"You're back..."
Du Linyuan knelt on one knee on the black sand, feeling a sudden dizziness in his mind.
He lowered his head and raised his trembling hand.
Through the gap between the bright red groom's attire and the dead man's money, he could clearly see...
My own skin is turning gray and rotting...
But this is precisely his true trump card.
Or rather, this is the real Sequence 007 [Death Regression]!
When he faces certain death, time will be forcibly rewound to half an hour before the battle!
The price of forcibly reversing time is...
"To turn myself into a real corpse."
Without making a sound, Du Linyuan tugged at the cuff of the groom's suit, concealing the rotting flesh.
The only reason he can still stand here alive is because of the tattered bright red wedding robe he's wearing.
To be precise, this is a Demigod- level Weird Artifact!
[Item]: Ghost Emperor Robe
[Level]: Demigod
[Type]: Weird Artifact
[Function]: Wearing this item can protect the soul from Undying.
As long as the clothes are still there, the body can be reassembled and resurrected within three seconds.
If you die multiple times in a short period of time, the resurrection time will accumulate and become longer, and your strength will be greatly reduced.
[Information]: This was left behind by a peerless powerhouse who, betrayed by his fiancée, committed suicide in despair on the day of the Red Moon, transforming into a terrifying and bizarre being.
Everyone outside assumed that his resurrection within three seconds after being smashed to pieces was a case of "Death Regression."
But in reality, that was just the passive effect of [Ghost Emperor Robe].
This garment, ever since Lin Bayi dug him out of the soil of the ancient tomb.
He wore it and could never take it off.
"The side effect of Death Regression is physical decay and death, but the Ghost Emperor Robe can infinitely preserve my life..."
"What a perfect combination, it's like exploiting a bug!"
Du Linyuan sighed bitterly to himself, then raised his head and looked towards the [Prayer Deep Pool] amidst the raging wind and rain.
Let's get back to the main topic.
"I never imagined that the massive shell of Gabetan would house Duanlang? This is utterly absurd."
Du Linyuan recalled the despairing scene of being cleaved in two by an axe along with his mech in the previous playthrough, and his heart sank to the bottom.
Duanlang appeared to be completely devoid of consciousness, like a puppet capable only of killing.
It is even undergoing some kind of bizarre Fusion with Gabetan's body.
"Is this old Madman... trying to achieve godhood through an alternative path by devouring Evil God?"
"This is utterly insane..."
Du Linyuan took a deep breath, pondering a way to break the deadlock.
What are you spacing out for?
Zhang Lingqi, who was standing to the side, frowned and asked Du Linyuan, who had suddenly knelt down.
Du Linyuan shook his head, stood up, and patted the sand off his knees.
"Nothing..."
"Let's go... let's do it again."
Of course, he only silently recited the second half of the sentence in his mind.
Second Death Regression.
This time, with God perspective, Du Linyuan completely controlled the battle!
He anticipated all of Gabetan's struggles and attack trajectories, creating a perfect environment for Zhang Lingqi to unleash his attacks.
"Now! Slay him!"
Zhang Lingqi activated the Executioner, transforming into the Grim Reaper, and swung his blade!
He managed to get within the 10% kill threshold in the final moments, severing Gabetan's ugly, upside-down head cleanly at the root!
However, what is truly disheartening is...
Gabetan is not dead!
The severed head still seemed to be echoing in the deep sea.
Then, a similar Nightmare descended once again.
As Gabetan lay dying, Duanlang arrived as promised!
Meanwhile, Berris's Cyber Machine God crashed onto the battlefield at the perfect moment.
Even though Du Linyuan had given advance warning of Duanlang power, any tactic was futile in the face of such an absolute difference in strength.
Unsurprisingly, the three were once again Duanlang by Duan Lang's axe, and were wiped out on the spot!
The third Death Regression.
Du Linyuan returned to the beach once again.
At that moment, he finally realized...
The appearance of Duanlang has absolutely no direct causal relationship with Gabetan's death!
As long as they make a move against Gabetan at this time, Duanlang will definitely show up!
Since we can't defeat it, and we can't kill it... then we can only seal it away!
To save time, Du Linyuan directly revealed his secret of [Death Regression] to Zhang Lingqi.
Zhang Lingqi's pupils dilated sharply, but he recalled Du Linyuan's usual near-predictive abilities.
Some bizarre, even schizophrenic, behaviors were instantly accepted, and promises were made to absolutely obey orders.
Then, the two launched a full-speed attack, intercepting Berris, who was about to appear, directly on the sea!
"You're Berris from the Eagle Country, right?"
"We are the two vice-captains of the Huaxia Denglong Squad, and we have intelligence about Gabetan."
Should we fight it together?
Du Linyuan extended an olive branch.
However, this proud and rebellious young lady from the Eagle Country completely disregarded her.
Or rather, she was misled by Wan Changzheng and wanted to keep the so-called treasure for herself.
"Hmph, you guys definitely want K. Berris's head."
"Do whatever Berris!"
"I don't need to team up with you NPCs!"
After saying that, Berris didn't even give them a chance to explain before piloting the Machine God into the sea.
Thus, the three, fighting individually, once again suffered a devastating annihilation.
Even Gabetan couldn't be killed; instead, he was killed in return.
However, just one second before the Annihilation Ray.
Du Linyuan explained his Death Regression mechanism to Berris.
Berris finally opened Inner Voice.
"Hey, zombie man."
"If there's a next time, and you want Berris to believe you..."
"Just tell me my Supernatural Ability..."
"Sequence 002... Tron: Legacy..."
The words were finished.
The fourth Death Regression.
"Boom!"
On the sea, as soon as the Machine God descended, Du Linyuan went directly to the front of the mech.
He explained Berris's abilities without any expression on his face.
Inside the cockpit, Berris's expression was serious, all traces of her previous joking demeanor gone.
Because of her Supernatural Ability, only her grandfather knew about it...
"Zombie Man, how did you know about Berris's Supernatural Ability?"
She maneuvered the giant sword of the Machine God and aimed it at Du Linyuan.
That's because...
Du Linyuan smiled and Death Regression to Berris.
So, Berris agreed to the team request with some skepticism.
This time, the three shared intelligence and cooperated seamlessly, crushing Gabetan with overwhelming force!
The Machine God summoned four giant swords, each a hundred meters long, pinning Gabetan to the seabed rock!
Zhang Lingqi added [Death Declaration], sealing off his recovery ability.
Seal successful!
But...
The Duanlang, and the man once again tore through the sea, arriving as expected!
"Run!!"
Zhang Lingqi rushed towards Duanlang to cover the two of them, but was instantly crushed into a bloody mist by the axe blade!
Having taken precautions, Berris held on for a few more seconds this time.
The moment her mech was cleaved in two, though her body died, her soul revealed her true abilities!
Sequence 002, Tron: Legacy!
The Supernatural Ability allows one to transform themselves into a soul and attach themselves to any object!
To perfectly manipulate the other party!
Just as Duanlang swung his giant axe, intending to kill Du Linyuan...
But then he discovered that the giant axe had suddenly become uncontrollable and had detached from his left hand!
That was Berris, who transformed into an electronic ghost and instantly seized the giant axe from Duanlang's hand!
"Zombie Man! Grab me!"
Berris wields a giant axe, cleaving through the waves!
She forcibly led Du Linyuan, fleeing towards the deep sea!
"Good!"
Du Linyuan gritted his teeth and ran as fast as he could.
He had to live a little longer, even if it was just for one more second, so he could see more of Duanlang's true nature!
However, the gap in strength is insurmountable.
Duanlang a step forward and instantly caught up with them.
His right hand, shrouded in Black Mist, reached out and grasped the struggling giant axe.
He stared at the axe expressionlessly.
Then, Black Mist surged in his eyes, and several bolts of silent black lightning shot into the giant axe through his palm!
"Aaaaaah!!!"
Berris's mournful wail echoed from within the giant axe.
Immediately afterwards, the faint electronic glow went out, and the giant axe returned to its lifeless silence.
Without any hesitation, Duanlang raised his giant axe and swung it again at Du Linyuan's back, delivering the fatal blow.
"Damn it... is this not even okay...?"
Du Linyuan stared at the axe-like light that tore through the deep sea, despair flashing in his eyes.
Killing them won't work, leaving them near death won't work, and even sealing them won't work!
This is a dead end!
But just as his body was cleaved open and his consciousness was about to dissipate...
A whisper suddenly came from the depths of the sea.
"Yama Holds Court; those who have committed crimes, come forth and see him..."
Is it a hallucination?
Du Linyuan's consciousness gradually faded...
But the next moment, the two halves of the body widened their eyes to their maximum size!
Because of his surroundings...
A dark red barrier, obscuring the sky and the sun, like an overturned bowl, enveloped the entire deep sea!
Above the Duanlang, a man stood on the air, looking down at the Duanlang below.
"It's him... he really didn't die..."
Du Linyuan felt as if he had finally seen a ray of light in the endless darkness.
Then, everything went black.
The fifth Death Regression...
The sea breeze howled.
"They're back again..."
Du Linyuan knelt once again on this familiar beach, the rotting flesh on his body growing an inch larger.
But the light in his eyes was astonishingly bright.
He finally figured out the rules of this deadly game.
Whether Gabetan lives or dies, the Duanlang will surely descend.
But at the same time, he also obtained the most crucial intelligence.
Berris possesses the divine skill of possessing weapons!
If used properly, it can be an extremely powerful tool.
But... that's not enough!
If the dark red barrier I saw before I died was real...
Du Linyuan lowered his head.
He needs stronger forces to change that hopeless future.
What are you spacing out for?
Zhang Lingqi's voice came from beside him again; this was the fifth time he had asked the same question.
Du Linyuan took a deep breath, stood up, stared intently at Zhang Lingqi, and spoke with an unprecedentedly serious tone.
"Dog Egg, are you willing to believe me?"
Zhang Lingqi frowned, puzzled. "Why did you say something like that before the fight even started?"
Answer me.
Du Linyuan stared intently at him, "Are you willing to believe me?"
Zhang Lingqi felt a chill run down his spine under his gaze, unable to understand what was wrong with this Madman this time, but ultimately still answered...
"Believe."
Du Linyuan smiled, a smile that seemed to convey a sense of relief.
"Alright, let's go back first."
"Go back?"
Zhang Lingqi was even more puzzled.
Are you scared?!
Du Linyuan had already turned around and waved to him with his back to him.
You will understand me.
Then, he quickly walked back the way he came.
He knew very well that the time for Death Regression was only half an hour.
In other words, Berris will be airdropped onto the battlefield precisely half an hour later.
He must find the person who can truly break this deadlock within this precious half hour.
And that person...
Du Linyuan already understood.
Outside the RV.
Zhao Yan was stunned when he saw the two people who had returned.
Why are you back?
"Have you come to a decision and are you planning to carry out the original plan for the final assault at 8 PM tonight?"
"I knew it! Joint operations are the safest bet..."
Zhang Lingqi stared coldly at Du Linyuan's back.
Could this kid really be a coward at heart?
Du Linyuan ignored Zhang Lingqi's murderous gaze, shook his head, and looked at Zhao Yan.
"No, it's because we don't have enough manpower right now. I'd like to... borrow some people."
"Borrow someone?!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lingqi was furious!
He grabbed Du Linyuan by the collar of his wedding dress, lifted him up halfway, and roared.
"Du Linyuan, are you insane?! Are you going to use them as cannon fodder to die?!"
"Gabetan is Quasi-God!"
"You can resurrect indefinitely, and I have a bunch of Death God Sequence to protect myself, but what do they have?!"
"They'll just be throwing their lives away!"
Zhang Lingqi's anger was not without reason.
Within the entire Dragon Squad, apart from Captain Lin Bayi, the two of them are the only ones whose strength is at a significantly higher level.
The other team members couldn't even withstand a single glance from the Evil God!
Du Linyuan remained expressionless in the face of Zhang Lingqi's fury.
He offered no explanation.
This was an experiment he built with rotting flesh and lives.
He'd gotten used to being misunderstood so many times over.
"Alright! Deputy Captain Zhang, calm down and let go!"
Zhao Yan rebuked him in a deep voice, then sighed, his gaze becoming resolute.
"Deputy Captain Du's words make sense. Since we lack firepower, we should increase our numbers!"
"I can't control other people's lives, but if you need..."
Zhao Yan drew his sword. "You can take my old life!"
"Even if it means being cannon fodder, as long as it can cost that Evil God a piece of flesh."
"Even when I get down there, I can still brag to my dead brothers for the rest of my life!"
"Chief Zhao..."
Zhang Lingqi loosened his grip, but his eyes remained stubbornly fixed on Du Linyuan. "Does it have to be this way?"
Du Linyuan still did not answer Zhang Lingqi.
He simply turned his head, looked at Zhao Yan who was resolute in the face of death, and gently shook his head.
"Chief Zhao, you've misunderstood."
"The person I want to borrow... is not you, nor these soldiers."
The words had barely left his mouth.
Du Linyuan bypassed the crowd and stared directly at the Funeral Squad not far away.
Following his gaze...
At the very end of the line was a Stainless Steel Tombstone being relentlessly struck by lightning.
Du Linyuan stretched out his pale finger, pointed it into the distance, and uttered a startling statement.
"The one I want to borrow... is him."