Prologue: The Legend Comes to an End

  Dark clouds shroud the sky, and the dimly lit ground is a scene of utter devastation. The spiral staircase, blood-stained corpses, helmets, weapons, everything is in such disarray, desolation, with an air of death and danger.

  Rod took a deep breath, but he couldn't feel the chill and blood in the air, after all, it was just a game. Thinking of this, Rod sighed and shook his head, then turned around to look at his comrades sitting on the ground not far away, quietly resting and recovering their strength, repairing their weapons. On the surface, everything seemed normal, but Rod knew that this battle would not be as easy as before.

  "How many people stayed behind."

  He asked in a low voice.

  When they heard this question, everyone looked at each other, and then a thin monk stood up.

  "Ninety-six, Team Leader, Void Dragon. This instance is more dangerous than we thought, many brothers have fallen in the previous traps, fortunately, our profession is still intact."

  "That's good."

  At this point, Luo De nodded and didn't say anything else, while others also fell silent.

  If it were an ordinary team, they would have lost their morale and started to panic by now. After all, they are about to face the strongest, most fearsome, and never-conquered elite BOSS in the game - Void Dragon, the final BOSS of the third chapter of the online game "Dragon Soul Continent". An ordinary guild would need to organize at least ten teams to dare challenge it, but now, Rode's subordinates only have ninety-six people, not even enough to form a complete team. However, despite this, there is no sign of panic or loss in their eyes, only calmness, confidence, and trust.

  And the person they trusted so much was standing on the stairs not far in front of them, looking up at the sky with a resolute face like a stubborn stone, and a cold scar from his eyebrows gave people a shocking feeling. The armor covered with magical light was covering that majestic body, as if an eternal wall that would never collapse.

  Of course, they didn't trust the man in front of them because of his majestic appearance. No matter how strong he looked, it was just a game character design after all. The scar above his eyebrow couldn't be used to tell any painful past memories, it was just an accessory for the game's facial settings.

  What is truly intimidating is the countless halos and achievements behind this man.

  The first professional player to reach the top level.

  The first player to reach the pinnacle with the profession recognized as the most difficult, Summoner.

  Since the opening of the first chapter "Darkness Descends" in Long Soul Continent, he led the guild and relied on his own abilities, as well as his terrifying familiarity with all occupations, sweeping through three consecutive seasons, taking down all BOSS first kills. Every time a video of him playing a dungeon is released, it gets re-posted by countless players, revered as a teaching scripture, the leader of the number one player guild in Long Soul Continent - Luo De.

  He once personally eradicated the "Darkness Descended", initiated the "Turbulent Years", and then conquered the "Turbulent Years" again, arriving at the "Void Judgment". And now, he will once again use his own hands to end this "Void Judgment", but a new era will no longer be opened by himself.

  How many years has it been?

  Roder withdrew his gaze from the distant sea of clouds where the Thunder Snake was shining and asked himself inwardly.

  It has been seven years since my sister passed away and I entered the Dragon Soul Continent. In these seven years, in order to force myself to forget the painful past, I set almost impossible goals for myself again and again, and then achieved them one by one. Only the great excitement and glory brought about at that time can dilute the lingering pain deep in my heart.

  But it can only go this far.

  A month ago, Rod's parents went on a business trip abroad and were killed in a plane crash due to a hurricane. Rod can no longer recall his emotions when he first received the call with the news, but now he has made up his mind. He will leave this game and return to real life, not just for his parents, but also because Rod is clear that he needs to make changes now.

  "Hello, is that the president?"

  A timid voice rose, interrupting Rode's reminiscence. He looked up to see a female mage in the crowd hesitantly raise her hand, her eyes shining brightly as she gazed at him.

  "You, you're really leaving?"

  "Yes."

  Rod nodded, then gathered his complex emotions and shook his head. He looked again at the companions following him, memories and gains from seven years of struggling together, friends gained in seven years of fighting side by side. But now, he would have to leave them behind. Although in the game, even with just a gesture, they could understand what each other wanted to do. However, when taking off the gaming helmet and returning to reality, it was likely that they wouldn't be able to recognize each other again.

  "My job application resume was sent out yesterday, hoping to find a company that will accept me."

  "If I receive your resume, I will directly arrange for you to be a department manager, don't worry!"

  A knight swung his large sword in hand, and his words also stirred up the originally somewhat dull atmosphere, and everyone burst out laughing.

  "Thank you for your kindness, but unfortunately I didn't write these in my resume. You see, our guild has many enemies, and if someone from another guild were to receive this, my days would be numbered."

  Luo De also smiled and opened his mouth to answer, then he coughed and became serious.

  "I think everyone knows how we've been living these years."

  Everyone who was laughing just now closed their mouths and quietly began to listen to what he had to say.

  "We also know that on the forums, online, there are many people accusing us, saying we've ruined the game's balance, monopolized all the BOSS first kills, and made competition meaningless... Honestly, I think none of these are wrong, but..."

  At this point, Luo De suddenly clenched his fist and swung it with force.

  "But what does that have to do with us! We are the strongest guild, we are the strongest team! We have this strength! So we will go and fight for it! Other guilds not being strong enough and losing is their own problem. If they were strong enough, they can break our monopoly on BOSS first kills. Our dominance over BOSS first kills wasn't achieved through rules, status or flattering the game company, but through our own strength! We never give up, we never admit defeat, and we never slack off. That's why we have our current achievements and everything else. It's what we deserve, it's that simple."

  Rod paused for a moment before continuing.

  "I love this guild, and I also miss the seven years spent with everyone. However, there is no feast that does not disperse, and I should go find my own life. But I will never forget everyone, nor will I forget the guild. This place holds my most painful memories, as well as my happiest ones. I will always remember it here."

  As he spoke, Rod pointed at his own head.

  "Many people say that without me, the guild will fall apart. I think many guilds have already heard this news and are waiting for me to leave so they can come after us with knives sharpened, trying to break our record. But this is underestimating us too much. Dragon Soul is not a game that relies on just one person. I alone cannot establish a guild, nor can I organize a team or take down bosses to get the first kill. So after I leave, I hope you all can show those who are plotting against us why our guild is so strong and what the true strength of Starlight is that allows us to occupy the number one spot in the Dragon Soul continent's guild rankings!"

  "Yes!"

  "No problem, it will grow!"

  "Hand it over to us, and by then we will give that group of idiots a perfect reply!"

  "Alright."

  Rod nodded at the crowd's response and then turned to the right side of the crowd.

  Old Liu.

  At Rod's call, the tall and thin mage walked out of the crowd and came to his side. Rod gazed at the mage in front of him, silent for a moment, then reached out and took off the badge on his chest and placed it in his hand.

  [System Announcement: Guild President Position Transfer, Team Leader Position Transfer]

  "The era from now on is yours."

  Luo De let go of his hand, his voice was extremely calm, without any change at all.

  "So, this battle is left for you to command."

  "Alright, no problem, Rod."

  The monk nodded, but soon he spoke again.

  "As the Guild Master and as your Captain, I order you to lead the team."

  "Old Liu?"

  Upon hearing this response, Rod's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. Meanwhile, the tall and slender mage facing him smiled lightly and patted Rod on the shoulder.

  "This era was opened by you and will come to an end with you, Luo De. This is the way of being human."

  “………”

  At the sound of this, Rode fell silent. He raised his head and looked towards his companions who were not far away from him. At that moment, they had already prepared themselves and were waiting for their orders as usual. Rode gripped his sword tightly, then turned around to face the high platform in front of him, where thunder was raging and flashing out bright lights.

  Then, Luo De raised his long sword and pointed it forward. He had a very ordinary beginning, so let's have an equally ordinary ending.

  "It's open!!"

  The Dragon of Void is indeed invincible.

  Rode has fought almost all the top BOSS in Long Soul Continent, even including other Long Soul existences in the setting, but none of them are as troublesome as the Void Dragon in front of him. Its attack mode is more complex and almost without rules. Its damage is several times higher than that of ordinary BOSS, not to mention speed, reaction, and even defense, all of which have a super first-class standard.

  This is indeed an opponent who is difficult to conquer.

  Rod grasped the long sword tightly, biting his teeth and staring intently at the massive object in front of him. The battle had reached its final stage, and he was the only survivor. However, despite this, Rod's blood volume had already been depleted to almost nothing, and the piercing red color reminded him that his vitality had reached its limit.

  Isn't the Dragon in Space also like this?

  Looking at the other's blood-red, anger-filled dragon eyes, Rode suddenly had a very strange feeling, as if he could empathize with the Void Dragon's mood - as the strongest in the game, never conquered before BOSS, now actually fell into such a precarious situation, it must be uncomfortable.

  Then let me accompany you on your way.

  Thinking of this, Luo De raised his left hand.

  With a clear cry, Rod's sword suddenly burst into flames, swirling and transforming into a flying firebird that soared towards the Void Dragon in front of him. The Void Dragon let out a roar of anger, raised its forepaw high, and struck down fiercely.

  “！！！”

  Roth felt his body violently shake, a powerful force rushing towards him. The flamingo let out a mournful cry before immediately dispersing into nothingness, but the intense explosion also caused the Void Dragon's originally descending sharp claws to not fully succeed, instead being forcefully shaken open.

  For a moment, the door was wide open.

  Roth gritted his teeth, the bright red in front of him becoming even more dazzling, indicating that the damage he had suffered had reached a critical point. However, this was no longer within his consideration at this moment. This was the last chance, either succeed or perish together. He raised the long sword in his hand and stabbed forward, but the Void Dragon had also recovered its strength by now. It let out a roar and swung its sharp claws downward with force once again, while at the same time, Roth also threw out the long sword in his hand.

  Lightning strike, start.

  The long sword transformed into a dazzling light that shot straight at the giant dragon's chest, Rod focused intently on it, watching as the lightning-mixed light burst out from the gaps between the Void Dragon's sharp claws and then easily tore through the scales on the giant dragon's body.

  “———！！！”

  A deafening dragon's roar suddenly erupted, followed by a massive dragon claw heavily slapping onto Rode's body.

  The bright red in front of him almost enveloped the entire world, and Rhode could no longer see the scene in front of him clearly. However, the system prompt that emerged from the corner was still as clear as ever.

  Congratulations to Xing Guang Guild for obtaining the first kill of Void Dragon, an eternal evil has been eliminated.

  [Character has taken too much damage and is about to die.]

  It's finally over.

  Gazing at this line of system prompts, Rode revealed a hint of a relieved smile.

  Just then, a bright beam of light suddenly descended from the sky and enveloped the high platform.

  A pure white light illuminated the originally dark sky in that instant, dispersing the dark clouds that had lingered.

  Just then, the others who were reviving from the graveyard and rushing to the high platform suddenly stopped in their tracks. The world channel, which had been buzzing with excitement over Starlight Guild's first kill record, also fell silent all of a sudden.

  At that time, there was only one piece of information left on it, which was a system announcement.

  [System Announcement: Player Luo De has gone offline]

  A legend that dominated three gaming eras has come to an end.