Three days to clear the starting village and unlock a new map. That wasn't a bad pace.
I wonder how I stack up against the other players,
Yang Qizhou thought of the Bureau of Occult Investigation members and laughed rather unkindly. He didn't deny that they had noble character, but when it came to combat strength, they were total pushovers.
Onward, onward. The journey through the Ancient Earth was long, and he couldn't afford to slack off.
"You're glad Lena is coming and invite her to join you in seeking help in Dark Fog Town."
"Lena refuses. The protection of the Ancient Fire-Stealing God is fading, and unknown terrors are lurking in the Wilderness around Fire-Stealing Village. Bad things have already happened, and she has to stay behind to protect the villagers."
"You feel disappointed."
"Driven by curiosity, you ask Lena, almost as if in a trance, what exactly a 'wizard' is."
"Lena doesn't look particularly surprised. Perhaps she guessed you were interested in 'wizards' when you wanted to go to the 'Blasphemy Slate.'"
"Lena's expression is grave. After hesitating for a moment, she speaks."
"According to the revelations of the ancient gods, wizards are blasphemers, harbingers of calamity, and forbidden beings. In the previous era, they brought terrible disasters upon the Ancient Earth. The world nearly fell into their hands, but then the three Ancient God Kings awoke from their slumber and led the ancient gods in a united attack, finally defeating the wicked wizards."
"For that very reason, everyone on the Ancient Earth—the ancient gods, evil gods, hidden beings, divine kindreds, and Ancient Dominators—regards 'wizards' as taboo. If they encounter one, they will show no mercy and erase them from existence." 69ֆɦʊӼ.ƈօʍ
"You think of the [Kanrui's Wizard Ring], which holds the power of moonlight. It was embedded deep within the statue of the Moonlight Ancient God, a wizard's possession."
"You don't entirely believe Lena, but you don't say anything more."
"After a heartfelt farewell, you set out along the Divine Path, following the signposts toward 'Dark Fog Town.'"
Yang Qizhou grew interested.
For "wizards" to end up despised by gods and spirits throughout the Ancient Earth—to be loathed by the old gods, scorned by the ancient gods, and hunted by countless hidden beings—there had to be more to it than the few things Lena had told him. They might have done something earth-shattering in the previous era.
The text had also revealed something interesting: the game character didn't seem to believe Lena's account.
Could there be more to this?
"I think I'm getting a little addicted to this game. I can't stand leaving a mystery unsolved." Yang Qizhou muttered, downed a large glass of soda, and continued playing.
More text appeared on his phone.
"The Divine Path is a road forged by the ancient gods. It carries their protection, shielding the faithful traveling between towns from the strange terrors of the Wilderness."
"You tread along the road, its surface shimmering with colorful light, and gaze at the beautiful scenery before you, which looks like a divine kingdom."
"This is a symbol of the 'authority' left behind by the ancient god who forged the Divine Path."
"You stroll along at your leisure, believing the Divine Path's protection means you needn't worry about threats from the Wilderness. This will be an easy journey."
"Suddenly, you freeze."
"You see the road, shimmering with seven-colored light, come to an abrupt end before you. Beyond it lies the unknown and mysterious Wilderness."
"The Divine Path has disappeared."
"You curse Lena for being unreliable, since she said the Divine Path was protected by the gods and would be perfectly safe."
"The moment of choice has come again, you reckless explorer."
"Do you continue forward, following the signposts toward 'Dark Fog Town'?"
"Stay where you are and wait?"
"Or return to 'Fire-Stealing Village' and tell Lena what happened?"
Just as he'd expected. He knew this garbage game wouldn't let the character reach Dark Fog Town without a hitch.
But this was way too harsh.
It had just shattered the Divine Path, forcing the character to cross the mysterious and unknown Wilderness, where the uncanny and the terrifying dwelled side by side.
"I'm not the same pushover I was at the start. I've got the [Garment of the Hidden World], the [Ancient God's Lampfire], and the [Key to the Shepherd's Field], which lets me command two Root-Court Hounds. If some unknown terror in the Wilderness dares to show up, I'll sic the dogs on them." Yang Qizhou was brimming with confidence. Not only did he have no intention of giving up, he looked eager to try.
He wondered what storylines the three options would lead to.
After a moment's thought, Yang Qizhou chose "two" to see what would happen if the character stayed put.
"You choose to stay where you are and wait to see what happens."
"An unknown evil creature in the Wilderness has noticed you, but because you are still within the Divine Path's bounds and under the gods' protection, it decides not to attack."
"You continue waiting."
"You keep waiting."
"Another twisted life-form notices you, but it thinks you're trash and not worth challenging the Divine Path's protective power over. It attacks you."
"You continue waiting."
"You grow impatient and decide to set off for Dark Fog Town."
"Far away in the Wilderness, you see a figure in a long dress. A strange, eerie smile hangs on her face, her shadow is twisted and grotesque, and an evil aura radiates from her. Wherever she passes, the plants wither at once."
"She says you've finally left the village. She's been waiting for a long time."
"She also says no one has ever dared to toy with her. Even the Ancient Dominators must treat her with respect, yet you're the only bastard explorer who dared to deceive her and steal her wealth."
"This person is Aliceina."
"The overwhelming pressure makes you tremble, but when you remember that you can now command two 'Root-Court Hounds' and aren't the weakling you once were, you puff out your chest again."
"You order the 'Root-Court Hounds,' who can pass unseen between illusion and reality, to attack Aliceina."
"Your two 'Root-Court Hounds' rapidly age and die before they can even reach Aliceina."
"You discover that your teeth have fallen out, your skin is visibly shriveling, and your hair is rapidly turning white. You collapse to the ground, powerless."
"Aliceina drags you into the darkness. You vaguely hear her say, 'You only had two lowly hounds without even a "rank," and you dared to attack me. Your punishment is to become sustenance for the Scion of the Dark Night.'"
"You are devoured by invisible monsters."
"You die."
???
The character must have gone pretty far from Fire-Stealing Village by now, yet Resentful Maiden Aliceina could still track him down. Had she really set her sights on him? What had he done to deserve this?
People always said women held grudges. It looked like they were right.
Yang Qizhou had to hand it to her.
Time to keep playing.
"Explorer, you've died so many times you've lost count. Once again, you arrive at the River of Death."
"You have attracted the attention of an unknown being."
"The protective flame still flickers, and the raven caws. This time, will you draw on the power of fate to rewrite the outcome of your death, or blaspheme against fate and return to the moment when you last made a choice?"
"You choose to draw on the power of the 'Doom-Bringing Raven' and return to the moment when you last made a choice."
"The 'Root-Court Hounds' revive."
"You open your eyes and see the Divine Path, broken."
"You don't see Aliceina."
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