure vanished from the Spirit Fire Port, leaving behind a group of exceptionally excited players.