In a corner, the communication runes embedded in the Dark Spirit formation mage's flesh flashed frantically, casting a glaring red light.
"Why has the outer perimeter stalled? Where are the sacrifices?"
A gloomy voice carrying the threat of death echoed through the passage. The existence beneath the Silence Transfer Well had completely run out of patience.
The regional channel instantly erupted. The players showed no hesitation whatsoever; the screen was filled with party requests competing for spots to "pretend to be sacrifices." The Fourth Calamity had a natural obsession with hidden-map mechanics this dangerous.
[Tian Ce] watched the red light flicker like a countdown, then glanced at the uproar in the channel. His mind raced. The Star Spirit mage's warning still rang in his ears: high-level contamination could very likely damage the soul. Based on their earlier exchanges with the Star Spirit Race, that meant the Omen of Eternal Night might even harm the players' consciousness within their Blue Star bodies through the Dimensional Link.
"There's no time to sneak around and scout the path." [Tian Ce] slapped his thigh and made his decision. "No amount of planning beats a direct assault!"
He looked at his teammates, his gaze resolute. "The enemy has already noticed something wrong. There's not enough time. We'll take a few people down with us and use ourselves as explosives! We're not aiming for kills. We just need to cripple their sacrificial hub and map out the area below while we're at it!"
"I've been waiting for you to say that. Sneaking around has been suffocating." [Brute Force Yields Miracles] grinned, slung the Tower Shield onto his back, and looked eager to fight.
An elite player stepped out from the crowd. [Stellar Expedition] removed the high-tier dagger at his waist and handed it to a teammate