End Online: Volume 4 Read Online Free Page A

I widen my eyes in shock as we finally leave the passageway.
    ‘How can such a place
possibly exist underground!’  I think
to myself.
    The passageway opens up
into an enormous cavern. The diameter of the space is at least ten kilometres
wide, and stretched upwards farther than the eye can see in a jagged cone like
formation. In the centre of the cavern is an enormous 18th century gothic
cathedral. Immeasurably tall spires of blackrock pierce the darkness above and
wide arrays of buttresses branch between different sections of the building.
    The entire structure is
supported by multiple pillars below. Each pillar is easily fifty meters thick
and extends all the way down into the endless chasm below.
    We walk out onto a stone
brick bridge as a torrent of winds buffets us from the side, threatening to
blow us into the chasm below. I glance off the edge of the bridge and suffer a
violent surge of vertigo. The bridge has precious few supporting pillars,
spaced considerably far apart. I feel like the ground beneath my feet starts
swaying and the whole world tilts over. In a panic, I stumble backwards and
fall on my rear.
    “Umm… I’m not too good
with heights either,” Matrix says quietly to me as he extends a helping hand
up.
    I don’t say anything but I
do accept his hand, using it to pull myself back to my feet. While we are busy
standing at the start of the bridge, another group of players comes out from
the passage we just left. They mustn’t have been far behind us in the walkway,
but I never even heard them coming.
    “Let’s go to the third
floor today! I recently bought a new sword that is twice as strong as my last
one!” The swordsman in front vigorously spoke to the three behind him.
    “Yes! We could all gain at
least ten levels if we go there!” A player behind him who appears to favor the
bow replied.
    They pass by us without
sparing a glance our way. Clearly they must consider us a bunch of weak players
and not worthy of their attention. I notice the other two players have large
shields equipped. They must be defense specialists who protect the party.
    “If they are going up to
the third floor, they must be around level 200. Their equipment is quite good
too.” Mason says while nodding his head.
    “Are the enemies that
strong?” I ask him.
    “For the average player,
yes. Most players have difficulty and will try avoid fighting monsters above
their level. You guys are just freaks!” He exclaims.
    “So the monsters on the
third level should be level 200?” I ignore his accusation.
    “Indeed, the first floor
monsters are roughly level 100, and every consecutive floor up that level
increases by 50. But then again, I have never heard of what is on the fifth
floor and above.”
    Hearing this, I start to
get excited and want to explore the fifth floor, but I realize that my power is
probably lacking to do so.
    Judging from outside, a
hundred thousand players could possibly use this training ground with comfort.
but with only the bottom three floors being used, less than half of that can
actually be here.
    Without wasting any more
time, we all walk across the bridge towards the looming cathedral. A few bats
fly off from a balcony high above us, screeching throughout the cavern as we
enter through the front doors of the building.
    Now entering: Lords' Cathedral
    Inside the main entrance
is a large, gilded hall. There are a few doors leading off to other areas, but
the polished marble floor and stained glass windows decorating the walls
attract the eye. A few groups of players are off to one side, fighting little
black-winged gremlins.
    I immediately look at a
player training by himself amidst all the teams. He is using a pillar to skirt
around the goblin and stay out of its attack range while using his far superior
reach to occasionally strike back at the monster. I chuckle to myself before
abruptly stopping when I see the back of his right hand. There is no sigil
indicating which kingdom he is