Shadowbreak took the glasses and, under Wayne's guidance, sat in Arator's seat. He examined the glasses closely before putting them on.
He wasn't afraid of Wayne using any underhanded tricks to ambush him. As the most powerful paladin in Stormwind, he feared no lowly tactics. However, he was wary that this silver-tongued hoodlum might pull some deceptive stunt to trap him—like covering his eyes so he could sneak away.
Wayne also put on his glasses. He first saved and closed Arator's game, then synchronized his own game to Shadowbreak's. This time, it was "full synchronization."
Aside from being unable to control the character, Shadowbreak's five senses were identical to Wayne's. The stinging pain of the Skyrim snow hitting Wayne's face was felt just as sharply by the Duke.
Inside and outside the net cafe, everyone stared at the screens with intense focus, afraid to blink and miss something important. The only exception was the massive ogre, Bruise, who was laughing "hehehe" while happily hacking away at fruit flying from all directions.
On the screen, Wayne moved through a temple-like area halfway up a mountain and entered the stone doors of an ancient ruin. The map identified the location as the "Statue to Meridia."
The peerlessly beautiful Serana led the way, using her seemingly fragile body to tank monsters in melee combat. Wayne followed in stealth, picking off enemies with sniped arrows to push forward.
Along the way, they encountered Dremora Lords in black armor and skeleton guards wreathed in dark energy. Shadowbreak's body instinctively entered a combat-ready state, as if he were prepared to cast "Exorcism" at any moment.
"Has this place also been occupied by the Scourge?"
Amidst his amazement, Wayne continuously adjusted the orientation of mechanical pedestals. He directed the dazzling light emitted by the giant statue outside to reflect through these mechanisms into the depths of the ruins. Finally, the last door opened. The culprit occupying this Daedric ruin, a frost mage named Malkoran, waited there with his undead legion for the intruders to "seek their own deaths."
A grand battle broke out immediately.
Wayne took full advantage of Serana's quest-essential immortality, letting her charge into the mob to draw aggro. He then hid in the shadows behind a pillar, firing arrows at the corrupted shades with maximum speed and precision.
After a rapid-fire barrage, only one skeleton and Malkoran remained. However, Serana had been beaten into a weakened state, forced to crouch on the ground and temporarily withdraw from the fight to recover.
This meant Wayne had to face the crisis alone.
Why three enemies? Because besides the skeleton and Malkoran, there was the "True Boss"—Shadowbreak.
If Wayne lost this fight, not only would he fail to obtain the "Ashbringer" he had so confidently promised in-game, but he would also be taken away by Shadowbreak in reality to face humiliation and punishment. This was no longer just a simple game.
In a solo fight where his stealth had been compromised, Wayne had to switch to a one-handed sword and shield for close-quarters combat.
The shade skeleton was difficult enough, but Malkoran was even more dangerous. He frequently unleashed four consecutive Ice Storm spells. Getting hit by even the first one meant that while Wayne might be alive for a moment, he was effectively a dead man.
The shade skeleton's blade slammed against the shield held in Wayne's left hand. Malkoran's biting frost magic whistled past his body time and again. The intense vibrations and cold were felt by Shadowbreak as if he were the one fighting.
The Duke began shouting warnings:
"Magic incoming!"
"Strike coming from the side!"
"Watch your back!"
It was as if Wayne had an extra set of eyes. Shadowbreak kept shouting advice, seemingly forgetting that he was the one who had intended to arrest Wayne just moments ago.
After a struggle, the shade skeleton was defeated. Wayne drew his crossbow again, putting distance between himself and Malkoran. It became a duel of projectiles—magic versus bolts. It was a contest of speed, accuracy, and who could dodge faster.
Fortunately, Serana recovered and rejoined the fray. Combined with Shadowbreak's warnings, Wayne finally put a bolt through Malkoran's throat, draining the evil mage's final sliver of life.
Meridia, one of the sixteen Daedric Princes of The Elder Scrolls, then spoke. She thanked Wayne for purging the undead from her temple and rewarded him with the artifact resting on the altar illuminated by her light.
Wayne drew the artifact. The crowd saw a longsword radiating a brilliant, dazzling light!
The screen brightened, and Wayne appeared high in the clouds above the world. As a Daedric Prince of Tamriel, Meridia presided over light and detested the undead. She was originally one of the spirits who created the world alongside the creator god, Magnus, but had later entered the realms of Oblivion.
Yet her power remained unchanged, representing the "Midday Sun." In a way, she was the natural enemy of all undead. After admonishing Wayne to use this holy power to drive out the undead, Meridia's voice faded, and Wayne was transported back to the ground in front of her glowing statue.
Wayne finally raised the blade before the crowd—Dawnbreaker!
Similar to the holy light emitted by the fist insignia on the Ashbringer yet distinct, Dawnbreaker pulsed with a continuous, blinding white light from the core of its hilt.
Unlike the others watching through a screen, Shadowbreak, with his full sensory synchronization, clearly felt the warmth and inspiring strength the sword provided. This power not only filled him with fighting spirit but also seemed to soothe the waves of his earlier rage. Without a doubt, it possessed extraordinary power.
"Is... is this what you meant? A weapon like the Ashbringer?"
Wayne didn't answer immediately. He returned to the ruins and found the undead monsters he had bypassed earlier using stealth. This time, he simply raised Dawnbreaker and struck.
With one swing, the incandescent white light from the blade severed a skeleton's arm bone. Half the crowd let out a gasp of "Ah?!"
With a second swing, the white flames ignited the skeleton, spreading across its entire body. Three-quarters of the crowd gasped again.
With the final strike, the skeleton was cleaved in two. Its bones were incinerated by the exploding holy fire before they even hit the ground, leaving nothing but a pile of smoldering ash!
This time, there were no gasps. Everyone, including Shadowbreak, stared with mouths agape, unable to believe what they were seeing.
At the same time, having completed the Daedric quest, Wayne's game account leveled up to 24. A subtle yet clearly perceptible surge of power flowed into his body. Shadowbreak felt this sensation as well.
"I... have grown stronger?"
In the game, Wayne spoke as if talking to himself: "No, I grew stronger through combat. You are only feeling what I feel through synchronization."
"Just like this divine sword is held in my hand, the holy power you feel also comes from my perception."
Shadowbreak asked, "Then... can you bring this sword back from where we... where you are now?"
Wayne knew the moment had come for the final blow. He had to pivot to values, ideals, and the future, leaving an indelible "mental imprint" in the mind of this devout paladin.
"This is exactly what we are researching! Andromath and the other Great Magi are thinking about how to use the magic of both sides to link the two worlds—just as the Dark Portal connected Azeroth and Outland!"
"Twenty-four years ago, if someone had said the Dark Portal would open, they would have been called a dreamer or a deceiver by foolish, arrogant, short-sighted, rude, overbearing, and hot-tempered people. But now, everyone knows it is possible!"
Shadowbreak knew Wayne wasn't just being indirect; he was openly mocking him. Despite his burning cheeks, as he looked at the Dawnbreaker in his "hand," he felt that if he could do it over, he wouldn't have been so aggressive earlier.
Wayne continued, "If the mages can't find a way for now, we can study the materials of this sword and the methods of infusing holy power, just as we did with the Ashbringer. If we can replicate it, we can forge another one in Stormwind!"
"When that time comes, the lost Ashbringer will reappear in the world!"
Hearing those final words, Shadowbreak's eyes filled with tears. He finally understood why old hands like Andromath and Marlin kept running to this inconspicuous shop outside Stormwind every single day.
They truly weren't here to play; they were here to study!
"Learning through practice, training in actual combat, researching innovation, and expanding horizons..."
Shadowbreak repeated the words Wayne had said earlier. He thought to himself: Not only did I misunderstand Arator... I almost missed the chance to further my own path of the Holy Light!
By the Light, this must be a gift of destiny. Whether it is Dawnbreaker or the Ashbringer, I must ensure this supreme holy power returns to the hands of the paladins to purge all evil undead!
Thinking this, he took off the glasses. Though he looked embarrassed under everyone's gaze, he immediately pulled a 100-gold note from his cloak and stuffed it into Tess's hand, giving her a kind look as if apologizing for his earlier temper.
Tess didn't take the money. Instead, she pointed her left hand toward the door: "Go get in line!"
Under the silent gaze of the crowd, Shadowbreak grit his teeth and actually walked out to join the queue. Inside, the only sound remaining was the silly "hehehe" of Bruise hacking at fruit.