Chapter 358
"No, this is psychology. This kind of restraint has its limits. When it really comes down to starvation, very few people can restrain themselves."
"I understand. So, the rules you set don't touch on core interests. There's no loss in following them, and you'll be eliminated if you don't. Even a fool knows which one to choose."
Yuki nodded slightly. He actually enjoyed being alone with Hayasaka because the maid really understood him.
"Besides, I, this 'god,' truly exist and cannot be opposed. The less presence I have, the more afraid they become. On the contrary, if I were to personally intervene, it would inevitably provoke their ambitions sooner or later."
"It's like something hidden above the clouds; if you don't know its full size, humans won't have any wild ideas. But if you break through the clouds, even if it's as big as a mountain, there will always be ants trying to climb to the top."
Yuki spoke eloquently, revealing that he didn't truly intend to be a slacker, ignoring the power of factions. Instead, he chose the most efficient and safest path.
I see.
Hayasaka Ai seemed to be deep in thought. To put it bluntly, it's about the difference between being behind the scenes and being in the spotlight. One day, when the clouds break through, the orders issued will align with the interests of most players. Driven by habit, the players will naturally let her manipulate them.
Haha, Yuki really only talks dirty to you, but he only explains to me why he does things this way.
The maid straightened her chest, feeling like she had won another round, and gently moved slightly to the left, leaning against Yuki.
"It's a brilliant plan, but isn't it a bit strange for us to be discussing it like this?"
On the bench, handsome men and beautiful women ate ice cream cones and watched 'performance art'. It had nothing to do with topics like gods or deities, and with many couples around, it seemed overly ordinary.
Time passed, the ice cream cone finally melted, Hayasaka pulled Yuki up again.
"Come with me to the shopping street next. I'll be very busy afterwards and need to prepare some things."
"Commercial street? Oh, you mean that market street."
"Hmm, hmm, hmm, with your 48-hour limit and the 100-point requirement to go to the Borderlands, many players are choosing to stay within the region." Hayasaka grabbed Yuki and started running. "Hurry up, I haven't been shopping in ages!"
Have we forgotten about the important matter?
Yuki finally remembered what she was supposed to do. She glanced at the small, fair hand gripping her wrist, Hayasaka Ai started running. Her blonde hair flew in the wind, radiating youthful energy. If it weren't for the purple vortex above her head, she would seem to have returned to Earth.
Oh well, whatever.
The night was starless, and the enormous palace exuded a chilling desolation. Black mud surged on the blue floor, gradually coalescing into a human shape.
A figure draped in a long robe and wearing a mask emerged from the black mud. The mask featured only a giant eyeball, which was incredibly lifelike with pure white pupils. It turned towards the window, reflecting a peculiar building.
On the boundless wilderness, nine enormous buildings stand tall. Some resemble palaces, some towers, and some look like giant weapons. Outside these massive buildings, a colossal black gate also stands.
Like the mouth of Abyss Grade, a giant gate revealed a crack, and as light flickered, some players emerged from the crack.
The Judgment Gate.
The eyeball blinked slightly, and a moment later, a white figure stood by the window, seemingly gazing at the wilderness the whole time, yet the eyeball hadn't noticed him.
Slightly startled, the man with the eyeballs quickly bowed his head in greeting.
"Your Excellency the Grand Judge, when did you arrive?"
"This is my palace, of course it's always been here. Don't be shy, you can call me by my name." The figure replied in a deep and gentle voice, turning around to reveal a handsome face in the shadows.
Brown hair, a high nose bridge, and gentle eyes—he exudes the composure of an adult. It was precisely this kind of understanding, mature man's appearance that made the man with the eyeballs almost kneel on the ground.
"Hey, I told you not to be so formal." The man glanced at him, a gentle smile on his face. "So, you came to see me so quickly, have you found any concrete clues?"
"Aizen, I'm very sorry, I haven't found it yet."
"Oh? Tell me more." The middle-aged man named Aizen raised an eyebrow, waved his hand, and the world changed.
White Eye was no longer standing in the hall, no longer able to look out the window. It stood in a huge palace that seemed almost boundless, with a pale moon shining in the sky and endless staircases before it.
Aizen sat atop the long steps, looking down upon the earth like a god, the oppressive aura causing every muscle in his body to tremble.
Everything was like Kyoka Suigetsu, unknowable as truth or falsehood. Before he could even marvel at the power, he quickly told everyone what had happened.
"Whether it's prophecy, causality, or the threads of Destiny, none of them can find a definite trace of 'Taiyi.' The causality on that note can only be used once, and the two Judge sent out have already perished. According to the information they sent back, 'Taiyi' is most likely composed of many fragments, and they have already locked onto one of them."
"But the player who provided the note hasn't come to trade. We're looking for them."
That's it?
Aizen had reviewed the information sent back by the fax machine, but he still didn't quite understand it, because the fax machine was cooling down when the truth was revealed, which contradicted what he had found earlier.
The player who provided the note revealed the existence of 'Taiyi', who resides in the Thorny Rose.
Ulquiorra's intelligence report stated that 'Taiyi' was a blond youth who had allied with the players of 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons' and 'Aether Particles'.
So, these two are not from the same fragment? Is there a deviation in the causal investigation?
Aizen pondered quietly, accepted the fragment's explanation, and suddenly laughed, "But you didn't find them. Those players didn't even leave a trace. They were most likely erased directly by 'Taiyi'?"
"Yes, yes." Byakugan felt wronged. He had already sent out the Judge according to the maximum limit of the instance, and Shinomiya Oko and others were cunning. He also did not have the authority to break through the Borderlands restrictions and forcibly obtain information.
Actually, you don't need to force them to give you anything. Just give them a tiny bit of benefit, and they'll not only talk to you, but they can also lead the way.
"So, you used the lives of two Monster IV Judge to obtain only a guess?"
"Yes." White Eyes nodded with a forced smile, quickly adding, "But now that we know about the existence of the 'Thorny Rose' faction, we'll definitely be able to find a breakthrough by following the clues. It's just that this faction is a bit strange."
"What's so strange about it?" Aizen approached step by step, filled with curiosity.
"We can't find any players with the necessary permissions, not even the slightest bit, so we can't infiltrate to Reconnaissance and establish a beacon."
"You mean, they have pioneers in the absolute sense?" Aizen stopped in his tracks, a very rare occurrence in the Reincarnation Game.
If we consider the pioneer's privileges as a cake, every player has the right to eat it. Death breaks the cake, and collecting items brings it together. Theoretically, it's possible for one player to have the cake all to themselves.
In reality, this is impossible. For example, if a faction has two epic-level players, why would they entrust their lives to you? For the sake of convenience, they might even proactively divide their authority and grant it to a loyal subordinate.
"You've spent so much time and effort, and all you've given me in return are some questions? Have you found a real breakthrough?"
Tears streamed down his face, and Bai Yan touched his head to the ground, answering honestly:
"No, not yet. Some Judge have located players from this faction, but they're restricted from providing information. However, we still have a way..."
Swish--
A flash of light, the sound abruptly stopped, blood trickled down a neck, and a white eyeball rolled on the floor, its pupil dilated, still unaware of what had happened.
"This is punishment for your arrogance. Because of your arrogance, one step behind leads to another, allowing 'Taiyi' to fill the loophole. What should have been a simple matter was complicated by your own actions."
Aizen explained his reason for killing it, his tone still gentle, though he was both helpless and furious.
"That's 'Taiyi,' the strongest reincarnator, a former hero of the Reincarnation Game. Even if it's just a fragment, you can't afford to be complacent."
Bai Yan couldn't hear what was said after that; he turned into ashes and vanished within the palace.
Aizen didn't even bother to look at it from beginning to end, and he understood the other party's grievances. The whole process was flawless, and he did his job conscientiously. His only mistakes were arrogance and wishful thinking.
"Lord Aizen, I will report this matter to the 'Truth's Eye.' The handling of the Byakugan was appropriate, and we have found enough clues. Following these clues, we should be able to find Taiyi in a short time."
Another surge of black mud coalesced, coalescing once more into an eyeball, this one entirely black.
"Yes, with more time and manpower, we can eventually find clues. But don't forget, locking onto an innocent player in a faction requires a huge price. Even if you find them, you won't receive an invitation. How long will it take me to know the full picture of this faction?" Aizen smiled as he looked over, then his eyes widened in surprise, and he raised his hand to stop him.
"You're saying that we gave the order to 'spare no expense,' so how could we be stingy? Then I want to ask you, is 'Taiyi' really among the Thorny Rose?"
"At least one of them is there. The intelligence from Shinomiya Oko, as well as the messages sent back by the two Judge, all point to this. Do you think it's just a coincidence?" Black Eyes seemed even more courageous and took the initiative to refute.
"There are no coincidences in the Reincarnation Game, but tell me, why are the players of Thorny Rose completely unaware of this, even when they use causal regression?"
"No, this can only clear these players of suspicion."
"Then why wasn't Thorny Rose included on the list? Or do you think Ulquiorra didn't die and chose to betray us?"
These words hit the nail on the head, leaving Black Eyes completely dumbfounded.
Yes, the Killing Judge will put the murderer on the wanted list and include their faction in the list. This doesn't mean they will be wiped out, but the Judge will be able to easily find players from that faction, even in a closed world.
All players in the faction will become 'visible', so there's no need for prophecy or tracking; the killer can be found simply by following the clues.
Therefore, based on the Repulsion, 'Taiyi' is definitely not a player of Thorny Rose, but more likely a partner, which greatly increases the difficulty.
Finding Taiyi hidden in the Thorny Rose is a different matter from finding a collaborator hidden in the Thorny Rose. You should know that apart from Shinomiya Oko, no other player in the Thorny Rose has ever heard of Taiyi.
This indirectly proves that the "Taiyi" in "The Wizard's Tower" is at least not the same person as the "Taiyi" in "Thorny Rose".
"Ah, so you're arrogant, complacent, and even a bit foolish." Aizen's words caused the black sphere to shrink into a ball. Facing the fear emanating from it, the man smiled and waved his hand. "But I won't punish you. At least you have the courage to argue with me. Keep searching. There shouldn't be too many players in this faction. It would be best to find a player with the necessary permissions and infiltrate in personally to take a look."
Although Shinomiya Oko is dead, the trail has not been broken, and this trail is safer than the 'Wizard's Tower' itself. If possible, Aizen does not want to expand the scope of the attack.
"Yes, Your Excellency the Grand Judge." Black Eyes breathed a sigh of relief and knelt on the ground to await instructions.
"Find someone who is genuinely willing to cooperate, use them to infiltrate and find out who the pioneer of 'Thorny Rose' is. If they cooperate with 'Taiyi,' they are most likely not ordinary players."
"Clear."
"Don't be impatient, and don't alert them. Since it's a cooperative relationship, Taiyi can terminate it at any time. If the only lead is lost, you will all be punished."
"Understood." Black Eyes lowered his head, knowing full well what the punishment was.
"Also, the investigation can focus on those female players; they are a potential breakthrough. Remember, be discreet, but don't be too slow."
"Didn't you clear them of suspicion?"
"No, we need to verify it at least three times to completely rule it out."
Black Eyes accepted the order and left, plunging the palace into deathly silence once more. Aizen paid no attention to him, instead lowering his head in deep thought, his face displaying a variety of expressions.
Countless possibilities are unfolding, countless plans are being prepared, and even countless futures are being envisioned.
After an unknown amount of time, Aizen sighed softly.
"Taiyi is well hidden. Those fools alerted him, and soon we'll be in the open while he's in the shadows. Who the hunter is remains to be seen."
The sound echoed within the palace, and after a moment, a rather bold voice rang out.
"Ha, you sound really nervous. Why don't you just give up on the mission?"
"Please don't joke like that, Mr. Madara," Aizen replied casually, taking a step forward and standing by the window. "Birds can soar because they dare to leap off cliffs. I'm happy to take on challenging tasks, but it's been a long time since I've felt this excited and conflicted."
"Always spouting these nonsensical things. Either do it or don't, why all the excuses?" A man with a full head of black hair and wearing a crimson breastplate appeared behind them, arms crossed.
He both liked and disliked Aizen. The man was very intelligent, but he liked to do inexplicable things, such as helping the Judge develop camaraderie and become less cold-blooded and apathetic.
The blade of the Reincarnation Game should be numb by nature, so what's the point of giving the Judge more emotions? And yet, despite his efforts to advance this matter, he showed no emotional fluctuation when his closest subordinate, Ulquiorra, fell.
It's all fake, all fake.
"The game has issued a 'Reincarnation-level' trial mission, requiring the annihilation of 'Taiyi' and all players related to Him. In terms of difficulty alone, this is almost impossible to complete." Aizen repeated what everyone already knew.
"No matter how difficult it is, it must be completed. This is the price of leaving the faction and becoming Judge." Madara didn't consider as much as Aizen. He frowned and asked coldly, "Why not expand the search area and find His traces from other players?"
"It's very simple. Taiyi's existence was eradicated by the Reincarnation Game at a huge cost. Reviving his legend is not good for the game; there will always be some players who willingly succumb to corruption."
"Huh? The reason the Reincarnation Game erased him was because he left the game? How is that even possible?" Ban asked, puzzled. This was common in games, but there was a huge gap between wanting to do it and actually doing it.
Aizen remained silent, only waving his hand. The hall with its blue-tiled floor twisted and turned into an endless Corpse Mountain, Blood Sea.
Humans, demons, Machine Intelligence, Giant, and even spaceships—the bizarre corpses stretched to the horizon.
The blood was as vast as the sea, and the air was filled with crimson raindrops.
At that highest point, stood a solitary figure with its back turned.
He held a simple longsword, his scarlet cloak fluttering in the wind; even without turning around, his silhouette alone was enough to send shivers down one's spine.
Aizen stood at a distance, the Great Judge feeling like an ant, as if he had traveled through time and space to face that figure once again.
Uchiha Madara, standing beside him, tensed every muscle. His knowledge of 'Taiyi' was limited to that of a troublesome target, a reincarnator who betrayed the game and forcibly returned.
After experiencing the Kyoka Suigetsu, he realized that he had been too naive and simplistic in his thinking.
This can't be summed up by just being a difficult target; it far surpasses the player's understanding. No wonder the Reincarnation Game has become...
"All Things Slain, sever all laws, wherever the blade points, all return to the one."
Aizen, using the technique 'Kyoka Suigetsu', no longer needed to answer the other Great Judge's question; he simply raised his hand slowly and pointed into the distance.
"This is Taiyi."
Chapter Nine: The Pure Player (6K)
Yes, there have been some changes at the Outpost.
Yuki sat on the wooden chair, watching the sky gradually darken. In his memory, there was no distinction between day and night here.
Evolution? No, it looks more like a resurgence. I remember when I first arrived here, it was a battlefield.
He took a swig of beer. This wasn't beer he got from the game; the owner said they added some kind of lucky flower that could slightly boost luck. Anyway, Yuki drank two bottles and didn't feel anything at all.