I, a Reincarnation Stream Player

They made their way to the roof of a shopping mall. The view was wide open, with a small plaza directly in front of them and residential blocks all around. The buildings were five or six stories tall, with staircases instead of elevators and mottled, weather-beaten exterior walls.

"Let's take a break." Yuki glanced at Hayasaka Ai, who was bent over with her hands on her knees, panting, then took a tablet out of her backpack.

It was one of the information terminals they'd confiscated from the SWAT team. The police had vanished in the night, leaving only a solitary blue dot in the vast city.

"When are we going to save her?" Hayasaka Ai asked for the second time, refusing to let it go.

"She's three kilometers away in a straight line, and still hasn't moved. Li Dan's probably trying to win her over. This instance doesn't notify us when a player dies, so they don't know whether we're alive or dead."

"So Li Dan's her only option now? That makes sense. If we're dead, Mai Sakurajima has no choice but to obey. It plays on both friendship and the instinct to survive." Hayasaka Ai gave a cold, mocking smile, then pressed on. "But there's something I don't understand. Why does Mai Sakurajima have to choose between you and him? Haven't you proven your worth?"

"Because he isn't stupid. He suspects I'm directly connected to the instance's abnormality. He's using his experience and doing the simplest process of elimination."

Yuki raised his head to look at the Crimson Moon. He couldn't read minds; all he could do was guess.

Common sense said that he should try to recruit a talented newcomer. That wouldn't have stopped him from using Mai Sakurajima, either. Li Dan was simply too clever.

He'd pinpointed the exact period when the instance started acting strangely. And during that period, Yuki hadn't been under his watch. Once he'd confirmed that Hayasaka Ai and Mai Sakurajima had nothing to do with it, who else could the culprit be?

It didn't matter why the abnormality had occurred or whether Yuki was responsible.

"Better to kill the wrong person than let the right one go. Li Dan's a real piece of work."

Hayasaka Ai looked at him without asking whether Li Dan's guess was right. Frowning, she said, "If that's the case, why not just kill you?"

"Because he hasn't gotten everything he can out of me yet. And because he wants to clear the instance himself, which means he needs Mai Sakurajima's trait." Yuki shot her a look, then rested his hands on the railing and gazed into the distance, lowering his voice. "He couldn't be sure which side Mai would take if he turned on us outright. So he used a scheme to split up the team and let the Living Corpses kill us."

"But we're alive. We can go back and expose him." Hayasaka Ai's brows shot up in anger. Veteran players who treated newcomers like tools while pretending to be kind made her sick.

"Right. That's why we have to die. He can't control the Living Corpses, but he's still got an ace up his sleeve."

Clap. Clap. Clap.

As soon as he finished speaking, applause rang out. Yuki and Hayasaka Ai tensed and turned toward the rooftop entrance at the same time.

Beneath the Crimson Moon, a man in a leather jacket sat cross-legged. The night wind stirred his short hair, which had a streak of red in it. He raised his right hand, gripping a—

Crimson Chainsaw Greatsword!

Chapter 41: You Have to Die! (Revised)

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Thomas gave a gentle round of applause. It wasn't exactly enthusiastic, but it was full of admiration.

"That was some impressive reasoning. Are you a medical student or a detective? You actually got most of it right."

His voice held a note of curiosity. Seeing the two of them staring at him with their bodies tense, he shook his head helplessly.

"Don't be so nervous. I like reading mystery novels. I can't sleep if I don't get the answers, so you've satisfied my curiosity. In return, I'll let you die knowing the truth." He wasn't nervous, nor did he need to be. He was like a cat with a mouse trapped in a corner. Without waiting for an answer, he asked, "When did you realize he was going to make a move?"

Yuki watched his every movement, then opened his dry mouth. "Just now, I only had reasonable suspicions. But now I'm sure."

Thomas was taken aback. His eyes widened slightly, then he applauded again.

"Brilliant. So you were deliberately following the script, waiting until the right time and place to confirm the danger. Oh, and hoping you might still be able to turn things around."

He understood now. There were no Living Corpses nearby, and it wasn't time for the Crimson Moon to deliver its gifts. If they were going to turn on each other, this was the best moment—at least they wouldn't have to worry about the instance's enemies joining the fight.

"So when did you start suspecting me? Let me guess—it must have been when he sent me a message. Impressive. You figured that alone was enough to suspect there was more to our relationship."

In that instant, Thomas had noticed that Yuki hadn't looked surprised. Clearly, he'd guessed Thomas was coming. But Thomas couldn't figure out where he'd let something slip.

"It's normal for veteran players to exchange information in secret. I didn't suspect anything. You two were both excellent actors."

"Then how..." Thomas's open mouth froze. He saw Yuki raise his hand and pat his own shoulder three times, with just the right amount of force.

"People can't easily hide their physical habits. Li Dan only does that to people he trusts. Once I had my suspicions, I could focus on you and spot more clues." Yuki lowered his hand and slowly smiled. "For example, you two seemed to have a terrible relationship, but worked together perfectly. And when Robert said the instance's difficulty was absurd, I deliberately brought up your name. Maybe I did it too suddenly, because his expression changed instinctively."

"Another example: time was so tight, yet he stopped less than a kilometer from the rendezvous point and didn't move. You didn't go looking for him, either."

Thomas drew in a breath. The curiosity and admiration in his eyes gave way to wariness. He'd thought Yuki might have a skill for observing the future or something similar.

Now it seemed that Yuki had simply outmaneuvered them through sheer attention to detail, bringing himself silently closer to the truth with nothing but human senses.

That was even more frightening. It was as if he'd been born for the game. Who knew how far he might go?

"You really are impressive. I'm starting to think you might not have gotten anything from the Reincarnation Game at all. Maybe your very existence is what made the instance go haywire."

Well, you guessed right. Didn't it all start when he unlocked his trait?

"Mr. Thomas, do you also think I got some kind of divine artifact, or a skill that changed the game's difficulty?"

"Of course not. In my experience, every reward from the Reincarnation Game comes from a struggle. Why would it correct itself just because you gained something?"

"Then what grounds do you have to suspect me?" Yuki was annoyed. His trait was unusual, sure, but it was nowhere near the level of a cheat like "Wind Spirit Moon Shadow."

"Instinct. The first time I saw you, I thought you deserved to die." Thomas held the greatsword and steadily closed in, the pressure growing more intense with every step.

"That's your ridiculous reason?"

"Ha! What other reason would there be? You can't tell me you haven't run into anything unusual." Thomas took a second step. Seeing Yuki fall silent, he laughed. "See? Li Dan and I really can affect the instance's difficulty, but high risk means high rewards. If the rewards suddenly have a problem, there has to be another cause."

"There are only a few new players. The fat guy's with Li Dan, and the housewife's with me. That leaves just you three suspects. And you've had way too much of a starring role. Isn't the answer obvious?"

Li Dan had deliberately handed the spotlight to Yuki. Yuki had left the Ancient Castle, fought through the encirclement, and killed the Tyrant. He really had been impossible to ignore. But he hadn't had much choice. Was he supposed to sit around and wait to die?

"Has one player ever affected the game's difficulty?" Yuki quietly backed away. He wanted an answer from a veteran player, too.

"I've never heard of it. If Li Dan hadn't spent ages explaining it to me, I wouldn't have believed it either." Thomas shrugged. Truthfully, he still didn't believe it. It was just that there was no other explanation.

He'd talked to the other players. The idea that the difficulty could suddenly skyrocket was absurd. Once they got back, he might be able to sell this strange experience for a good price.

"Fine, let's say it's my fault." Yuki raised both hands in a futile gesture of surrender. "Will killing me fix the problem? Don't you want to know what's strange about me?"

"Don't care. Don't know. Either way, there's no harm in killing you." Thomas's reasoning was crude and simple, but it was hard to deny that it was the best choice.

The more ordinary players knew, the more danger they were in. Judging by the situation, if the Reincarnation Game wanted them dead, they should just eliminate the source of the danger. Maybe the game would take pity on them.

As the saying went, every wrong had its source and every debt its debtor. Yuki had caused the abnormality, so they shouldn't drag the rest of them into it.

Thud.

Thomas jumped onto the rooftop, cracking the floor beneath his feet. Casually, he asked, "Still, I'll give you a chance. Tell me the clue for getting out of the Ancient Castle."

The question seemed unrelated to what was happening now, but it sounded important.

"If I tell you, I'll still die."

"At least you'll die quickly and cleanly. Of course, I don't think you have any clues at all. You're just bluffing."

"I do. But first, let me die knowing the truth." Yuki raised his voice, as if that might ease his fear.

"Fine. Then let's make a gentleman's agreement." The man didn't press him. He was clearing the instance too, just in his own way.

Vroooom—

The Chainsaw Sword cut through the floor, spraying dazzling sparks as Thomas charged straight at him. Yuki seemed more interested in getting an answer.

"A player's Ego Trait is a bound skill. How can Li Dan steal it?"

"Who told you it couldn't be stolen? Under certain conditions, special items, skills, and even other players' traits can all be taken."

"I get it. So that's why Li Dan wants me dead. He wants Mai to trust him and depend on him, so he can meet the conditions?" Yuki's eyes widened, his face alight with excitement. "Trust—that's the condition for stealing traits!"

Thomas stopped abruptly. He hadn't revealed anything useful, yet Yuki had reasoned out the truth. He let out a bemused laugh and cracked his neck with a series of pops.

"Hahahaha! You're something else. This is really interesting. But I—"

BANG!!

The rooftop shuddered. The roaring chainsaw arrived before the end of Thomas's sentence.

"I hate clever people most of all!"

The floor was carved apart, and the railing snapped in two like a sheet of paper. In an instant, a whole corner of the mall's roof was gone.

Stone fragments flew everywhere, only to be shredded into dust by the chainsaw. Thomas narrowed his eyes slightly and flicked his foot upward.

BANG—

A flashbang exploded in midair, lighting up the night sky, but didn't cause the slightest injury.

"Looks like you want a more painful death."

He gave a cruel smile and strode out through the dust. No one was in front of him. Only a rope hung from the railing. During their questions and answers, the guy had quietly hooked a strap over the railing, then turned and leaped off the roof.

Dividing his attention. Not bad.

Thomas plunged the greatsword into the floor and cut a circle, dropping through the level below as easily as slicing tofu.

Crash.

He fell amid the rubble. Yuki, who had just run into the mall, looked back and saw Thomas crouching in the corridor. Without a second thought, he raised his gun and fired.

Clang, clang, clang.

Sparks flew from the greatsword as it shielded Thomas's body. Then he charged at inhuman speed, covering the distance in just a few strides.

A skill related to dynamic vision.

Yuki licked his lips and fired controlled bursts, changing his aim several times. Thomas moved to block each shot in advance, which meant he could accurately predict where Yuki was aiming.

Yuki simply threw his rifle away. He saw it turn into a pile of broken parts in midair, then rolled backward the instant Thomas lunged forward.

Whoosh—

A straight crack was carved into the floor. Thomas kept charging, using his core to pull the greatsword up from behind him, then immediately swinging it sideways.

The vending machine and the wall behind it were cleaved in two. Drinks sprayed everywhere, but the Chainsaw Sword showed no sign of getting stuck. Thomas twisted his waist and swung backhanded, smashing the two objects thrown at him in midair.

Bang.

A fine white powder burst out, filling the corridor. Thomas froze, listening closely. Several seconds passed before he slowly straightened.

"Fast escape."

He glanced at the remains of the fire extinguisher by his foot, and the interest in his eyes deepened.

This newcomer wasn't ordinary. He'd stayed calm under Thomas's attacks and used the environment to fight back. That already put him beyond most ordinary people.

The location he'd chosen was interesting, too. He'd lured all the Living Corpses away, so there were no creatures around to warm the Chainsaw Sword. Otherwise, with just one or two tiers of growth, Thomas could have crushed this clever little trick with sheer speed and strength.

"Looks like you've still got an ace to play. I'm curious, too—what makes you think you can get the Reincarnation Game to change the difficulty?"

He reached up and lowered his glasses over his eyes. In thermal mode, the world turned gray and white. A few drops of warm blood on the floor led off into the distance.

Tap, tap, tap.

He tapped the back of his hand rhythmically against the wall. With unhurried steps, Thomas dragged his sword deeper into the mall, his humming echoing through the dead-silent building.

"Hide well, run with all your might. The Grim Reaper is coming to your side."

Chapter 42: Hesitate, and You Lose! (Second Update)

Huff, huff, huff.

Outside the cold-storage room, breath frosted in the air. Yuki leaned against the wall and slowly tied a tourniquet around his left arm.

His body acted on instinct while his brain raced at full speed. He wasn't cowering in a cabinet like a frightened little animal. His mind was icy and clear.

Just as I thought. His Chaos Item needs to be fed flesh and blood to unleash its full power.

Under the moon at the Ancient Castle, everyone else had been focused on escaping. Yuki alone had still had enough attention to carefully observe the veteran player's combat ability. Even under that kind of pressure, Thomas hadn't held back, and Yuki had seen it all.

The more Thomas killed, the more frenzied he became. Before long, he could barely control himself, but the tradeoff was incredible destructive power. He was like a human demolition machine, cutting down hundreds of Living Corpses.

The Chaos Item isn't the only thing enhancing him. His physical strength must be at the Limit level, and he's clearly trained with a European Greatsword and in Freestyle Combat. Add a skill related to dynamic vision, and, yeah, he's definitely a player who specializes in combat.

Unlike Li Dan, whom Yuki could never quite figure out, Thomas was straightforward and easier to assess.

Before he became a player, Thomas must have already been in excellent shape. He's cleared no more than two instances, but he's definitely beyond the ordinary. Still, apart from specializing in combat, he won't have as many aces as Li Dan.

Yuki rolled his shoulders and wrapped his thick coat tightly around himself. He hadn't gone on at such length just to buy time to escape. Before a fight, he needed to learn as much as possible about his opponent.