Overgeared: Babylon

The first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting a soft glow over the city of Patrian. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew and the promise of a new day. But for Gilgamesh and the five knights handpicked by Earl Ashur, this dawn marked the beginning of a perilous journey—one that would take them deep into the heart of danger.

The knights assembled in the castle courtyard, their armor gleaming in the early morning light. Each one was a seasoned warrior, their levels far surpassing those of ordinary Yatan's Believers. At level 160, they were more than a match for the Believers, whose levels ranged from 40 to 50. But Gilgamesh knew better than to underestimate their enemy. There was a reason the Believers had managed to remain hidden despite the vast disparity in strength.

As the group prepared to depart, Gilgamesh glanced down at the quest window that hovered in front of him, visible only to his eyes. The text glowed faintly, a reminder of the promise he had made to Earl Ashur and the stakes of their mission.

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[Eradicate Yatan's Believers]

Difficulty: A+

Yatan's Believers have taken refuge in the old ruins north of Patrian. They are a blight upon this land, and it is your duty to eradicate them. Accompany the knight of Earl Ashur to the hideout of Yatan's believer. 

Quest Clear Condition: Kill all the Yatan's believers that hide in the old ruin.

Clear Reward: 5000 golds, Increase affinity with Earl Ashur.

Quest Failure: Garret's favorability toward you will decrease, Earl Ashur will distrust you.

*Warning: Yatan's Believers are known to use dark magic and traps. Proceed with caution.

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Gilgamesh's eyes lingered on the warning. He had faced Yatan's followers before, and he knew their tactics well. They were cunning, resourceful, and willing to sacrifice everything for their twisted cause. The level disparity between the knights and the Believers might seem like an advantage, but Gilgamesh refused to believe that was all they were up against. There was something more—something hidden—that made the Believers a threat even to seasoned warriors.

The journey to the ruins took them through dense forests and rugged terrain. The path was narrow and overgrown, the signs of disuse evident in the way nature had reclaimed it. The knights moved in formation, their training evident in the way they maintained discipline even in the face of uncertainty.

As they ventured deeper into the wilderness, the atmosphere grew heavier. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, but there was an undercurrent of something darker—a faint, almost imperceptible hum that set Gilgamesh's instincts on edge.

Aldric, one of the knights, fell into step beside him, his voice low. "Do you feel it?"

Gilgamesh nodded, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. "The closer we get, the stronger it becomes. Their dark magic is already at work."

Kaeul, who had joined the group as their magical support, frowned. "We'll need to be careful. If they sense our approach, they'll activate their defenses. Stick to the plan, and we'll minimize the risk."

The group pressed on, their pace steady but cautious. As they neared the ruins, the forest began to thin, revealing the crumbling remnants of an ancient structure. The ruins loomed ahead, their jagged outlines silhouetted against the morning sky. The air grew colder, and the faint hum of dark magic became a palpable presence.

Gilgamesh raised a hand, signaling the group to halt. "This is it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "From here, we move quietly."

The knights nodded, their expressions grim but determined. They drew their sword, the blade gleaming in the dim light. "Let's finish this."

With a final glance at the group, Gilgamesh led the way toward the ruins. The battle was about to begin.

***

The ruins stood before them, a crumbling testament to a forgotten era. The stone walls were cracked and overgrown with vines, and the air was thick with the oppressive weight of dark magic. Gilgamesh motioned for the group to spread out, his sharp eyes scanning the area for signs of movement. The knights moved with precision, their training evident in the way they positioned themselves to cover all angles.

Kaeul stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly as he muttered an incantation. A shimmering barrier of light enveloped the group, shielding them from the worst of the dark magic's influence. "This will protect us from their curses," he said, his voice low. "But it won't last forever. We need to move quickly."

Gilgamesh nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Stay close, and watch each other's backs. We don't know what we're up against."

As they advanced into the ruins, the first signs of resistance appeared. Shadows shifted among the crumbling walls, and the faint sound of chanting reached their ears. Suddenly, a group of Yatan's Believers emerged from the darkness, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy. Among them was the same Believer Gilgamesh had encountered before—the one who had nearly sacrificed Kaela. The man's lips curled into a twisted smile as he recognized Gilgamesh.

"You!!" One of believer hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "Pagans dare return?!!This time, you won't leave alive!"

Gilgamesh's expression remained calm, but his grip on his sword tightened. "We'll see about that."

Before the Believers could react, Gilgamesh surged forward, his blade flashing in the dim light. The knights followed suit, their movements synchronized as they engaged the enemy.

Believers scrambled to respond, their chants growing louder as they prepared their dark magic.

The lead Believer raised his hands, his fingers twisting into unnatural shapes as he unleashed his spell. "Curse of Petrification!"

It sure hit dark magic! The magic was fast—inescapable. But Gilgamesh didn't flinch. He knew Kaeul's Aura of Light would protect them. The spell struck him head-on, but the dark energy dissipated harmlessly against the radiant barrier surrounding him.

[You have been hit by petrification magic.]

[Aura of Light has negated the effect of petrification magic.]

[You have resisted.]

Gilgamesh's lips curled into a maniacal grin as the system notifications flashed before his eyes. "Neat~" he muttered, his voice dripping with dark amusement. The Believer's eyes widened in shock, his confidence crumbling as Gilgamesh closed the distance between them in an instant.

With a single, fluid motion, Gilgamesh swung his sword. The blade cut through the air with a sharp whistle before burying itself in the Believer's skull. The man didn't even have time to scream. His body crumpled to motes of light.

[Your level has risen.]

[Your level has risen.]

[Your level has risen.]

Gilgamesh's face turned to maniac grin as his sword buried in the believer head. Altough the level of believer he faced was more than 40, its easy to face them when you have dealt with their dark magic, and generally dark magicans have low health, so its easy to kill them.

The knights followed suit, their movements synchronized as they engaged the enemy. The clash of steel against steel echoed through the ruins, mingling with the guttural chants of the Believers.

"Shadows rise, the veil descends."

"Eclipsed light, the stars shall fade."

"A curse eternal, by night arrayed."

"By blood and shadow, ash and flame, We summon forth the endless bane."

A wave of dark energy erupted from their palms, hurtling toward Gilgamesh and the knights.

Kaeul stood at the center of the chaos, his staff glowing brightly as he maintained the Aura of Light. His voice rang out above the clash of steel and the cries of the dying. "Don't let up! Their magic is useless against us. I detected dozens of dark magicans approaching toward us, they'll try to overwhelm us with numbers!"

True to his word. Dozens of dark magicians stepped out from the shadows, their robes adorned with the sigil of Yatan. These were not NPCs—they were real players, their eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle. They had accepted a quest to defend the ruins, although their individual strength was weak, their numbers were overwhelming.

"Kikiki, Kill them all!!"

"The quest reward is level rise by 10."

'Its perfect quest to rise my placement in overall ranking!!'

That was the goal of all the dark magicians, they thought its gonna be easy quest because there is only handfull of opponent dealt with and there are hundred of them, but they are wrong...

Aldric, one of the knights, cursed under his breath as he parried a strike from a believer. "There's too many of them! We're outnumbered!"

"Shit!"

Gilgamesh gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He had anticipated resistance, but the sheer number of enemies was beyond what he had expected. "Kaeul!" he shouted. "We need to thin their numbers!"

Kaeul nodded, his staff glowing brighter as he began another incantation. "Cover me!"

The knights formed a protective circle around Kaeul, their swords flashing as they fended off the relentless attacks.

Aldric, the most agile of the group, darted forward, his sword slicing through a believer's throat before the man could react. Another knight, a burly man named Thorne, brought his massive warhammer down on a dark magician, crushing him in a single blow.

The dark magicians hurled spells at them, bolts of dark energy crackling through the air. The knights' armor absorbed some of the damage, but the sheer volume of attacks was wearing them down.

"Aiya Eärendil, elenion ancalima!

Aurë entuluva!

The light shall prevail!"

Finally, Kaeul's incantation reached its climax. He slammed his staff into the ground, and a wave of radiant energy erupted from the point of impact.

"Shit! what is this?! They're to strong!!"

"Its a scam! a scam!!"

"I haven't been paid enough for this shit! "

The dark magicians players and NPCs alike screamed as the light engulfed them, their spells fizzling out and their bodies disintegrating into grey light. The barrier of light around the group flared brighter, repelling the dark magic and giving the knights a moment to regroup.

Gilgamesh took advantage of the lull, his eyes scanning the battlefield. The Believers were faltering, their ranks thinning as the knights pressed their advantage.

"We need to take out their casters!" Gilgamesh ordered, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Aldric, Thorne, with me! The rest of you, hold the line!"

The two knights nodded, falling into step behind Gilgamesh as he charged toward the dark magicians. The players' eyes that survived widened in panic as they realized what was happening. They scrambled to retreat, but it was too late. Gilgamesh was upon them, his blade cutting through their ranks with brutal efficiency. Aldric and Thorne followed close behind, their swords and hammer striking down anyone who tried to escape.

Within moments, the dark magicians were wiped out. The remaining believers, now leaderless and disorganized, began to retreat, their resolve crumbling in the face of the knights' relentless assault.

As the last of the enemies fled, the ruins fell silent. The knights stood amidst the wreckage, their breaths heavy but their spirits unbroken. Gilgamesh wiped the blood from his blade, his maniacal grin fading into a look of grim satisfaction.

"It's done," he said, his voice carrying the weight of their victory. "But this is only the beginning. Yatan's influence runs deep, and we've only scratched the surface."

Kaeul nodded, his face pale, overtaxing his magic, but still determined. "We've bought ourselves some time, but we need to prepare for what comes next."

"Yeah, but for now let's go back and report our victory." Gilgamesh suggested which everybody agreed.