Chapter 347
It's over?
Mena Ryougi lowered her hands, and her body, which was a large mass of scattered particles, reformed into a human form.
The statue, riddled with craters, was charging towards them when it suddenly stopped halfway through its journey. Fine cracks covered its entire body, and with a crash, it shattered completely.
The world seemed to be paused; the players all froze until another statue disintegrated, and time finally began to flow again.
Clang.
That was the sound of a weapon hitting the ground. Nero plopped down on the ground, panting heavily. Kento Nanami stopped the bleeding from his severed arm and adjusted his non-existent glasses.
Flame Pillar wielded his sword with one hand, sweat staining his golden hair red. Yomi Isayama quickly retrieved the shattered Chaotic Crimson Lotus; if she didn't rest soon, she would lose her most important spirit beast.
It's finally over.
There was no joy, but rather a sense of relief. Only five players remained, and the battle had nearly crushed their will.
"He didn't say these statues were so difficult to deal with, that they were immortal, and that they almost wore us down."
The two statues are indestructible; even when riddled with holes, they can still move, and the breach that was painstakingly blasted out is constantly being repaired.
"This was part of the plan all along. The restoration of the statue requires energy from within the mausoleum; the accumulated energy is ignited, and energy from outside can't be supplied. Hmph, even if the Witch God returns, He won't have anything to absorb."
Mena Ryougi walked by Lightness, her black dress stained with dust, but compared to the others, she was completely unharmed.
"We're just expendable resources, no match for you, young lady. Where did you get so many defensive items?" Kento Nanami said sarcastically, but the girl just shrugged, looking completely unconcerned.
"To be precise, we are the expendable pawns of victory; every campaign has its protagonists and supporting characters." Mona lifted her skirt and gave an elegant bow. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have done our part very well, oh, just like these two War Orphans we are meeting for the first time."
Bradley and Violet, covered in blood, happened to enter. When they met, they skipped the pleasantries and both looked at Mena Ryougi.
The girl, with a sly yet elegant smile, suddenly tilted her head.
"Everyone, did I say something wrong?"
[The Witch God has been defeated. The countdown to the return event begins in one hour. Players can choose to return early.]
Just then, a murmur reached my ears, dispelling the last trace of doubt, leaving only exhaustion.
"You're right, being a good supporting character is a skill in itself." Bradley looked around at the many players, and for the first time, he could no longer hide the strangeness in his heart.
He didn't even get to see the Boss before clearing the dungeon. Oh, and those two Judge —an ordinary separation turned into a final farewell.
Not only him, but many players also felt like they were in a dream. The Demon Extermination Squad wasn't stupid; they knew there were powerful enemies besides the Witch God, but before they could make a choice, the powerful enemies were gone.
What kind of strategy guide is this? But if you analyze it rationally, it's the best strategy guide.
"With a reliable lead actor and an excellent script, supporting actors only need to do their jobs well, and everything will fall into place."
Mena Ryougi clapped her hands lightly, and this summary resonated with everyone, causing them to look up together.
The sky was still burning, and the black Stairway to Heaven was covered with cracks that spread outwards and covered the entire mausoleum.
The Witch God has fallen, and the giant island is crumbling, yet no one screams or flees; instead, a figure is reflected in every colored eye.
The black-haired youth slowly descended the steps. He didn't look particularly disheveled; the holes in his clothes resembled some kind of medal, and a purple crystal was tossed up and down in his hand.
Witch God's Soul Crystal.
The answer was finally on the table, and seeing the increasingly close young man, many players felt their knees buckle.
The old gods have fallen, and new gods have ascended the throne.
At this moment, Yuki seemed to have transcended the identity of a 'player' and reached another level, as if he and the Witch God had always been on the same level.
"God?"
"I feel like kneeling down to him."
"How exactly did he defeat the Witch God?"
The players whispered amongst themselves, none of them knowing the full picture of the plan. Even during execution, they couldn't help but grumble, so the outcome felt like a dream when it was finally revealed.
He can definitely help Mom.
Mena Ryougi's eyes were bright, and she was thinking about how to Yuki Yuuki, but when the man came in front of her, she couldn't say a word.
At its best.
Yuki the silent players, Yuki smiled with satisfaction. The whole plan was too complicated and too troublesome to explain, so he wanted to maintain some mystery.
This scenario was co-created by him and Hiyori, and in essence, it involved opening the Furnace, weakening the Witch God, and then killing him.
The Witch God is an energy life form that is virtually immortal within the tomb. Even with the isolation of space, it would take a very long time to completely deplete it, a time that would exceed the Limit of the Night Furnace's capacity.
Therefore, Yuki into a demon, exerting enough pressure to force him to abandon his Thunder God Form and reveal his true form, before unleashing a combo attack to Godslaying.
"You all did a great job. If any one step had been missing, destroying the Witch God would have required an even greater price."
Instead of the Roar the top of his lungs, Yuki appeared very sincere, and it was this sincerity that brought knowing smiles to many people's faces.
The Witch God was defeated through the collective efforts of all players. This wasn't just a matter of saving face; it meant everyone had done a good job and could get a share of the rewards from the main quest.
As for more, it's probably being recognized by a strong person.
"And the cost is negligible." Bradley took out a gold necklace, made the sign of the cross on his chest, and said, "The priest has been tempered and will surely be filled with gratitude."
"Life-saving items come at a high price."
Yuki had seen something like this before; if you return within a specified time, you can use the game to reshape your body, but of course, this is a burden for your teammates.
"No, war always comes with costs; it's just a matter of whether victory can be achieved. Besides, I don't think this battle can be considered a Pyrrhic victory at all."
As long as they can win, there's no need for Yuuki to find Yuki; the War Orphans themselves can find one. Bradley nodded slightly, quite satisfied with the overall situation.
His words resonated with the other players. Each faction had paid a price, more or less, but compared to the gains, it seemed insignificant.
Which dungeon raid doesn't kill people? How many player teams have been wiped out right now? The key is to survive, and survive to gain more rewards.
Although we haven't started summarizing the dungeon yet, based on a little recollection and some speculation, this battle can be considered the biggest harvest for players so far.
For some reason, the atmosphere suddenly became pleasant, and the way people looked at Yuki changed from awe to fervor, as if they wished they could cooperate with him in every dungeon.
The War Orphans also possesses several precious Bloodline Object, making them incredibly wealthy.
"We will keep your affairs a secret," Violet said with a smile, gently smoothing her blonde hair. "Your most valuable quality is not what you gain, but the sense of security you provide, and your charismatic personality that doesn't treat any comrade as cannon fodder. That's why we are willing to follow you."
It wasn't flattery, but it was even better than flattery, Yuki accepted it calmly.
It was indeed possible to have War Orphans sacrifice their lives to deplete the Witch God, even by just one percent, before proceeding with subsequent plans, but Yuki did not do so.
This is treating people with sincerity, and it's also the right choice made by a time traveler with the knowledge of the world. If the War Orphans were a bunch of scum, he wouldn't have hesitated.
"Are Rita and the others settled in?" Yuki suddenly thought of something.
"The surviving Soulless Ones have all received landing gear, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, they should survive." Violet's voice was even gentler. As a 'doll,' she hadn't had much contact with Yuki, but she greatly admired the man's kindness.
"She wants to see you, are you going?"
"No need. Let's each go our own way. The Red Earth Continent will remain chaotic for a while. They have a long road ahead." Yuki shook his head, feeling a bit regretful. Epic achievements require the recognition of the vast majority of life forms in a dungeon, and the Wizard's Tower is not suitable.
But it doesn't matter; he's already achieved something, so one more wouldn't make a difference.
"Enough is enough. Kind without being overly saintly, you truly possess a regal mindset." Violet lifted her long skirt and stepped back with Bradley. "The Ouroboros awaits your arrival; you will be a true VIP."
This is a gamble. They knew I had connections with the Judge, yet they still dared to extend an invitation and expose their organization.
Players should have gone their separate ways after leaving the instance, but there were follow-up quests in two consecutive instances, and the reason is simple.
I am not good with words, but I am full of value.
"Okay, I'll come if I have time."
"We will be waiting for you." Violet said nothing more, glancing at the other players, her body gradually becoming ethereal. "Ouroboros also welcomes you all. Please excuse us for taking our leave."
Phew, those two sycophants are finally gone.
Seeing that the War Orphans had chosen to return, the other players breathed a sigh of relief. These two were not sycophants, and that was precisely why their flattery seemed so sincere, leaving the others with nothing left to say.
"When are you all leaving?" Yuki turned his head, a smile on his face, which could be considered an intangible gain.
He killed many people in the two dungeons, but also made many friends. Don't underestimate these friends. If it weren't for the information from the Iron Faith, Yuki would have had no idea about the Judge and wouldn't have been able to strike first.
"Haha, are you sending us back?" Yan Zhu greeted them with a smile. Unlike the War Orphans, the Demon Extermination Squad was much more casual.
"This mausoleum will collapse within half an hour. We can't just stand here chatting; there might still be artifacts left in the city."
"Oh dear, there's no need to look for those things anymore. We've already made enough this time, far exceeding Gojo Gojo's expectations." Enju stared wide-eyed, looking completely satisfied. "How about I accompany you for a walk around the city?"
"That's enough. We're not the only ones looking for Mr. Li." Kento Nanami glared at the hot-blooded idiot, took a few steps to Yuki, and handed him a business card in a rather corporate manner.
"Mr. Li, these are the coordinates of the Demon Extermination Squad's office. Although we are not as wealthy as the Ouroboros, you know our style of doing things. Please do me the honor."
This is about discussing cooperation. As for the Demon Extermination Squad's methods, Yuki trusts them; they are one of the few orderly and benevolent factions in the game.
As for what the collaboration entails, there's no need to guess.
"Looks like I've been quite busy since my return." Yuki accepted the business card. He trusted and could use this kind of force, and he was gradually realizing that each faction had its own troubles.
"You absolutely have to come! I still owe you a huge favor." Yomi Isayama winked beside her; she was closest to Yuki. She added, "If possible, I'd like to invite you to visit the Outpost."
Wait, wasn't it said that only the Trail Blazers could issue invitations? This Yomi Isayama isn't weak or strong, how could he possibly do that?
Yuki was full of questions, but now was not the time to study the settings. He nodded slightly and watched the three members of the Demon Extermination Squad leave together.
The once lively lower level of the mausoleum was now only occupied by Mena Ryougi and Nero, who were even less likely to feel any tension.
"You saved me, Mom will be so grateful to you." Mona skipped over, leaning forward. "Here, these are the coordinates for Valhalla. I won't say anything more, but you'll definitely come."
That's smart, of course I'll go.
Yuki stared at the lively girl. The forces behind Mena Ryougi were mysterious and powerful. The Demon Extermination Squad had no idea about the Lost Ones. Some information could only be obtained from Valhalla.
"You really are a young lady?"
"Of course, my mother is one of the five Heroic Spirit Kings. Do you know what a Heroic Spirit King is?" Mona made no attempt to hide her identity, and it was only at this moment that she revealed it.
Yuki shook his head, then nodded. It sounded impressive but incomprehensible; no wonder a Rome was guarding him.
The life-saving grace is nothing; what matters is my value. She, through the Shiki Ryougi, affirmed my worth.
"I will go."
"Great! Don't be nervous then, you're a big shot now." Mona jumped back and grabbed the blond-haired heroic spirit. "Alright, Nero, don't bother creating any poems."
"To eradicate the Witch God and save the world, this should be the beginning of an epic!" Nero raised his hand, unable to contain himself as he sang, before his mouth was firmly covered.
"I finally found a helper, don't scare him away! Goodbye, Mr. Li, I'll go back and change my clothes, then I'll prepare a cake and tea for you, don't stand me up."
The girl was very lively, but Yuki knew that she wouldn't hold back when scheming against others; this liveliness and cuteness would only be shown to people of value.
As I thought about it, I unconsciously straightened my back.
Ah, a big shot.
"That pig-headed guy has become a big shot now, huh?"
Mai Sakurajima stood on the steps, watching Yuki move with ease among the group of players. She knew that every player who had survived to this point was stronger than her, and even stronger than Hayasaka Ai, but even a blind man could see who the core player was.
He possesses immense strength, unparalleled wisdom, a kind heart, and treats others with sincerity.
When these qualities are concentrated in one person, he naturally becomes the center of attention.
"Yuki was always a strong man. Even in the most dangerous times, this War Orphans never wavered." Hayasaka Ai's eyes burned as she looked at the man striding towards her, as if a net was being cast behind her.
He will meet more and more players and win over more and more people's hearts.
"Senior, I suddenly feel a sense of urgency."
"We all have that. The more knowledgeable we are, the more we feel inferior. Don't you guys think he's different from the last instance?"
Mai Sakurajima looked around and noticed that everyone except Frieren was deep in thought. Wasn't that obvious?
In the Global Insect Calamity, Yuki interacted with players like the Mechanical Believers and the Hunters on equal footing, gradually gaining influence. However, in the Wizard's Tower, he was clearly a cut above the other players.
Even from the moment they enter the tower, the players are merely pawns at his command.
"This can't go on. I can't even see his exhaust fumes anymore." Kaguya suddenly clenched her small fist. From the first time they met, that oppressive feeling had been a constant companion. She had tried her best to catch up, but the gap between them only widened.
Those around him cast sympathetic glances, thinking to themselves, "You're just asking for trouble by arguing with a monster."
"Miss, please don't say such shameful things that have a science fiction feel to them." Hayasaka Ai covered her face, wishing she could disappear into a hole in the ground.
"I didn't say I wanted to catch up with him, but at least get closer, right? We've both gone through two dungeons since we came up, so how come he's leveling up so much faster than us?"
What? Only two dungeons???