Chapter 443: Black Myth: The Tree Demon Matriarch
Orochimaru showed a hint of surprise. He had also visited that ruined town, yet hadn't sensed the presence of any boss-level aura.
Though he disliked Orochimaru, Akainu understood that since they had entered a partnership, some information could no longer be concealed. With a stern expression, he explained, "You may have killed the Blackwind Mountain Bandit, a pseudo-boss corrupted by third-floor [Centipede Immortal] black blood, but that hardly qualifies as a true boss."
There was a subtle disdain in his tone, as if to say—don't get too full of yourself for that kill.
Orochimaru asked curiously, "So what's the difference?"
"A true boss doesn't just wander aimlessly through the black mist wastelands. They each have a domain of their own."
Akainu sneered, "And like emperors, they're surrounded by legions of dark creatures. Unless the boss is killed, those guards will continuously respawn and attack until they completely wear you down."
Orochimaru furrowed his brow but said nothing.
This boss battle format, though difficult, wasn't new. Bosses like Salina the Wandering Reaper and the Vampire Baron had also been territorial, emperor-type bosses.
But judging from Akainu's tone, there was more he hadn't yet shared.
"The most unique thing about Black Myth bosses is that at the center of their territory isn't the boss itself, but a teleportation gate!"
Akainu's expression grew solemn, but instead of continuing, he pulled out a contract.
Team Contract (Tier 2).
Any violation of the contract would trigger severe backlash. The backlash could destroy Orochimaru's body and soul—at best leaving him dying, at worst killing him outright.
The remaining intelligence had cost the Navy Alliance the lives of over a dozen scout players.
Of those, four returned after clearing a Yomi Quest. The rest were still stuck on the Road to Yomi, while two were confirmed dead.
The cost to train a scout was no less than a combat player—often more.
Akainu was only obligated to share further information if Orochimaru signed the team contract.
"The Navy Alliance can rest assured. I never go back on my word."
Orochimaru smiled as he sliced his finger open, letting blood drip onto the contract.
A barely visible thread of contract power wound around his body. Normally, it posed no issue, but if he ever broke the contract's terms, the backlash would be immediate and brutal.
This contract power originated from the Samsara Game's rules—or perhaps more accurately, from the rules set by the game merchant, Fang Yi.
Even if Orochimaru advanced to [Tier 3], he still wouldn't be able to shake it off. He'd have to take the backlash head-on.
Unless, of course, a player could surpass the game merchant himself.
Was that even possible?
Though the game merchant had never limited players' growth and even helped them at times, it only served to make players more aware of the massive power gap between themselves and Fang Yi.
"Hmph. I still trust contracts more."
Akainu cursed inwardly. Did this guy really think the Navy Intelligence Division was soft?
A little digging into Orochimaru's history revealed a notorious resume: first allying with Sunagakure, only to assassinate them later; then manipulating conflict between Konoha and the Daimyo; framing Hiruzen Sarutobi to seize power, then murdering the Daimyo.
The very definition of a backstabbing, two-faced scoundrel.
If he existed in the pirate world, he'd be the vilest and most despicable pirate alive.
Still, since Orochimaru was willing to sign the contract, Akainu saw no reason to air his dirty laundry and risk souring their newly formed alliance.
After all, they were about to launch an assault on a newly discovered dark-gold-tier boss.
Orochimaru asked, "Now can you tell me? I've been looking forward to this."
"The Navy scouts who forced their way into the teleportation gate were transported to a unique space."
Akainu frowned, recalling the reports from the revived scouts.
They hadn't had the power to break through the boss's territory by force.
Their entry into the gate had only been possible thanks to stealth skills and high agility. Several scouts sacrificed themselves to distract the dark monsters while the rest slipped through.
"The unique space turned out to be a fragment of a time-space river."
"At first, the scouts thought they'd been sent to an ancient world, but after about three days, the entire Guobei County became corrupted by dark forces."
"Innocent, non-hostile civilians transformed overnight into the Fallen, vengeful ghosts, demon monks…"
"According to multiple waves of scout reports, the source of the corruption is located outside Guobei County, in a ruined temple—Lanruo Temple. The one behind it all is a terrifying Tree Demon Matriarch."
Even Akainu seemed wary as he said, "Preliminary assessment: Tier 2, dark-gold-level monster."
Orochimaru raised a brow.
Dark-gold?
The Abyssal Evil God who nearly destroyed the ninja world had only been dark-gold-level. It had taken nearly every top-tier player from the ninja world—and reinforcements from the pirate world—to barely bring it down.
And now this Tree Demon Matriarch was apparently on the same level.
No wonder the Navy Alliance wanted to team up.
No wonder they were willing to offer part of the boss's loot to outsiders.
Against a dark entity like this Tree Demon Matriarch, even if Orochimaru and the Navy Alliance's top players combined forces, the odds of victory were still slim.
If the raid failed…
Dead players would be stuck on the Road to Yomi, unable to act for a while.
But even if the Navy Alliance lost their top players, they still had a huge pool of mid-level players who could seize the opportunity to take full control of the Tower of Death's first floor.
Clever planning. Ruthless tactics.
The Navy's strategist corps was impressive. If the raid succeeded, they'd collect high-level loot from the boss and boost their top players' power.
If it failed, they'd still gain strategic advantages.
Two birds with one stone—they had nothing to lose.
Not that Orochimaru minded. The Fire Empire he had built was as secure as a fortress. Even if he vanished for a while, the Navy Alliance would pay dearly to invade—at most they'd only be able to nibble at the edges of the map.
Such losses were within his tolerance.
Orochimaru grinned. "Let's go then. To the Tree Demon Matriarch's domain. I'm just a hired mercenary here, so the Navy Alliance can cover the cost of the Giant Totem, right?"
"Hold on. We're not all here yet."
After reporting their successful cooperation back to the Navy Alliance, three beams of teleportation light flared a short time later.
"You're moving out already? I wanted to have a fight with Whitebeard first. The old man actually said my iron fists weren't as good as his rusty sword…"
Garp scratched his head, laughing loudly.
His muscles were like forged steel, every contour sharply defined. His entire body looked like it had been hammered into shape by the gods. Each step he took made the ground seem like it might crack beneath him.
He eyed Orochimaru with curiosity. "So you're Orochimaru, the so-called strongest player in the Samsara Game. Just like Tsuru said, you don't look very likable."
Necromancy, curses, serpent arts…
All were dark-aligned abilities. A player who used just one would gradually begin to radiate a dark aura.
Orochimaru, who used all three, was a walking embodiment of the dark path—a true [Necromantic Serpent Master].
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