Chapter 304
"Very few; most are recorded in mythology, and they contradict each other. I have taken photos of the relevant content and will continue to analyze it in my spare time."
"No rush. Do the Tower Explorer Alliance and the Rebels have that?"
"Even less, there are no records of previous explorations of the tower, it seems to be some kind of taboo, including a scarcity of historical books, let alone a timeline." Hiyori tilted her head slightly, frowning in thought, "But I am certain that the Alliance's directly affiliated tower explorers are the ones who truly want to activate the tower, while the Rebels are truly preventing all forces from exploring the tower."
So the human factions can be divided into the Alliance, Nobles, and Rebels, and there's no historical record? No wonder I didn't see any era names or dates.
What is the reason?
"The Alliance sees it as a mission, while the Rebels consider exploring the tower an ominous sign, which is related to the contradictions in the mythology." Hiyori read through her memories, her voice resounding. "In mythology, the Witch God is recorded as the creator, the mother of all living things; but on the other hand, she is also recorded as the destroyer, the most vile and brutal demon."
One god with two sexes, that's interesting. From the human perspective, the real protagonists are the Alliance and the Rebels; those kingdom nobles may seem powerful, but they're actually just there for show.
Yuki, feeling more confident, looked at the dazed Frieren and asked, "Miss Frieren, could you explain to us what's going on with those strange power systems of the wizards, Miss Frieren?"
The Mushroom, who had been lost in thought, suddenly snapped out of it and realized that everyone was staring at her. With her extensive experience in the magical world, her opinion was naturally important.
"Well, that's not uncommon. Not every being in every world can obtain energy from the outside world and use it directly in reality. Some Transcendental Grade's bodies are more like filters, absorbing energy into their bodies and then releasing it through different mediums."
Next comes some difficult-to-understand terms, such as 'particle compression,' 'etheric Trace On,' and 'energy frequency.' Some players of Aether Particles like to explore the theory and trace the origins of their power while using it.
Mai Sakurajima and the others naturally couldn't understand a single word of the theory, Yuki, being a transmigrator, was slightly better off.
It's somewhat like the Magic Circuit in the Type-Moon World, where wizards filter unknown energy from the air with their bodies and store it in their Soul Crystal. When not activated, it functions as an energy source, like the electric lights in a small town.
Once activated, depending on the wizard's affinity for the Soul Crystal, their own physique, the method of use, and the purity of the Soul Crystal itself, it can be used for various purposes such as attack, support, and protective shields.
"No wonder these things are everywhere, no wonder these wizards don't live long." Yuki. Isn't this just carrying around a reactor? And you have to use your body to filter out toxic substances and fill it in.
"Yes, the Soul Crystal is the core of civilization on the Red Earth Continent. Most of the Soul Beasts have been hunted down, except for a large number found inside and outside the tower, so—"
"That's why the tower is so lively when all the factions are celebrating, like it's New Year's. This tower is where the monsters spawn." Yuki clapped his hands lightly, completely understanding the logic of the dungeon.
Soul Crystal are similar to Emerald Stone, but they are not as troublesome to use as they are for the Defense Force. Any wizard can use them, even the lowest level four wizards can use them as a power bank.
"Beware of that Tower Explorer Alliance. The Witch God is definitely not just a background story. Don't you think the mythology has been merged?"
Everyone was taken aback, pondered for a few seconds, and then their eyes lit up.
The Witch Beasts is the flesh and blood of the Witch God, and the Soul Crystal is a product of the Witch Beasts. This thing created a splendid civilization, but it is also a poison. Monster-level powerhouses cannot live past seventy years old, which is a shocking thing in any world.
"The Alliance wants to resurrect the Witch God?" Mai Sakurajima asked tentatively.
"I don't know, maybe He never died. Anyway, the tower will give us all the answers."
When the time came, the chat room constructed by the special feature collapsed, Yuki's attention returned to reality. Before him stood a colossal tower that seemed to reach the heavens, and only upon closer inspection could one truly appreciate its immense size.
Towering into the clouds, with a diameter exceeding 500 meters, its surface is smooth and seamless, as if cast from some kind of metal, and there are no windows or anything like that in sight.
A dark red tower stood tall in the valley. Yuki looked around and saw the word 'fanaticism' on the faces of the mercenaries.
A legacy of the gods, a product of the Miracle —even players rarely see such a massive man-made structure, let alone these natives.
Many people knelt down, touched their heads to the ground, and murmured scriptures, much like they were on a pilgrimage. But when he thought about how they were going to hunt 'the flesh and blood of God', Yuki felt a pang of irony.
Yes, the energy particles in the air are several orders of magnitude higher, no wonder we can't see ordinary people.
Yuki observed his surroundings and could see a faint mist floating in the air with the naked eye. To ordinary people, this would be a poisonous fog, causing even plants to mutate. The only person who dared to approach was a level four wizard.
The mountain range extends into the valley, and several kilometers away there is a dark red wall of mist, like a cloak covering the tower.
Ten minutes left.
He glanced at his watch. The time when the tower would open was no longer a question; it seemed etched in the hearts of every native. They were waiting, waiting for the call of the gods.
Yuki suppressed the urge to rush into the fog wall, sitting listlessly on his horse. Having killed bishops and faced apostles, he had little interest in mystical religion. He heard the sound of hooves, and hundreds of people emerged from all parts of the mountains.
With banners waving, the army of the Meso Kingdom and its allies advanced in battle formation. There were no ordinary soldiers among them; these thousands of people were all wizards. Behind them were the hundred-man squads of each tower explorer, who were responsible for exploring the tower.
The noble army has three groups of tower explorers, and the Alliance has one group.
Yuki saw a tower explorer dressed in black robes, carrying a coffin on his back, who didn't even show his eyes. His intuition told him that these people were more powerful. Because the valley was too vast, each team occupied a hilltop, and on the right side, a few people stood out quite conspicuously.
They didn't even invite the natives; the seven of them stood alone on the mountain, yet they were all wearing similar black uniforms. The three leaders made Yuki raise his eyebrows.
One was a blond man, tall and muscular; another was a dark-haired girl, tall and slender; and the third stood ramrod straight, like a corporate slave.
Do I have some kind of karmic connection with the "Hyakki Yagyō" (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) faction? It seems like the Demon Slayer Corps, the CCG, the Super Disaster Countermeasures Office, and even the Jujutsu Masters are all there?
Yes, Yuki recognized these three at a glance. It seems that the 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons' is also harmonious and friendly. If these three saw cursed spirits or demons, they would probably beat the dog's brain out.
Aside from a few henchmen, the three leaders are:
Kyojuro Rengoku, Yomi Isayama, and Kento Nanami.
Chapter Four: Overbearing Aura (6K)
That's interesting, really interesting.
No one could tell the other party's faction with just one glance like Yuki, and further connect that to the faction composition of the 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons'.
Judging from the faction name, the pioneer of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons must be a 'demon', and their faction conflict is even more acute than the chaotic dance of demons in 'Aether Particles'.
Humans and demons are locked in a deadly conflict, their hatred irreconcilable. Judging from observations, there are at least three worlds: 'Demon Slayer,' 'Jujutsu Kaisen,' and 'Ga-Rei,' all of which, without exception, depict a hunter-prey relationship.
It seems the human players aren't doing too badly; they weren't blocked at the door by the demons, and they just ate them one by one as they came up.
"You know those three players?" Frieren noticed the gaze and looked over, but couldn't recognize them at all. "They're pretty good, especially the three leading them."
Experienced players have a keen intuition; two of the leaders were carrying knives, clearly skilled in close combat.
"I shouldn't know you, but I do; this situation is generally called 'familiarity'."
"What utter nonsense!"
Yuki shook his head, but unfortunately the Mushroom didn't appreciate his sense of humor. He nodded slightly in response to the gaze directed at him, and then went to examine the tower.
"Does anyone know this player?" Kento Nanami asked slowly. He found the gaze he had just received strange, but he didn't recognize the player.
His companions shook their heads, thinking that Mr. Nanami was making a fuss over nothing; shouldn't players be scrutinized before meeting?
"Hahaha, you seem pretty strong, maybe even stronger than me." Kyojuro laughed heartily, crossing his arms. "It's a pity that look wasn't a challenge, it was more like an old friend greeting each other."
"What makes you think he's better than you? And why are you acting like old friends?" Kento Nanami adjusted his glasses, somewhat unaccustomed to this comrade-in-arms.
"Just a glance from him gets my blood pumping, how could he not be strong!"
"Please don't let unfounded intuition interfere with my judgment."
"Alright, you two, stop arguing. Why can't you ever get along?" The girl made a 'pause' gesture, a Pocky stick dangling from her lips. "Those evil creatures adjusted the permissions. We finally managed to get this faction quest, so we're going to make a big splash this time."
Some permissions were held by the enemy side, who conveniently modified the mission acceptance frequency, making it difficult for them to receive faction missions.
"Mr. Gojo sent us out here, so we're definitely going to do something big and close the gap between us." Kyojuro nodded emphatically, then revealed a gloating smile, "Have you heard? Last time, during the faction mission, the evil creatures had a terrible time. They got nothing, and only one of them escaped."
"There's an old saying that those who do many evil deeds will surely perish. Those evil creatures can't get along with most players, it's a pity that the cursed spirit didn't die." Kento Nanami smoothed his wind-blown hair, his eyes cold. "Senior's plan is progressing. We will unite players from other factions to completely turn the tide."
"The most important thing is secrecy, and the people you find must be reliable. Otherwise, if things get out of control, it could lead to a catastrophe, a catastrophe with no winners."
Yomi Isayama's words are very true and cruel. Cross-faction wars mean risks, and these risks are multifaceted. For example, after the news is leaked, players from other factions will turn their Outpost into battlefields. The best way to resolve this is through internal negotiation.
There's no way around it. The 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons' is different from other factions. There's only one clear dividing line here: either be a demon or be a human. Demons eat humans, and humans kill demons. What's more troublesome is that demons are stronger than humans.
Seeing that her words had upset her companions, Yomi Isayama patted her face, clasped her hands together in apology, and said, "We'll find a way. At worst, we'll ask the Hunters for help. Just focus on the quest; this time we're going to make a killing!"
The harvest represents the Destiny of the faction, Kento Nanami could feel the pressure as he glanced at the dashing young woman.
"Now that you're the captain, what should you do?"
"No, no, no, Kyojuro and Nanami are more like captains." Yomi didn't care about empty titles, lightly stroking the red-hilted longsword at his waist. "You guys decide these things. I'll just be a quiet observer and watch."
"Which players have the potential to cooperate?"
Ding ding ding--
As soon as the words were spoken, the bell rang, and everyone except the players knelt down on the spot, chanting unknown scriptures. The fragmented sounds gathered together and spread towards the sky.
The clouds parted, Incandescence sunlight shone on me, feeling like a gaze from the heavens, filling me with a strange sense of sacredness.
Then, the fog wall opened, revealing the entire valley.
The red soil, the dark red dense forest, and the shadowy figures moving within added a touch of fear and greed to the sacred atmosphere. Yuki turned his head and saw that the morale of each team was flustered. Many wooden boxes were carried to the front of the formation, and when opened, they gleamed with golden light.
"Brothers, the Witch Beasts has appeared! If we do a good job, we won't have to worry about anything in our next life!"
Peggy's screams mingled with the mercenaries' The Roar; with such a hefty reward, brave men would surely come, and all factions were eager to get started.
Yuki expressionless, the dense forest obscuring his view, but he had a feeling:
Many people will die this time. No wonder it only happens once every seventy years; it's enough to wipe out most of the wizards accumulated over the years. So, who is hunting whom?
He knew there was a problem, but he was powerless to stop it, because that's human nature—greed can override all reason.
"Stop howling like a banshee and clear the way. I need to get as close to the Tower of Asura as possible."
Yuki's face clearly showed he was going to be cannon fodder, but no one objected. Peggy yelled, "Brothers, follow me!" and the chaotic group swept past Yuki.
Frieren sat upright on his horse, casting an inquiring glance, "Should we go slowly or quickly, or should we test the waters first and then change targets if things don't look right?"
Military flags fluttered as thousands of soldiers surged in, accompanied by a flurry of magical attacks, resembling festive fireworks.
Yuki watched the fireworks, spurred his horse to catch up, and said only one sentence, "I want to gain freedom of movement as quickly as possible, so I can then deal with the players."
Free?
Frieren thought about it for a moment, and indeed, the hint contained a way to gain freedom.
[Tip 3: Players need to stay in the tower for at least seven days or reach the top floor to wait for all sub-towers to activate and the Witch God's Tower to open. Players who fail to meet the requirements will be eliminated.]
[Hint Four: Each faction can only choose one tower to enter. You can change your target. Tip 3 resets the conditions.]
Tips 3 and 4: Bind players to the tower. Unless absolutely necessary, it's best for a faction not to change targets, because no one knows when the tower will automatically activate, and if the target isn't completed by then, you're doomed.
But this leaves a way to make activation controllable.
[Tip 2: Activating the sub-tower requires the Witch Spirit or related permissions. The Witch Spirit will automatically activate the main tower at the appropriate time.]
Frieren immediately understood what the man meant: if you hold the power of activation in your own hands, wouldn't that mean freedom of movement?
He wants to kill the Witch Spirit and become the master of the Tower of Asura.
The dark red forest was dense, but it was not dim under the magical light.
Seven teams stormed into the valley from all directions, and the fierce battle raged on. Every now and then, beams of light shot straight into the sky, accompanied by deafening roars, and large swathes of forest were burned down.
Yuki had no intention of joining the battle; he watched Peggy and the others fight desperately from his horse. They fought in small squads, and were more like a group of modern infantry than traditional Western fantasy wizards.
In small-team combat, the Soul Crystal embedded in their armor emitted dazzling energy, forming protective shields.
Energy clings to the swords, making them resemble a group of Jedi Knights from afar, their physical abilities rapidly enhanced, leaving afterimages in the forest; the staffs are more like laser cannons, beams of light cleaving trees as hard as steel in half.
Without a magic circle, the released energy is imbued with effects such as fire, frost, and hurricane simply because of individual differences in aptitude.
"Interesting. The civilization of this world has clearly formed a power system, with combat power ranging from the Limit to the Transcendental Grade." Yuki observed carefully, nodding occasionally. At least in terms of team coordination, it had a bit of a Western fantasy adventure feel to it.
"How many squads can you take on?" Frieren asked more intently; she was an expert.
"Judging from the battlefield environment, a hundred men might cause some trouble in a battle on a plain, but in this kind of place, they won't last five minutes."
Frieren's mouth moved, as if she wanted to say he was bragging. She knew Yuki was strong, but she didn't know just how strong, and Yuki had no interest in explaining.
So this is what Witch Beasts is.
He watched as a purplish-red, three-headed, six-armed monster, about two meters tall, leaped into the shield wall. Its gleaming blades slashed in all directions, instantly killing several people. Then, it was enveloped by a beam of magic that slowed its movements.
A dozen or so beams of flame blasted in unison, igniting the monster. Several mercenaries, wielding long spears with beams half a meter long on their blades, accurately pierced the monster's chest. Then, an assassin emerged from the shadows and plunged a knife into its back.
With a series of slashing sounds, the monster fell, all three heads chopped off. The assassin then plucked a crystal from the monster's heart, and the Witch Beasts was finally dead.
"That's a level four Witch Beasts, probably at the extraordinary level?" Frieren said softly, with a mercenary beside him providing further information.
"Yes, to be precise, it's Extraordinary III. It's quite strong for a grunt." Yuki nodded, looking at the demonic figure whistling through the forest.
Unlike the swarm of insects, each of the Witch Beasts looks different, but they are about the same size, and can be vaguely identified as humanoid. They resemble witches and have distinct characteristics.
Some released orbs of light from afar, some charged into battle, and some lurked like assassins, but they had no brains and no understanding of teamwork, so they were no match for the army formation.
Even these humans are like wild beasts.
Yuki stared at the faces twisted with greed and slaughter, watching them extract Soul Crystal alive, his fingers stroking the hilt of his sword.
These people completely forgot about clearing a path, frantically hunting their surroundings, and even forgot about his existence as a tower explorer.