VRMMO Botanist

The first white ball of light set off a wave of raging panic and horror throughout the Warring Dragon Guild. Amidst the chaos, an adventurer shouted, "Someone died!"

"Reduce the formation size, don't panic! Priest, remember to watch the HP closely!" The four commanders had gotten into their positions at the very first moment, personally commanding their respective platoons. Under their experienced leadership, the effects were evident. They lived up to their names as veterans of the Warring Dragon Guild, seamlessly coordinating the efforts to clear off the first wave of monsters.

Luo Cheng stood at the commanding post behind, witnessing the mania slowly dissipate. However, there was not a strand of elation or relief. Instead, the trepidation of impending doom.

His eyes looked into the distance. Beyond his men struggling for their lives was a dense patch of sprawling forest. There, stone wolves were unceasingly spawning, more ferocious and bloodthirsty than before. Their crimson eyes glared ferociously over, widening their jaws, showing off the razor-sharp jaws. With their low howls, like the call of a bugle, they charged over savagely.

One, two, three…

The pack of wolves arrived unwelcomed at the doorsteps of Warring Dragon Guild before the adventurers even had a break. Seeing the next wave of assailants, their faces froze.

"Quick, block them!"

"Priest, Priest… I need a priest! The HP potions… they aren't working!"

"God! OH MY GOD! My mana!"

...

This time, it was Hell on Earth. Even with the calm leadership of the commanders, the Warring Dragon Guild defenses crumbled under the consistently frenzied assaults from the Stone Wolves.

All of them were only barely above Level 20. Adventurers of this level had minimal skills. AOE skills were rare and limited to a handful of adventurers. As such, facing a horde of rampaging beast was more than a challenge.

Soon, the area sparkled brightly, with white light popping out all over. With each glimmer, Luo Cheng's expression turned more and more solemn. He knew this was the end of the line for them.

The Warring Dragon Guild could not sustain this defense any further. The berserk Stone Wolves spawned immediately after one was killed, surrounding them in an unending stream. In other words, they were trapped.

"Must be four remaining adventurers!" Through his clenched jaws, Luo Cheng hissed. This mission was his absolute resounding victory. At least, it was until moments ago. Never had he expected, the last party would bring fate on a divergent twist, changing the course of events so heavily, wreaking havoc in his perfect plans!

"Even if we are to lose, the Warring Dragon Guild would not let you off so easily!"

Around him, a sea of blinding white light had formed. Within the next minute, the Stone Wolves would break through their last line of defense, being right beside Luo Cheng. Facing his imminent death, Luo Cheng's expression was plain as a blank canvas. Coldly, he whipped out a Magic Scroll.

Upon activation, a pastel blue aura surged from the bottom of his feet. Swiftly, the glimmer dissipated like stardust. The scroll had completed its purpose, and so did he. Looking wistfully into the sky, Luo Cheng sighed and closed his eyes. The next moment, he was on the ground with two Stone Wolves biting on each of his shoulders.

In a short 10 minutes, more than 300 lifeless bodies were strewn around the Stone Tribe's Altar. Everyone, even the stealthy Assassins, could not escape the horrors of death. Three hundred bodiless souls swayed in the winds of the calm after the storm, speechlessly watching the roaming wolves. They couldn't understand how the events took on such a downturn.

Amidst the souls, the massive crystal still hovered in mid-air, radiating a gentle azure glow.

...

"Are we done yet? I already feel like puking." Purple Olive's face curled up from the excessing regeneration she had done for close to two hours. The biggest torture for anyone, especially for her, was repeating the same menial task over and over and over again. 

As she whined, the greyish-white Stone Wolf King, at the bottom of the pillar, displayed a radical change.

Just like an adventurer who just drank an HP potion, the fur of the Stone Wolf King turned crimson. Like a blazing inferno, radiating a dark red aura. Its vessel popped on the surface of its skin, snaking across the body. The monolith eyes flushed red with blood, its hideous jaws pried open, viciously brandishing the sharp fangs. Without a doubt, this savage beast was more brutal than before!

"Keep at it, just a while more. Don't let your efforts go down the drain now!" From the looks of the other Stone Wolves, Ye Chen could guess that the Warring Dragon Guild was no more. At most, a few Assassins escaped. But, he had the Perception Jewel in his hands, these runaway Assassins posed no threat. However, precautionary measures could not be lax. He had no intentions of letting Purple Olive stop now. 

A while more was not really a short while. Only half an hour later, Ye Chen gave the green light. "Alright, time to kill the Boss!"

Hearing that, Purple Olive slumped and crashed butt first into the ground.

"Kill! Kill the Boss!" On the contrary, energy and adrenaline burst forth from the idle and bored witless Dharma.

Seeing the crazed beast further losing control, the entire group of four was beyond interested to see what loot they would receive. Unceasingly, durian bombs fell mercilessly onto the crimson Boss. Explosions after explosions rang, yet the Level Suppression caused a massive miss rate of 60%. 

Should any other Tom, Dick, or Harry face this Boss, a party of four would not dare to face it head-on.

Still, the Durian Bomb Tree dealt considerable damage. With every passing second, the HP bar of the Boss dwindled.

At the 2 minute mark, only 2% HP was left, Just a bit more and the Boss was dead. 

Suddenly, the roaring Boss fell silent. It stopped clawing and leaping at the Durian Bomb Tree on the peak of the Stone Pillar. Eerily, its head slowly turned, facing Ye Chen and the others. In the pin-drop silence, fear and worries boomed deafeningly in their hearts. "What is happening?" 

Could it be, the Boss suddenly changed its target at this critical moment? 

That thought sent a paralyzing fear rushing down their spines. Cold sweat gathered on their palms as their hands fidgeted, gripping onto their weapons tightly.

These enraged and buffed Boss could wipe them out in one sweep!

"Cruel, animalistic humans. Your savage desires plague my mind even from far away! Your tyrannical brute disgusts me. As a guardian of the Wolf Tribe, I curse you! Fear us, the Curse of the Wolf Tribe!"

Amidst the worries and anxiety, the Stone Wolf King's HP fell to 0. At that moment, a deep, hoary voice echoed from its mouth. The contents were blatantly aggressive and unfavourable for the adventurers. Before they could react, four beams of deep red phantoms bulleted from the dying eyes of the Boss, right at Ye Chen and his party!

Within the four of them, Ye Chen reacted the fastest. He immediately leapt from his spot. Alas, the phantom swerved in mid-air as well, permeating right into his body. Subsequently, this same message board popped up.

[System Notice: You are under "The Curse of the Wolf Tribe!"

The Curse of the Wolf Tribe: Originates from the guardian of the Wolf Tribe's fury. When facing any monster with the word Wolf in its name, the curse will activate. You will suffer a lowered offence and defense abilities by 30%!] 

"Oh fuck! No, no, thank god there aren't any high-level Wolf Monsters here." Looking at the status, Ye Chen's eyes pried open wide, and his heart raced.

This meant a 30% penalty on offensive and defensive abilities when facing wolf monsters. Basically, the adventurer would lose any chance of opposing the beast. But Ye Chen was still relieved. The possibility of him facing any wolf monsters in the future was no high. Also, there was bound to be a cure for this curse.

"Boss Dust! The Boss dropped several Skill Books!"

While Ye Chen grappled with the possibilities and deficits that the curse brought, Dharma was without care! There were plenty of monsters in the game, he just had to avoid any wolves. How simple! Instead, he was leaping with joy and excitement as he looked through the loot on the ground where the Stone Wolf King once stood.

"Let's take a look!" 

If the Boss did not drop decent goods, this Boss fight would absolutely be a waste!

On the ground, there were four Skill Books and several seeds. Glancing through them, Ye Chen found it to be one Skill Book per profession.

"Meteor Arrow Shower, good stuff. Dharma, you got lucky!"

Meteor Arrow Shower was the enhanced version of the basic Arrow Shower skill. The damage was increased, and the area of effect was broadened. This skill was highly craved by Archers!

"HAHAHA! Finally, I have an AOE skill!" First, a look of shocked surprise came into his face, then a peal of uncontrollable uproarious laughter. Immediately, he learned it.

"Possession of the Saintess, Purple Olive, this is yours."

Looking at the Priest Skill Book, Ye Chen couldn't help but think. The system had just dropped a skill it should never have dropped to the worst choice of recipient.

"Astral Chains… Queen, this is yours then." Ye Chen could feel his heart skip a beat as he saw the Spatial-Type Mage's skill.

Astral Chain was the enhanced version of the Spatial Bind. Spatial Bind could only confine one adventurer at a single time. However, Astral Chains was an AOE crowd control move, highly effective and a game-changing skill.

Seeing the extravagant skills dropped for the previous three, Ye Chen's interest in his own was overflowing.

With anticipation swirling in his heart, he glanced at the Botanist Skill Book.

[Planting: Parasitic Furballs]