Chapter 116: The Quest for a Warhorse

Marcus’s blood was already boiling. Ambition burned fiercely in his chest, feeding an overwhelming desire to fight. He was determined to enter the Mist Veil Palace, to slaughter every monster that stood in his way, and to retrieve the Dragon’s Crest and the Dragon-Horse Lyre. This was more than a quest, it was a trial of his abilities, a chance to prove his skill, and a declaration of absolute confidence in himself.

What others could do, he could certainly do. What others could not do, he would still accomplish. He was built differently, a true outlier among players, someone who never measured himself by ordinary standards.

He had no interest in forming a Guild, dominating leaderboards for fame, bullying weaker players, or chasing the hollow title of “World’s Number One.” None of that mattered to him. What he sought was genuine strength, power earned through battle and refinement. He wanted to sharpen himself constantly, to grow without limits, until nothing in the game could stop him.

As a powerhouse, anyone foolish enough to challenge him in a Player Kill scenario would quickly learn the difference between confidence and delusion. They would find themselves unable to land a single hit, only to be crushed by a swift and merciless counterattack. Whether it was one opponent or a hundred, he would make them understand the true meaning of regret and personally escort them back to the respawn point.

Likewise, if Marcus chose to PK someone, that person was finished. If he decided they should die, they would not see another sunrise in the game. Numbers meant nothing to him. If someone crossed him or provoked his ire, they would pay for it dearly and never enjoy a peaceful life again.

He intended to live by his own rules, to savor the thrill of battle, and to settle grudges with decisive action, not hesitation.

A demonic genius, who obtained a demonic artifact before even reaching Level 30.

’Hmph.’

Marcus hoped to encounter that player inside the Mist Veil Palace. With both of them at Level 30, it would be the perfect stage for an earth-shaking clash. He wanted to see whether that so-called demonic genius was truly extraordinary, or whether he, the monstrously powerful Knight, would prove superior.

Speaking of demonic artifacts, the updates to Dominion had been coming at a relentless pace. Now even demonic artifacts had begun to surface. Just the name alone carried a sense of danger and temptation. If the opportunity presented itself, Marcus would not hesitate to cut down the demonic genius and claim the artifact for himself.

Any enemy had to be eliminated. Any valuable item had to be obtained.

As for the Wyvern Saint Knight Lyanna’s Divine Artifact, the Wyvern Flame Spear, and the Divine Beast, the Glacier Ice Dragon, they could wait for now. He would bring them back into the light in due time.

—

“Stonehaven, that is the situation,” Pegasus Knight Mare said solemnly. “You are ranked first on all Four Major Leaderboards, and your strength is undeniable. We have placed great hope in you. For the future of humanity, we ask that you enter the Mist Veil Palace and recover the Dragon’s Crest and the Dragon-Horse Lyre before the Demon Clan reaches them.”

A clear system notification followed immediately.

“Ding! Player Stonehaven, Pegasus Knight Mare, Commander of the Pegasus Knight Legion, has entrusted you with the Unique Hidden Quest: Dragon’s Crest. Proceed to the Mist Veil Palace to locate the Dragon’s Crest and the Dragon-Horse Lyre. Do you accept?”

“I accept.”

Marcus answered without the slightest hesitation. Once a decision was made, it should be carried out cleanly and efficiently. Hesitation was for the weak. A man of action moved forward without second thoughts.

“Ding! Congratulations to player Stonehaven for accepting the Unique Hidden Quest: Dragon’s Crest. You have received one Boundary Stone.”

Marcus immediately opened the quest interface and reviewed the details.

Dragon’s Crest: Unique Hidden Quest. Upon reaching Level 30, the player must carry a Boundary Stone and enter the Mist Veil Palace, which was sealed by the Wyvern Saint Knight Lyanna using the Boundary Stone Needle. The objective is to locate the long-lost Dragon’s Crest and the Dragon-Horse Lyre. Upon completion, the Dragon’s Crest will be automatically bound and awarded to Stonehaven. Additional rewards will be granted by Pegasus Knight Mare, including a Legendary Knight Skill Tome, a Temple-Class Equipment Blueprint, and special access to the Pegasus Knight Legion’s restricted armory.

’Not bad,’ Marcus thought.

The Dragon’s Crest alone was already an extraordinary reward, but the additional items made the quest even more worthwhile. He felt a quiet satisfaction as he closed the interface.

“Commander Mare,” Marcus asked, his gaze steady, “what are the specific abilities and powers of my final class, the Temple Knight?”

Understanding his future class was crucial. Only by knowing its strengths could he properly plan his development path. Marcus had never relied on luck alone. Preparation was the foundation of victory.

“I do not know the details. I only know that every thirty years, the three strongest Temple Guard Knights are permitted to advance into the Temple Knight class. However, no one has ever witnessed a true Temple Knight, nor has anyone ever seen one fight. As a result, all records regarding its abilities are incomplete or entirely absent.”

Pegasus Knight Mare shook his head helplessly, his expression one of quiet resignation, which disappointed Marcus slightly. There was no information at all regarding the future development of the Temple Knight class. Yet instead of frustration, this uncertainty stirred something else within Marcus, a sense of anticipation and an intense drive to reach that unknown, powerful peak.

If no one knew what lay ahead, then he would discover it himself.

That only made the journey more enjoyable.

“Stonehaven,” Pegasus Knight Mare said with urgency, “hurry and reach Level 30. Once you do, head to the Mist Veil Palace immediately and recover the Dragon’s Crest and the Dragon-Horse Lyre. Time is not on our side.”

It was obvious that Pegasus Knight Mare was growing anxious over Marcus’s unhurried attitude.

“I’m going,” Marcus replied calmly. “Commander Mare, where can I find the best herd of wild horses in Pegasus Citadel? I need to capture a proper warhorse.”

’Why the rush?’ Marcus thought. ’What is meant to be yours will be yours. What is not, no amount of impatience will change that.’

Since no one had managed to locate the Dragon’s Crest or the Dragon-Horse Lyre in nearly a thousand years, Marcus saw no reason to panic over a short delay. Before entering a place like the Mist Veil Palace, he needed to solve a far more pressing issue.

He needed a horse worthy of him.

Nobody had found those relics in centuries; a few more hours wouldn’t change anything. But riding this sad Common Steed? That was an immediate problem. It lacked any style, any presence. How was he supposed to look like a top player like this? More importantly, he could not let his little sister Amber find out he’d been riding this nag. The teasing would never end.

“North of Pegasus Citadel lies a place called Star Lake,” Pegasus Knight Mare said. “It is where horses gather, and Pegasi often play there. However, Star Lake is a strange place. You might stumble upon it with ease, or you might never find it no matter how hard you search. Even if you mark its location, you may not be able to return to it by following those markers.”

“Something like that exists?” Marcus frowned. “Why?”

“Why?” Pegasus Knight Mare echoed, then sighed. “No one knows. I have lived in Pegasus Citadel for nearly fifty years and searched for Star Lake more than a hundred times. With luck, I have only entered it three times. My own red, gold-backed Flame Steed was captured there.”

As he spoke, Pegasus Knight Mare’s face lit up with pride. To him, that achievement remained one of the greatest moments of his life.

“I see. Thank you,” Marcus said. “I’ll go level up now.”

“Go,” Pegasus Knight Mare replied. “We’re all counting on you, Stonehaven.”

He watched Marcus’s retreating figure until it disappeared from sight, then silently prayed to the Goddess of Dreams. Several top-ranked players from previous eras had entered the Mist Veil Palace, and none had ever returned. He hoped that Stonehaven would be the one to break this long-standing curse and complete the super-quest known as the lowest-level yet most elusive challenge on the Dreamland Continent.

—

Marcus sorted through his inventory, restocked his supplies, and departed Pegasus Citadel, heading north toward the rumored location of Star Lake.

The longer he looked at his Common Steed, the more irritated he became. It offended his eyes. In a moment of pure disgust, he dismounted and left it behind without a second glance. Running on his own felt far more dignified.

After traveling for half an hour, he finally spotted groups of wild horses wandering freely across the grasslands. He activated Insight on one of them.

Wild Steed: Level 30

Health: 2200

A wild horse native to the Atlan Plains, the lowest-grade wild horse in the region.

Skills:

Whinny: Active skill. Summons nearby Wild Steeds to attack enemies.

Hoof Stomp: Active skill. Uses fore or hind hooves to deal heavy damage.

’Good,’ Marcus thought. Time to get to work.

Having already gained experience fighting Level 30 monsters in the Stone Carving Forest, and fully aware of his own overwhelming strength, Marcus felt no fear at all toward these Wild Steeds. He summoned his Shadow-Stained Gryphon King, activated every buff at his disposal, and gripped his Skeleton Blade firmly. Together, he and his Gryphon charged straight into the herd, cutting a path forward as he continued heading north.

These Wild Steeds were nothing more than trash-tier mounts, the lowest grade found on the Atlan Plains. Marcus had no interest in them whatsoever and dismissed them entirely.

He was searching for a superior warhorse.

Sometimes, ambition was not a flaw. Sometimes, it was necessary to reject anything less than perfection.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep