The icy air grew heavier as the massive doors of the chamber slowly parted, their frost-encrusted hinges groaning in protest. Velkharion stepped forward, the Frost Sigil in his grasp glowing brightly as the magic of the dungeon pulsed in rhythm with his every step. Beyond the threshold lay a cavernous chamber, its icy floor shimmering with crystalline reflections of the flickering runes along the walls.
At the center of the chamber stood Vrothael, the Icebound Sentinel, its towering frame radiating an aura of absolute cold. The emissary of Kryntar remained motionless, its massive glaive embedded in the frozen ground as if marking its domain. The very air around Vrothael seemed to warp, frost forming intricate patterns with every slight movement of the glaive.
Velkharion tightened his grip on Crimson Fang, his fiery eyes narrowing as the Frost Sigil pulsed more violently, responding to the overwhelming presence of the Sentinel. He could feel the tension in the air, a palpable warning that he had crossed into forbidden territory.
Vrothael's head tilted slightly, its glowing eyes locking onto Velkharion as the Frost Sigil's energy seemed to agitate the ancient being. For a moment, the chamber was silent, save for the faint hum of magic emanating from the Sentinel's armor. Then, a voice boomed through the chamber, cold and resonant, carrying the weight of Kryntar's will.
"You, who bear the mark of the gods, tread where none are permitted," Vrothael intoned, its voice like the grinding of glaciers. "The Eternal Blizzard slumbers no longer… but you will not awaken it."
Velkharion's smirk widened slightly, his horns flickering with fiery energy. "Guess you noticed me," he said. "I'm not big on asking for permission."
The Sentinel's glaive cracked with frost as it slowly withdrew the weapon from the ground, the temperature in the chamber dropping even further. Frost formed along Velkharion's boots and armor, creeping upward as if to ensnare him where he stood.
Before Velkharion could make another move, his HUD flashed with a system-wide announcement, the text dominating his vision as a server-wide notification rang out:
[World Event Triggered: Vrothael, the Icebound Sentinel, Has Awakened!]
- All Monsters Across Nephilheim Receive a 30% Buff to Stats.
- Condition: Buff Active Until Vrothael Is Defeated.
The immediate fallout rippled across the server. Players across Nephilheim—and even those in nearby realms—found themselves overwhelmed by the sudden surge in monster strength. Reports of mobs decimating entire parties and raid bosses wiping out high-level adventurers in minutes began flooding the forums.
[World Chat]:
[FrostFang]: It's official. Velkharion is the server's biggest menace. Why does this keep happening every time he logs in?"
[AzureBlitz]: I was running a routine dungeon, and now even the trash mobs are killing us. Velkharion, what did you DO?!
[IronAsh]: Someone take his Frost Sigil away before he burns the whole server down again."
The forums were equally ablaze with discussions, many of them blaming Velkharion for the chaos:
- "How does this guy trigger a server-wide event every time?"
- "He's like a walking catastrophe. The devs should honestly patch him out."
- "But seriously, has anyone else noticed how every major event is linked to him? It's almost impressive."
Amidst the flood of complaints, a few players defended Velkharion, their posts pointing out that his antics often led to unique and challenging events that kept the game exciting.
Velkharion's inbox was bombarded with messages from friends, allies, and rivals, each one reacting to the chaos in their own way. The sheer volume of notifications was enough to make his interface sluggish, forcing him to skim through the deluge.
[Caelthas]: What's going on? Nephilheim's mobs are unhinged. You'd better have a plan for this, Velkharion."
[Reyna]: Velkharion, I swear—if you've triggered another global disaster, I'm disowning you."
[Touch Me]: Looks like you've stirred up another storm. Let me know if you need backup—I've got some free time."
Velkharion chuckled as he scrolled through the messages, dismissing them with a wave of his hand. Offers of help were appreciated, but this was his challenge. The Sentinel had noticed him, not anyone else.
The weight of the server's attention didn't faze Velkharion. Complaints, accusations, and chaos were familiar companions on his journey. He knew his reputation—troublemaker, instigator, the one player who always stirred up the unexpected. And while many resented him for it, Velkharion thrived in the chaos. To him, this was what Yggdrasil Online was about: pushing the boundaries of the game, unraveling its mysteries, and taking on challenges that others feared.
"Guess I've got a gift for making things interesting," Velkharion muttered, his smirk widening. "Let's see how far I can take it."
The Frost Sigil pulsed one final time before dimming, its energy stabilizing as the runes along the chamber walls flickered ominously. Vrothael raised its glaive, the frost-enchanted weapon crackling with energy as the Sentinel prepared for battle.
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