Chapter 336

"Could Tiger Vanguard have betrayed us? That bastard used a domain item, and we didn't even see how he died."

"It's possible, but we need to speed things up. We need to gather all the players and start the war before the Witch God intervenes." Ulquiorra seemed to have completely lost his patience.

"But the target hasn't appeared yet; no one has seen the third faction to which the War Tower belongs."

"I can't wait any longer, I'm afraid this really is a Lost Ones." The pale youth looked at the now noticeably more active Thunder and said urgently, "Hurry up and kill him and run! Don't forget, we Judge are also Game Players!"

"The Witch God descended upon the world, and after a brutal war, all the kingdoms chose to submit and accept the Witch God's gifts. Only a few heroes chose to fight on."

"They ultimately perished in the slaughter by their own people, but before their annihilation, they left behind seeds. Because they always maintained their original purity, the descendants of these heroes are called the Soulless Ones."

At the same moment, Yuki gazed at the abstract murals and listened to Hiyori's clear, melodious voice as she narrated.

The story is captivating, filled with tragic tales of doom, but it required extracting information from countless murals, which took a considerable amount of time. Yuki doesn't deny the importance of the background story, but this information is simply not worth four days.

Fortunately, all the guides are presented in parallel and can be combined with what you see and hear in the tomb.

"The Witch God is indeed not a native creature, but some kind of 'Lost Ones,' a term I've never heard of in the Reincarnation Game."

Yuki was no longer a novice; he had free sources of information, but neither Frieren nor the Mechanical Believers had uttered a single word from him.

This matter was definitely top secret, and he didn't dare to ask the members of the Demon Extermination Squad. At least when Yuki said that "the Witch God came from outside," Yomi Isayama, like himself, could only think of a certain powerful player trapped in the dungeon, the one known as the "Forsaken."

"This does connect to some of the murals." Hiyori, who loved reading stories, immediately found dozens of more abstract murals.

There were interstellar warships, some things that looked like insects, and the destruction of stars.

"I knew it didn't make sense. This must be a story from before the Witch God descended upon the Red Earth Continent."

The Red Earth Continent has some Transcendental Grade powers, but its art style doesn't quite match starship battles or anything like that.

Yuki glanced at the insect-like patterns but didn't speculate further, because he couldn't figure out how the Witch God could resolve the current situation.

"Those two Judge were indeed being cunning; they said they'd help with the strategy, but they were actually colluding with the players behind the scenes."

"Hmm, I followed them. As expected, they have no interest in dungeons, only in you," Mai Sakurajima chimed in, her trait almost like a bug. "Now we can confirm that the Judge's main quest is different from that of ordinary players; killing you will allow them to return."

"To be precise, it's about killing people connected to me, though that might not be the only option." Yuki stroked his chin and sneered, "That's why I've been avoiding them. If we were to encounter them inside the mausoleum, there would be no way to escape."

Even in a state of semi-sleep, the Witch God was watching everything. He wasn't stupid; if the two sides went to war, he would naturally prepare to be the one to reap the benefits.

The key point is that the Judge can simply walk away after winning, Yuki, even if he wins, will be exhausted and unable to fight the Witch God.

"What's more troublesome is that inside the mausoleum, the Witch God has too much of a home-field advantage. I can't separate space without deploying the Night Furnace. Without the advantage of terrain, there's no chance of winning." Yuki said sullenly, already having a plan in mind, so he wasn't too troubled.

"But the Judge and the Witch God can be dealt with together. Perhaps with the Judge present, the weakening plan will proceed more smoothly."

"You idiot, you're really cunning. Waking up the Witch God ahead of time is killing three birds with one stone."

"Senior, tell me, what are the three carvings?"

Mai Sakurajima glared at the other person lightly. She was a veteran of countless battles, so why was she always being treated like an idiot? She replied immediately:

"First, the Witch God hasn't fully recovered. Three days earlier, with two more towers remaining, He will definitely be weakened. Second, after the Witch God awoke, no one dared enter the mausoleum. With your deliberate guidance, the Judge are also among the targets; let them fight amongst themselves. Third, uh..."

"Third, Yuki shifted the focus of the conflict, turning it into a struggle between the Witch God and the players, thus breaking the alliance woven by the Judge," Hayasaka Ai added, enjoying Yuuki's applause despite her Yuki's eye roll.

"Brilliant! That's killing three birds with one stone, freeing me from the cheese trap so I can have some room to maneuver," Yuki grinned, taking advantage of the Judge's awkward identity.

Their main storyline differs from that of ordinary players, yet they are still players, a fact unknown to the Witch God. In His eyes, the two Monster IV players pose too great a threat.

Similarly, the Judge was unaware that the Witch God was awakened by Yuki, and was inexplicably burdened with the blame for the 'three-person extermination team'.

Brilliant! Now this pig-headed man has become the fisherman, laughing as his two greatest enemies outwit and outmaneuver each other, while they still can't find a breakthrough by targeting the Soulless Ones.

It has now been confirmed that the Witch God uses 'radar' to detect other beings. Only those Soulless Ones can purify a misty area, but anyone who uses skills or items on those Soulless Ones will immediately become an other being themselves.

"Then you'd better hide well. Both sides are looking for you. If you run into them, you'll be completely exposed."

"This is one of the reasons I awakened the Witch God. My identity has too many loopholes. The Judge can expose my true colors simply by arresting a player from the Demon Extermination Squad." Yuki had planned this all along. There was no way to hide. Whether the Witch God was awake or not, there were still three days left before he had to enter the mausoleum.

If you don't awaken the Witch God, you'll either be killed by the Boss while trying to escape upwards, or you'll be trapped in the hall by the Judge when you finally enter the mausoleum. Either way, you're guaranteed to die.

But things are different now. It's the Witch God who's in a hurry. He can't just watch the players unite to form a raiding party and be crushed under the command of three Monster IV Slayer.

"So, have you made arrangements for the Soulless Ones?" Yuki's plan was already underway.

"We selected one hundred Soulless Ones, led by myself, my senior, and Miss Violet, and divided them into five teams scattered throughout the city. We purified about fifty palaces, and the decoys could be maintained for more than a day," Hiyori replied Hiyori, finding the idea quite ingenious.

The Soulless Ones can purify a space, much like a fog of war interfering with the Witch God's gaze. The most ingenious thing is that players cannot see this fog, while the witches who can detect them, except for those in the Tower of Asura, all died in the previous battle to seize the mark.

"In the eyes of the Witch God, this scene is an ambush aimed at Him." Hiyori clenched his fist excitedly and said with a smile, "He just suffered a great loss, so He will definitely be more cautious, but He can't just sit idly by and watch the players unite to attack Him."

"But He suffered a loss at my hands and can't find me. Who do you think He'll cause trouble for?"

"Of course, it's the Judge's jumping around and connecting everywhere!" The girl's eyes crinkled into crescents with laughter. The seemingly unsolvable situation had been broken just like that, and she had even provided considerable help.

Yuki laughed too, as if he were witnessing the growth of a little shrew.

"Don't just laugh, be careful. I can't guarantee that the Witch God won't go to such lengths to find me." Yuki shrugged. The chances were slim. The first rule of the old fox was not to act rashly. As long as they could deal with the two Monster IV players, the Witch God would have an absolute advantage.

Three days later, the players will eventually have to go to the tomb, which is His home turf and is still expanding. Unfortunately, Yuki had also foreseen this.

"Take advantage of their dogfight to perfect the 'Corridor Bridge Operation,' cut off as many enemies as possible, and suppress the energy of the mausoleum." Yuki assigned the task, stroking the demon core of Tiger Vanguard, recalling his escape not long ago.

He was slightly slower than me. His throne was like a faucet, distributing the collected energy into the tomb and then into the city. The Witch God thrived in this environment.

As he pondered this, Yuki opened his eyes.

Hmm, I have some ideas.

Inside the enormous palace, dim lights flickered. Rita and Jis were drowsy as they crushed Soul Crystal one after another, releasing a vast expanse of 'war fog'.

After conquering the two towers, he left Yuki a lot of Soul Crystal. Even though these things would have special effects after activation, he wouldn't hesitate to use them when necessary.

Yanzhu sat cross-legged, recovering his strength. Xiao Wu and Bell stood guard at the palace entrance. Yomi Isayama ate a Pocky stick, occasionally feeding one to Frieren, who was meditating. The round-faced girl frowned, disturbed from her meditation, but her mouth honestly ate.

On the other side, Kento Nanami was writing in his diary, while not far away in Valhalla, two people were whispering to each other.

The tense escape was over, and the lingering fear had disappeared. We were all seasoned players; adjusting our mental state was a basic skill. Anyway, the city was huge, and the purification zone for the Soulless Ones would remain for a while. With a false target, it would be difficult to be found.

The atmosphere visibly relaxed. According to Yuki, now was the time to sit back and watch the tigers fight. As for how to defeat the Witch God after all the players were wiped out, he only said that there was a plan.

Anyone else would probably scoff at this; who would dare risk their life to play a guessing game with you? But this Mr. Li was almost flawless in his calculations, and even the Kento Nanami didn't ask him any further questions.

Trust is earned through action.

Yuki was somewhat pleased. He was the kind of person who did more than he said. Back then, his senior was also full of doubts about him, but she became obedient after completing a dungeon.

Seeing that Yomi patted the empty seat next to him, Yuki didn't go over to chat, but instead walked towards the two in Valhalla.

I was too busy escaping to have a proper chat with these two before, but now that I have some free time, as a former fan of the series, I'm naturally full of curiosity.

Nero and Mena Ryougi are truly a strange pair.

Yuki discovers that he doesn't have much of a protagonist's luck; apart from his senior and a handful of others, the players he encounters are all supporting characters, like these two.

One is a Servant from FGO, originating from the fifth emperor of Rome; the other is a character who appears at the very end of the Garden of Sinners, the offspring of that exemplary couple.

That's good, it's unconventional. If it were really the King of the Sandals, I probably wouldn't be able to talk to him.

Yuki comforted himself, and just as he got close, the two players turned around together.

"Oh, I thought you'd forgotten about us." The little girl clapped her hands lightly, her face full of a pure yet mischievous smile.

"How could I forget? We were, after all, kindred spirits who went through life and death together." Yuki rarely saw children in the Reincarnation Game, but that was only in 'Thorny Rose'. In the heavens, there were countless powerful brats.

"Look at how a child views me, hmph. If you factor in the time spent in the cycle of Reincarnation Game, it's not certain who's older between us." Mona put her hands on her hips, looking like she wasn't going to underestimate me.

Uh, I forgot about that feature.

Yuki was taken aback. He had been judging others by his own standards. The Thorny Rose only lasted two years at most, but for players who truly reached the 'Monster' level, the game time could be measured in ten years.

So, you don't grow stronger in Reincarnation Game?

After carefully examining Mena Ryougi, Yuki chose to skip discussing the sensitive topic of a girl's age.

"By the way, will you guys be angry with me?"

"There is some truth to it, since you dragged me into this mess in various ways, but you also saved me." Mena Ryougi stood up, extending her small, fair hand. "So, we're even, no, to be precise, I owe you more."

Various meanings?

Yuki wasn't a lolicon. Looking at those fair, small hands, he frowned slightly. "You know a lot? Are you a prophetic player?"

"You are truly intelligent; no wonder some say that even the most meticulous calculations can become prophecies." Mona slightly lifted her skirt, revealing her calves encased in white pantyhose and crossed black leather shoes, and gave a curtsy.

"Your troubles are none of my concern, but the fight against the Witch God is closely related to me. Do you know why I was the first to enter the mausoleum?"

"You foresaw the danger."

"Bingo, I also noticed that the Witch God was feigning sleep. If you hadn't come, I might have woken Him up." Mona said, her little face scrunching up. "But I was too confident. I didn't expect this Boss to be so special. If it were me, I might have sacrificed myself for others."

Nero should be at Monster II level, Mona is a special type of player whose combat power cannot be simply calculated.

Yuki looked back and forth, not forgetting the scene before using the Mystic Code. Mena Ryougi clearly had some powerful trump card, but for some reason, the trump card failed.

If it had been a second later, this adorable little girl would have turned into a wisp of smoke.

"No wonder you said you owed me more; that Witch God is indeed very special." Yuki sat down cross-legged, took out a cigarette but put it back, still clinging to the habit of not smoking in front of children.

This unintentional little gesture made Mona laugh again. She squatted down on the spot, propping her head up with her hand. "Hmm, a Lost Ones, hehe, you really do know what this is."

"I've heard of it, but I don't know what it is. It would be better if you could tell me," Yuki answered honestly.

"I don't know either, really. Mom only said that the Lost Ones are dangerous, capable of breaking all kinds of players' causal, prophetic, and time-freezing skills, whether they are talents, abilities, or items."

But He couldn't suppress my formal attire.

Yuki's pupils contracted slightly as he realized he had exposed his special nature. Upon further reflection, he realized that the 'Thorny Rose' was indeed strange, and its bizarre characteristics made Frieren envious.

Besides, that girl is really cunning; she's secretly threatening me.

She had only one mother, and looking at the overly quiet 'Tyrant' beside her, the dignified Rome Nero, known for his capriciousness, seemed more like a guard.

"Shiki Ryougi?"

"Ah, you know Mommy, that's wonderful! It'll save Miss Nero from having to explain things and making it seem too deliberate." The girl clapped her hands again, sounding cheerful, then her voice, like a little devil, became alluring:

Do you know what tribulation is?

Yuki nodded, thinking to himself that this girl had probably switched to cultivation.

"This mission is my 'ordeal.' I've seen so many ways I could die. If you help me get through it, I'll owe you a huge favor." Mona spread her arms wide, trying to describe just how big the favor would be.

"I will also owe you a favor, which would be an unparalleled honor." Nero couldn't hold back any longer and was about to launch into a long speech when he shut his mouth again.

Her glamorous performance was thwarted by the game, and she no longer dares to wear a pretty red dress. This Mr. Li is extremely strong-willed; it would be better for him to curb his desire to perform.

Nero has grown up too.

Yuki knew the true nature of this Heroic Spirit, which is why he found it amusing.

"Don't worry, even without favors, I will still get you through this. We share the same interests and have fought side by side before."

"Anything else?" Mona leaned forward, blinking her big eyes.

"And also, I guess I just find you guys pleasing to the eye." Yuki shrugged, turned and left to find Frieren, but after a few steps, he turned back.

"By the way, your mother is Shiki Ryougi, so where's your father?"

Dad?

Mena Ryougi was clearly taken aback, a look of nostalgia in her eyes. As she pondered her words, she saw Yuki cast an apologetic glance at her before turning away.

This undisguised longing has already given the answer.

As a fan of the Moon Goddess, seeing Nero and Mena Ryougi in person is undoubtedly a blessing; to be a little more realistic, Mona's favors are dispensable, but Shiki Ryougi's favors will certainly be very useful.

That must be a big shot who can be of great help.

"Cold yet passionate, what a fascinating gentleman."

Mona watched Yuki walk away, her eyes narrowed, like a lazy cat.

"Hmm, Mr. Yu thinks he knows us, but he can't recall ever working with us before." Nero also found it strange; the other party seemed dangerous and intelligent, yet he had never suspected the two of them.

These kinds of players are the hardest to approach; you can easily be tricked if you're not careful.

"Mona, are you really planning to go with them? Wasn't it said that the Judge was tracking him?"

"We can't find a way out ourselves. The Judge's pursuit proves his extraordinary abilities, and of course, there's something even more important." The girl's blue eyes gleamed, and she nodded after confirming repeatedly.

"How strange, my Noble Phantasm can't display any images."