Official Checkpoint

The Raging Tide Secret Realm featured a distinctive urban apocalypse setting and Zombie infection elements, making it feel incredibly fresh. But that freshness would fade sooner or later. Those elements alone were not enough to hold this group of adventurers' interest for long.

Qi Ji began updating and improving the secret realm.

Single Player Mode and Multiplayer Mode had been added.

Checkpoint Mode closely resembled the content and gameplay of the original Left 4 Dead. Not only were there large numbers of Common Zombies, but Special Infected with different abilities would also appear. The challenge and enjoyment would increase dramatically!

For example: Hunters, Smokers, Chargers, Boomers, Tanks, Witches, and so on.

The various newly added Zombie monsters greatly increased the secret realm's value and enjoyment.

They would create a new pull for adventurers.

It was bound to be a trump card!

Deploying Special Infected required more Mental Strength. Witches and Tanks consumed the most, with each one requiring 20 points of Mental Strength.

Current Mental Strength: 448.

At most, he could create 22 Tanks or Witches.

However, the number of monsters in the secret realm was not permanently fixed.

If an adventurer successfully obtained a Tank Zombie's Soul Essence, not only would extracting the Soul Essence consume a certain amount of the lord's Mental Strength, but the number of Tanks deployed in the secret realm would also permanently decrease by one.

Qi Ji would then have to spend another 20 points of Mental Strength to replenish it.

Therefore, he could not exhaust all of his Mental Strength.

Qi Ji spent 330 points of Mental Strength to create the first large-scale checkpoint.

He deployed a total of three Tanks, five Witches, and around thirty other types of Special Infected, consuming 300 points of Mental Strength in total. The remaining 30 points of Mental Strength were used to create scenes and items.

He then spent 80 Soul Crystals to add 16 Secret Realm Crystals.

The number of crystals in the lobby increased from four to twenty.

Why not buy more?

The Dungeon's reception capacity was limited!

A brand-new Dungeon that had not been upgraded or developed could receive only 100 adventurers per day. Even if Qi Ji created more secret realm entrances, it would be meaningless if the Dungeon's reception capacity could not keep up.

Twenty Secret Realm Crystals were enough for now.

The top priority was to improve the basic infrastructure and increase the Dungeon's scale as much as possible.

Qi Ji opened the infrastructure options and scanned the dozen or so facilities currently available. After careful consideration, he ultimately chose to construct a facility called the Mercenary House.

This facility had the following functions.

Mercenary House, First Order basic facility. Construction cost: 100 Soul Crystals.

Function 1: Dungeon daily reception limit +25.

Function 2: Can convert 30 adventurers into mercenaries.

This building could increase the Dungeon's reception limit, raising its capacity from 100 to 125. In the long run, it was still only a drop in the bucket, but it would be enough for the next day or two.

In addition, this facility could recruit up to thirty adventurers as territory mercenaries.

Mercenaries were not official territory troops.

However, they could still be used to scout or develop nearby areas.

Every new Dungeon had a thirty-day protection period. During that time, it would not face threats from outside monsters or Dark Races. The earlier one began expanding, the more advantageous it would be for the territory.

After this construction.

Remaining Soul Crystals: 96.

The next day.

Miracle City opened.

The first group of adventurers entering the city numbered as many as eighty-five.

Cat MeowMeow said, "This Dungeon has only been open for three days, right? Why are there already so many people? At this rate, won't we have to compete on hand speed just to get into the city later?"

Black Eye Hammer King said, "What a miscalculation. If I'd known Miracle City would be this impressive, I wouldn't have been in such a hurry to post that review."

Lonely Swordsman said, "It's perfectly normal for a capable, high-quality Dungeon like this to become popular. Look, the city lord has already built a new facility. The current reception capacity should be fine!"

Bright Moon Reflecting Snow said, "The number of Secret Realm Crystals has increased too. Lord Qi really is a lord with enormous potential!"

Sleeping in the Wind said, "Today, I have to clear Novice Mode!"

"Charge!"

"Kill Zombies!"

"I want Cola! I want to farm Soul Essence!"

"..."

The adventurers had long been itching to get started.

They poured into the Secret Realm Lobby and immediately began the challenge.

The adventurers progressed quite quickly. Having absorbed the experience of the previous two days, they skillfully gathered all sorts of items and weapons, slaughtering Zombies all the way!

Although they fell in batch after batch, the distance they explored kept increasing: five hundred meters, one thousand meters, fifteen hundred meters...

At last, the first adventurer to find the Safe Door appeared.

It was Lonely Swordsman!

Wielding an M16 Rifle and carrying two MAC-10 Submachine Guns on his back, he fought his way out of a group of Zombies. At the end of the street ahead stood a striking red Safe Door.

"Wow!"

"Everyone, come look!"

"Knife Uncle found the Safe Door!"

"..."

The adventurers were all astonished.

They sprinted over from a hundred meters away to watch.

The Safe Door was real enough.

But Zombies were everywhere nearby, and the situation was extremely dangerous.

"Quick! The Zombies are coming! Get through that door!"

"Knife Uncle, be careful!"

"You have to make it!"

"..."

The adventurers' hearts leaped into their throats.

This was the closest anyone had come to success so far!

Lonely Swordsman fired as he ran, emptying his rifle magazine before pulling out a Submachine Gun and spraying bullets. Finally, he switched to his pistol. He dodged, rolled, and crawled all the way forward. At the very last moment, with all his ammunition exhausted, he made an Extremely Risky sliding tackle and slid beneath the Zombies' legs into the Safe Door.

The instant the Zombies pounced.

The Safe Door shut.

Extremely Risky!

Congratulations!

You have cleared Novice Mode of the "Doomsday Frenzy Secret Realm"!

You have obtained "Zombie Soul Essence" +1, "Iced Beer" +1!

The adventurers erupted into excited cheers!

"Haha!"

"A huge success!"

"As expected of Knife Uncle!"

"He cleared the secret realm in just three days!"

"..."

Lonely Swordsman was also filled with a sense of accomplishment. After all, he was the first adventurer to clear the Miracle City Secret Realm. That honor was more important than the rewards themselves.

At the same time, he had obtained two spoils, including a Monster Essence Soul!

"Congratulations!"

Boss Qi personally came over to celebrate.

Lonely Swordsman quickly asked, "Lord Qi, does that mean I can challenge the other modes now?"

"Of course. Single Player Mode and Multiplayer Mode have been unlocked for you. Welcome to challenge secret realm checkpoints with greater difficulty and richer content!"

"Yes!"

The other adventurers were beside themselves with excitement.

Naturally, Lonely Swordsman was no exception.

In truth, Lonely Swordsman was more interested in Multiplayer Mode. It was said that this mode allowed multiple players to cooperate. With doubled firepower, not only would it be far more enjoyable, but it also seemed like it would be easier.

However.

No one else had cleared the Novice Mode yet.

At the urging of the other adventurers, Lonely Swordsman decided to enter Single Player Mode first and give it a try.

"Old Blade is challenging the new checkpoint!"

"Hmph, the lord talked it up to the skies yesterday. I want to see exactly what's different about this new mode!"

The area around the Secret Realm Crystal was packed with adventurers. Lonely Swordsman had already entered the secret realm, selected Single Player Mode and the mission, and appeared once again on the familiar rooftop.

"Why does it feel like there haven't been many changes?"

Although the current secret realm checkpoint differed somewhat from Novice Mode, most of the scenes were nearly identical. The adventurers could not help feeling suspicious. Could it be that the lord had already run out of ideas?

He quickly picked up his starting equipment.

Then he began gathering supplies and exploring with practiced ease.

Along the way, he collected two pistols, a silenced Submachine Gun, and a large amount of ammunition.

Lonely Swordsman commented, "Although the number of Zombies has increased, there's no fundamental difference from Novice Mode."

The other adventurers also felt somewhat disappointed.

Checkpoint Mode did not even feel like old wine in a new bottle.

Sigh, the lord was still too young. They really could not hold unrealistic expectations that were too high!

Just as everyone thought this.

Lonely Swordsman turned a corner and came face-to-face with a Colossus.

It resembled a three- or four-hundred-pound fat man, blocking the way like a mountain of flesh. Its enormous belly hung exposed, its body bloated and grotesquely round, covered in festering sores. So savage, terrifying, and utterly different was it that everyone was given a huge fright!

"Fuck!"

"What the hell is that?!"

Lonely Swordsman instinctively fired several shots in rapid succession. The monster's body burst like a balloon, producing not only a violent Shockwave but also releasing a large amount of foul-smelling bile.

The moment he caught that overpowering, nauseating stench.

Lonely Swordsman felt dizzy and disoriented.

All the nearby Zombies were provoked and entered a berserk state, crazily swarming toward the area.

"Not good!"

"Knife Uncle, run!"

"That monster's bodily fluids can attract Zombies!"

Lonely Swordsman hurriedly retreated into the nearest small room. Using the narrow terrain, he defended himself with his Submachine Gun. After a fierce, bloody, heart-pounding battle, he had suffered multiple injuries and run out of ammunition just as he was about to kill the remaining Zombies.

Suddenly.

Whoosh!

With lightning speed.

A long tongue wrapped around the adventurer's neck.

Lonely Swordsman felt a powerful sensation of suffocation and pulling. He instinctively struggled, but he was completely unable to break free.

He was dragged straight out of the room. A grotesque Zombie stood before him, slightly taller than average, its entire body covered in clusters of green Spores, half its face obscured by tumors, and a huge mouth stretched across its face.

That tongue, stretching more than ten or twenty meters.

Had come from its enormous mouth.

He was completely unable to save himself.

Surrounded by Zombies.

There was no suspense.

He died On the Spot!

The other adventurers watching nearby were all dumbfounded, unable to calm down for a long time.

At that moment, every gaze was filled with shock. Then that shock transformed into wild delight!