Sacrifice's Rise: I Became Invincible After Entering Godslayer Temple

The demise of the Ocean Sage deeply saddened John.

Although their collaboration wasn't lengthy, the Ocean Sage was the only one who harbored no animosity towards John.

Given that the Ocean Sage had entrusted Southern Harbor to him before his demise, John felt compelled to ensure the port's safety.

As a Legend Magus, the Ocean Sage naturally dissipated into arcane energy upon his death.

After the Ocean Sage had completely vanished, the NPCs of Southern Harbor turned their attention to John, curious about the plans of their new lord.

John took a moment to compose himself before addressing them.

"You all heard what the Ocean Sage said, right? Now, you should follow my commands, which are quite straightforward. I want you to start by repairing all the structures in Southern Harbor as soon as possible.

Although Southern Harbor wasn't subjected to a full assault by the Dark Faction in the previous battles, the outer defenses were nonetheless affected.

We must repair the defensive enchantments surrounding Southern Harbor as swiftly as possible. I will provide the necessary support; I'll have my friends bring over some powerful magical scrolls to assist you."

John promptly outlined his plan. Now that he was the lord of Southern Harbor, his primary objective was, of course, to ensure the port's safety.

Hammer and Twilight listened intently to John's directives and quickly set about making specific arrangements.

Hammer addressed John directly, emphasizing the need for resources:

"My lord, if you truly wish to achieve this goal, we must be provided with a sufficient amount of magical materials. You are undoubtedly aware that our previous stock of magical materials has been entirely depleted.

After the Sage broke free from his seal, he led us in using those materials to create defensive enchantments. Although some of these enchantments are still functional, if we wish to secure Southern Harbor's absolute safety as you've outlined, more magical materials are essential."

John nodded in understanding, fully aware of the necessity for ample magical materials to secure Southern Harbor.

He had already contemplated where to procure these resources.

"You needn't worry about the magical materials. I can handle that. For now, focus on repairing the defensive enchantments of Southern Harbor.

I have some important matters to discuss with Duke Arsena of Storm City. Proceed as I've instructed, and I'll return as soon as possible."

After concluding his remarks, John immediately teleported back to Storm City.

Upon arrival, he didn't seek out Duke Arsena directly but instead found Adam and Blue Sea.

"I have an important matter to discuss with you. I've become the lord of Southern Harbor, and I must ensure its safety."

Adam and Blue Sea had approached the meeting with John under the assumption that the agenda was to debrief and dissect strategies from their recent skirmishes against the Dark Faction.

They were utterly astounded when the conversation took an unexpected turn, revealing that John had ascended to the position of the new lord of Southern Harbor.

The very notion that an adventurer, someone they knew from battles and quests, could step into a role of such paramount importance and governance was beyond their wildest imaginations.

This revelation challenged their understanding of the dynamics within their world, marking a moment of significant recalibration in their perception of John and the possibilities that lay ahead for adventurers like themselves.

"Are you serious? You've actually become the lord of a crucial place like Southern Harbor?! Do the other NPC factions agree with this?! Won't Duke Arsena oppose you?!"

Blue Sea was particularly troubled by the news. He believed Duke Arsena would immediately object, considering he had previously regarded Southern Harbor as his own territory.

Adam, despite his initial surprise at the unfolding events, maintained a composed demeanor.

Reflecting on John's proven prowess in vanquishing Devils, Adam deduced that besting Duke Arsena might not be an insurmountable task for someone of John's caliber.

This line of reasoning led him to conclude that Duke Arsena, recognizing his own limitations and the formidable challenge that John posed, would likely be deterred from rashly initiating any aggressive moves against him.

The absence of a clear advantage or the means to secure a decisive victory would naturally make the Duke hesitant to engage in a direct confrontation, prioritizing caution over haste in his strategic considerations.

"I have indeed become the new lord of Southern Harbor. I intend to inform Duke Arsena, but I can't predict his actions at this point.

The reason I sought you out is to request your assistance in providing magical materials. I've already had the NPCs in Southern Harbor issue the corresponding quests.

Members of your two guilds can take on these quests and receive rewards accordingly. Moreover, the magical materials you provide will significantly contribute to the defenses of Southern Harbor."

John, unfazed by their astonished reactions, simply stated his purpose.

Overwhelmed by surprise, Blue Sea didn't immediately agree, whereas Adam accepted the proposal right away.

"There's no problem at all; I'll inform my guild members as soon as possible. There are some players in my guild who aren't as strong and prefer not to level up through combat. Undertaking these quests will be beneficial for them."

With Adam showing his support, Blue Sea quickly clarified his stance as well, expressing his willingness to assist John.

After confirming that both Adam and Blue Sea would assist him, John nodded in appreciation.

"We need to act quickly because I sense that the crisis facing Southern Harbor will only escalate. Please take immediate action. I'll go and inform Duke Arsena, as it's important he knows about this."

With these words, John set off for Duke Arsena's palace.

However, Adam and Blue Sea didn't spring into action right away.

They needed to deliberate carefully, understanding the current situation fully.

"The idea that a player can actually become a lord, especially of a vast map like Southern Harbor, is astonishing. John's new status indicates he has gained recognition from powerful NPCs.

Collaborating with John seems to offer significant benefits for us.

Yet, I can't shake the feeling that there might be some underlying schemes at play."

Blue Sea remained skeptical about the normalcy of John becoming the lord of Southern Harbor.

He harbored doubts, though he was unsure about the potential machinations behind the scenes.

Adam's expression also carried a hint of hesitation, but he figured that as long as the situation presented benefits for him, cooperating with John's plans was a viable option.

"I do have my doubts as well. But, there's no harm in this for us. So, why not just go along with John's plan?"

Adam's reasoning ultimately convinced Blue Sea. Together, they returned to their respective guilds, ready to mobilize their members to gather the necessary magical materials.

John also shared the situation with Emma and SkyStars.

After all, they too could provide John with the substantial magical materials needed for Southern Harbor's defense.

As John's gaming companions sprung into action, John found himself within the halls of Duke Arsena's palace, pondering over how to convey his new status as the lord of Southern Harbor without inciting the duke's ire.

He was well aware of Duke Arsena's longstanding view of Southern Harbor as part of his domain.

Lost in these considerations, John was caught off guard as Duke Arsena emerged from his quarters, ready to engage in conversation.

John, faced with Duke Arsena's probing, offered a slight smile.

He decided to start with a piece of news that wouldn't immediately anger the duke.

"I recently visited Southern Harbor, where the Ocean Sage ultimately succumbed. His demise was largely due to the erosion by Mystery powers! However, I believe a more critical reason was the resurrection of the Mystery Saint! Had the Mystery Saint not been resurrected, the erosion by Mystery powers alone wouldn't have been enough to claim the life of a Legend Magus!"