Game of the World Tree

Gazing at the fearsome creature bowing its head toward the temple, a ripple of excitement spread among the players.

“Oh shit, What the—that’s a huge dragon!”

“Its size…must be at the very least two hundred meters, right?! Damn, it’s definitely bigger than Godzilla!”

“A golden dragon! It’s a freakin’ huge golden dragon!”

“What a terrifying aura… just its presence alone made me remember the same dread I felt when we faced that Demon Lord back in the Underground War!”

“But…it looks so magnificent!”

The players in the vicinity buzzed with excitement as they flooded the game’s forum with screenshots, one after another, each capturing the dragon’s arrival.

In fact, if it weren’t for the golden dragon’s overwhelming aura, which prevented anyone from approaching it, some players might have already rushed over to brazenly ask the other party for a photo op.

Then, as they stood there, the dragon’s deep voice, laced with respect, resonated through the air.

The players paused and exchanged glances.

“It called itself Alexius, the Crimson Gold Blade?”

“What a domineering sounding name…”

“Huh, it seems like this dragon wants to see the goddess, Eve. Is this the start of some storyline event?!”

“Another dragon! Guys, do you think there’s a chance for us to get it as a familiar?”

As the crowd murmured in excited tones, eyes widening as they took in the dragon’s magnificent form. Curiosity sparked within the players expressions, illuminating their faces with awe.

Feeling the countless gazes directed at him and noticing that some of those gazes held both curiosity and greed, Alexius furrowed his brow slightly.

For a brief moment, he felt the urge to cast [Detect Evil] upon these people.

However, upon noting their elven identities and casting a glance at the Temple of Life radiating a gentle, soothing energy in front of him, Alexius suppressed the impulse.

In the aftermath of the golden dragon’s dramatic arrival, the crowd of players and native elves around the city square grew larger and larger.

The commotion even got to a point that it finally drew the attention of Samuel, the Silver-rank Priest responsible for the operations of the temple in Florence, who immediately rushed to the scene.

Then, as the elder elf stood rooted in place, his gaze fixated on the dragon’s majestic form after recalling the deep, ancient voice he had just heard, a spark of recognition dawned within his eyes:

“Alexius? Could it be the legendary golden dragon who venerates justice and has repeatedly fought against evil gods many times in the past? The same mythical dragon Alexius who possesses the strength of a demigod?”

A demigod dragon?

Players standing close to the elder elf who somehow overheard his murmurs were surprised yet also felt that it was expected.

After all, only a demigod could exert such an oppressive aura…

After recognizing the golden dragon’s true identity, Samuel’s expression turned solemn.

As an elf who revered kindness and peace, he held great respect for morally just beings like the golden dragon Alexius.

Turning to the players around him, he instructed, “Quickly, go inform Lady Alice.”

After properly adjusting his attire, Samuel stepped out from the interior of the temple.

Then, after directly meeting the dragon’s slightly curious gaze, Samuel slowly approached, whilst tracing a symbol of the Scepter upon his chest before respectfully speaking:

“I, Samuel, the Silver-rank Priest who oversees this temple, humbly offer my respects to Lord Alexius. May I inquire what brings you here, my lord?”

Generally speaking, a demigod can also be addressed as “Your Majesty” or “Your Excellency,” but in order to distinguish them from a True God, it is more common to refer to them simply as Lord.

“Silver-rank Priest?”

Samuel noticed a flicker of surprise cross the golden dragon’s face as its vertical slit pupils focused on him.

After the dragon raised its head, the elderly elf felt the weight of Alexius’s gaze as the dragon looked down at him before responding in a deep voice:

“I am here to fulfill the covenant between His Excellency Reinhardt and Her Grace the Goddess of Life.”

Immediately right after the dragon spoke, Alexius extended one of his massive claws.

Then, in a flash of light, five enormous eggs, each as large as a calf and dulled in color, appeared on the ground.

Dragon eggs?

Samuel’s eyes widened.

A Covenant?

At the side, the onlooking players watched in a mix of confusion and surprise before a new system message suddenly flashed across their view:

【❗ 】

【A new opening cinematic movie has been detected. Would you like to watch it now? 】

A new opening cinematic?

Excitement flared in the players’ eyes as each one of them quickly chose the option to watch it right there on the spot.

Then, as they pressed the button, their visual screens dimmed, as it gradually transitioned into the new cinematic sequence.

The start of the sequence revealed a tall, elegant looking elven man talking to a stunning maiden with silver hair and violet eyes.

While the man was unfamiliar to the players, the maiden, on the other hand, was instantly recognizable to everyone, as she was by far the most popular NPC character across the entire server—Eve, their faction leader and the very goddess herself to whom all players swore loyalty into.

Whoa!

A new cinematic sequence included the goddess herself!

Excitement sparked within each player’s heart as many instinctively began taking screenshots, since any scene with the goddess was noteworthy material that could potentially be made into a wallpaper.

As the cinematic sequence gradually unfolded, the players watched with a mix of curiosity, thrill, and eagerness.

The screen shifted again, and the conversation between the elven man and the beautiful maiden resonated in their ears.

“Your Grace, Eve, Indeed, I am Reinhardt, the Platinum Dragon King. Would you consider making a deal with me?”

The elven man smiled as he spoke.

“A deal?”

The silver-haired, violet-eyed maiden raised a brow, a blend of grace and playful charm within her expression.

“A Covenant…”

Reinhardt replied.

“Specifically, each month, the dragons will either send five dragon beasts or wyverns, or bring five dragon eggs stripped of their markings. Please help purify their bloodlines…”

“And in return, I pledge that these purified dragons may stay here with you, and be able to forge bonds with your Chosen Ones and grow alongside them…”

At his words, the silver-haired maiden smiled softly as though the entire world lost its color, paling in comparison.

“I accept this Covenant.”

the goddess, Evé said.

“Well, here’s to a fruitful cooperation…”

The scene progressed forward, ending with the elven man transforming into a magnificent silver dragon before soaring off into the distance…

Then in the end, these two lines of gleaming golden text appeared before each players eyes:

“—Dragon God’s Visit, Divine Covenant.”

“Dragon Companions, Now Officially Available!”

With that, the new cinematic sequence came to an end.

Simultaneously, each players visual perception quickly returned to the game world, and after a brief second of silence, the entire city square of Florence erupted in sheer excitement:

“Whoa! What in the feakin’ hell!”

“Dragon companions?!”

“Are the devs finally allowing us to have dragon familiars?!”

“Hahaha! I’ve been waiting for this day to finally arrive!”

“Aahhh! Dragon knight! I am so going to be a dragon knight!”

Watching the players, who had been silent for a moment, suddenly erupt into strange excitement, the golden dragon Alexius looked on in utter confusion.

What was with these elves?

He glanced at them curiously, feeling a bit bewildered.

But just then, something stirred within him, and he abruptly turned his head back to the temple.

In the next instant, a sacred hymn echoed through the air, holy and ethereal, carrying a profound sense of peace that enveloped everyone present.

As the hymn rang out, countless green particles began to rise around them, dancing in the air like tiny fireflies. The nearby plants also reacted to it, growing rapidly as if infused with life itself. Leaves unfurled in vibrant shades of green, and blossoms burst forth in a riot of color, filling the surroundings with a sweet fragrance that wafted through the square.

Then, all the plants in Florence bent their branches, bowing toward the top of the temple as if in worship, whilst a golden light started to gather above the temple.

At that moment, a powerful, awe-inspiring presence descended from above, enveloping the entirerity of temple’s premises in a shimmering holy glow.

This radiant holy light took form midair, gradually shaping into a graceful figure that remained faintly visible, emanating an aura of both majesty and unapproachable sanctity, yet also inspiring a profound reverence and awe.

The incorporeal divine figure in the sky was seemingly wearing a lavish gown adorned with patterns of nature and life, along with her silver hair cascading all the way down to her waist, and her deep, starlit amethyst eyes sparkled with a brilliant radiance…

It was the Goddess of Life, Eve.

The True God…

—has finally arrived.

— 440 —

【 THE TRUE GODFINALLY ARRIVES 】

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