Chapter Thirteen: The Strength of the Wolf-Headed Man

“Welcome, everyone, to the castle of the great Archduke of the Affesoya Bloodline!”

Before anyone could make sense of what was happening, the wolf-headed man began his introduction.

“Sinners that you are, the great Archduke Affesoya takes pity on you. He cannot bear for you to become mere blood sustenance, so show your worth and delight the Archduke. Only by doing so might you earn your freedom—or perhaps, if you are truly favored, be granted the Archduke’s Embrace and join the Bloodline!”

Arrogance filled his voice, disdain dripping from every word. The group noticed that behind the wolf-headed man stood a throne, upon which sat a figure draped in lavish crimson robes. The distance obscured the figure’s face.

From the wolf-headed man’s words alone, they understood they were now within a Bloodline Archduke’s castle. The Bloodline, in any world, represented an overwhelming power.

Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron—the five noble ranks. The title of Duke stood at the very apex. Those who understood this hierarchy fell immediately into despair; such a being was far beyond their power to oppose.

[You have entered a hidden location: The Castle of Archduke Affesoya. Side quest triggered!]

[Quest One: Please Archduke Affesoya by any means necessary. Reward unknown.]

[Quest Two: Escape from Archduke Affesoya’s castle. Reward unknown. Failure will result in receiving the Archduke’s Embrace and becoming Bloodline!]

Both quests appeared simultaneously in everyone’s quest logs. They exchanged uncertain glances, completely at a loss.

“Please him?”

The red-haired woman thrust out her chest, arms crossed, a cold smirk playing on her lips.

“How amusing.”

“A hidden map?”

Mu Rongxun pondered, feeling as if he were playing a fully immersive game, stumbling into a hidden map and secret quests. Yet as a newcomer, he had little intuition for what this all truly meant. He knew that a Bloodline Duke was formidable, but not to what extent. The despair in the faces around him, however, offered a clue.

“A Bloodline Archduke? Are you kidding? People of our rank would never even come into contact with such a figure.”

Someone voiced a trembling doubt.

Having spent considerable time in the Mage Tower, they had learned something of the general power hierarchy of various races across many worlds. A Bloodline Archduke was at least equivalent to a fifth-tier player—utterly beyond comparison for those not even at the first tier. Even in this war-torn world, where the overall power level was higher, the gap was insurmountable.

“To show disrespect to the great Archduke Affesoya is death!”

The wolf-headed man’s tone suddenly turned icy. Without so much as a gesture, the questioning player’s head erupted like a melon, showering the area with red and white fluids. Those standing too near were splattered as well.

Qiqige was among those unfortunate enough to be caught in it. Covered in the stench, he was close to tears.

Witnessing this, everyone fell immediately silent—no one dared speak a word of dissent. The Archduke’s power aside, even this wolf-headed man was unfathomable.

The group found themselves in a vast arena, but any attempt to strategize descended quickly into chaos.

“If you cannot decide among yourselves, then I shall do it for you,” the wolf-headed man announced abruptly. “My master enjoys gladiatorial combat. As you all possess extraordinary abilities, you will perform for his amusement!”

“Esteemed sir, surely a duel requires an opponent? Many of us are support specialists—perhaps another challenge would be more fitting? May I ask, from which layer of the Abyss does your illustrious Archduke hail?”

Nightshade raised his head to address the wolf-headed man.

“So, there are clever ones among you,” the wolf-headed man said with a soft chuckle. “My master is not of the Abyss, nor does he belong to this world. He is but a passerby. You have merely happened to cross his path. It is both your misfortune and your fortune.”

Some did not understand the meaning behind these words, but those who had long survived the Mage Tower recognized it at once, their faces twisting in sudden realization.

“Enough complaints. Good luck, players. Should you please my master, you will reap unimaginable rewards.”

With that, the wolf-headed man stepped back and vanished from view. A crimson light then enveloped the corpse of the unfortunate player, and both disappeared without a trace.

“So, what now?” the red-haired woman asked Nightshade.

She knew who he was—renowned for his mastery of psychic control and puppetry, a figure of some note in the Mage Tower’s novice district. She had taken notice of him as soon as he introduced himself.

“We cannot yet know what awaits us,” Nightshade replied, adjusting his glasses with scholarly poise and his usual gentle tone. “But I believe we must unite and work in sincere cooperation. One person’s strength will not suffice here, especially as so many among us are support specialists. We must help one another.”

Several nodded in agreement. The red-haired woman also nodded, though her expression remained unreadable.

Small groups began to gather, quietly discussing their next moves. Originally, knowing they would enter a war world, they had prepared plentiful supplies, hoping first to survive and only then to seek merit. None had expected to stumble into a hidden map.

All their plans were now in disarray, and naturally, they needed to reconsider everything. Even if no one yet had a clear idea of what to do, gathering together brought some comfort.

As for Mu Rongxun, his expression remained unchanged. He had prepared little and, with no real resources at hand, could hardly compare himself to the others.

Before the crowd could reach any meaningful conclusion, the wolf-headed man reappeared on the high platform. Observing their disorder, he struck his cane sharply against the ground, producing a crisp, clear sound.

Strangely, the sound seemed to possess a peculiar magic, calming everyone’s agitation at once. The noisy arena fell utterly silent.

A wave of invisible energy passed over them, making everyone shudder in fright. With just a single sound, the wolf-headed man had imposed absolute order. His power was terrifying—if he wished them harm, he could have ended their lives in an instant.