Chapter 360

While becoming a player, can one retain their essential nature as a 'human being' and remain untainted by the Reincarnation Game?

Everyone is caught up in the game; every desire for power, every narrow escape, subtly influences the players' mindset.

This pollution cannot be removed by any Transcendental Grade skill. Survival instinct and greed become the driving forces, and players will eventually forget everything on Earth, becoming completely dominated by the game.

"It's difficult, but we have to do it. As players gain more experience, they will become more and more deeply involved in the Reincarnation Game. This is something that human power cannot stop." Yuki was very clear-headed. He and others were already in the game. If it weren't for his seniors, he probably would have forgotten his original intention long ago.

Slaughter, plunder, upgrade, an endless cycle—that's what makes a true player.

You can either go with the flow, embrace this cycle, or find a way to break free. None of these choices are wrong, but for the vast majority of 'Thorny Rose' players, they don't really like the Reincarnation Game.

So he picked up the bottle and raised a toast from afar.

"Let's work together; perhaps we can find a way out before we're completely swallowed by the Abyss Grade."

Ye Qiu and the others left satisfied; they had finally gotten their answer and felt more confident.

The pioneers shared the same thoughts as me; they were truly wise, having seen through the real contradictions beneath the fog of the Transcendental Grade.

Countless factions, gods, demons, and kings have come and gone, but no matter how powerful or terrifying their authority, they were all just toys in a game.

They are no different from the weakest players; they all fight for survival and can perish with the slightest mistake. They might not even be as comfortable as an ordinary player Thorny Rose.

There's no need for emotions, because emotions become a weakness.

There is no need for rest, because both enemies and allies are getting stronger, and even a moment of relaxation could lead to one's demise.

Greater power, higher evaluations, passing test after test, and then what? Will you become strong enough to replace the Reincarnation Game?

"You really do have ulterior motives." Hayasaka Ai cast a resentful glance at her. This idiot is too time-conscious; can't he at least get some rest?

"I already promised my senior that I was going out to take care of some important business, and besides, it didn't interfere with my rest." Yuki sipped his drink contentedly, tilting his head slightly. "I never make empty promises. If I promised to bring you back, I will definitely do it, so I need more people to participate in the plan."

"But I still don't understand, what does maintaining old habits have to do with leaving the game? Isn't that Game Infiltration Theory just not proven?"

"Waiting for concrete evidence would be too late. I'm always good at doing things in advance, so everyone's happy this way." Yuki shrugged. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka probably thought he'd gotten some information from a big shot, but Hayasaka knew there was no big shot.

If we really have to pinpoint the starting point, it might be related to the variety shows that Frieren loves to watch. Existence itself has meaning, and as part of the Outpost's perks, Yuki felt that this wasn't a coincidence, so he simply followed the line of thought and gave it a push.

"That's true. This habit dilutes the flavor of the Reincarnation Game. If I could really go back one day, I could return to normal life more quickly." Hayasaka Ai tilted her head, her blue eyes sparkling, lost in a beautiful fantasy.

"I miss my mom so much, and I guess everyone else feels the same way, but the Outpost gives me the chance to miss her."

"Are you implying something about Frieren?" Yuki asked with a smile.

"Yes, Frieren misses her master very much, but inside the Aether Particles, she rarely has the chance to reminisce, and it feels like everything familiar is gone."

There were no familiar faces, no familiar paths; the dungeon was completely indistinguishable from the outside world, and all you had to do was rely on your survival instincts to get through...

That's terrible.

Yuki took a breath. No wonder Frieren was the group's darling; everyone took good care of her.

"Alright, that's all for the Outpost for now. Relax with Rikka and the Rikka. Even if my plans are useless, seeing your smile is enough."

"I might be faking a smile~" Hayasaka hid the reluctance in her eyes, but did not stop her.

Mr. Ye is right, time will erase all habits. Eriri almost turned to the dark side several times. If all her teammates died, she probably wouldn't be able to pull herself back.

At that time, a true player will be born.

"Then I'll find a way to make you laugh without any inhibitions." Yuki put down the bottle, turned around, and disappeared into the crowd under Hayasaka Ai's gaze.

He'd already made the boast, so he had to find a way forward, and that first step—

It's about seeing if this Reincarnation Game ever ends.

Chapter Ten: Shiki Ryougi

Somewhere at the Borderlands.

This is a fairly typical Japanese garden, with a few sections of green bamboo peeking out from behind the white courtyard wall, and the wooden gate emitting a light fragrance.

That's incredibly extravagant, building such a large Borderlands on such a prime piece of land.

Standing at the entrance, Yuki couldn't help but sigh at the gap between people. He knew that the land in the Borderlands required paying rent to the Reincarnation Game, and if things went wrong, the owner could end up with a negative balance, as it was part of the 'points recycling plan'.

Therefore, every expense must be carefully calculated. Players like the Iron Faith or the Hunters have settlements with functions such as trading venues or commission offices, trying their best to earn points from players.

Then the people of Valhalla only treated it as a residence, Yuki had nothing to say about it except that he was a "rich man".

"Mr. Li?"

A rather pleasant male voice came from the side. Yuki turned his head and raised his rating of "tycoon" by one level.

The newcomer was dressed in blue leather armor, with an exceptionally handsome appearance. He had a beauty mark under his left eye and wore an elegant and dignified smile.

Diarmuid Duibhne, one of the Lancers, is a man with real skills.

If one were to choose a bodyguard, Diarmuid would clearly be the most suitable candidate. He is Justice, values chivalry, is loyal, gentle and polite, and would never betray anyone.

"Yes, I came at your invitation." Yuki, showing his appreciation for the invitation.

"Then please follow me." The knight didn't ask any further questions, placed his hand on the door, and after a burst of light, he passed right through it.

Is this door just for decoration? Or is it essentially a teleportation device?

Yuki hesitated for a moment. He understood the risks, but he had to take them for the sake of the answer. Johnny Silverhand and Levi Ackerman certainly didn't know about information like the 'Lost Ones,' and the big shots behind them weren't necessarily trustworthy.

The fewer people who know what happened in the Wizard's Tower, the better. The Demon Extermination Squad is already in deep trouble themselves, and at Mena Ryougi Mana's identity is extraordinary.

Furthermore, I have a decisive guess that is enough to guarantee safety.

He steadied himself, stepped inside, and opened his eyes to find that he hadn't been teleported to any strange place; he was simply in an ordinary Japanese garden.

A gravel path, a small lake, and a startled deer making a 'thump-thump' sound. Such a large manor was completely deserted, showing that the other party valued this meeting highly and was doing their best to keep it a secret.

Mena Ryougi, dressed in a black miniskirt, was feeding fish by the lake. Upon seeing Yuki, she quickly waved her hand.

Yuki waved back, though he felt a little strange. Mena Ryougi was probably older than him, yet she still looked like a child, and it didn't seem like she was faking it.

"I must thank you for what happened to Miss Mona." Diarmuid stood in front, his back ramrod straight. "That was her ordeal, and she only survived because of you."

"As a powerful faction, can't the Valhalla send some help? And what is this calamity?" Yuki asked curiously.

"It's a curse. Every player in Valhalla will encounter it sooner or later. The mortality rate is very high. As for what it is, I can't answer that. Anyway, the more you help, the stranger the dungeon becomes."

Yuki didn't quite understand, but he thought it was pretty fair.

Most Valhalla players start at the Extraordinary level, possess rich combat experience, and have unwavering willpower. If we don't throw some challenges at them, wouldn't the other players be at a disadvantage? As for the strange...

Is there anything stranger than participating in a three-way battle between the Witch God, Taiyi, and the Judge?

Just then, Mena Ryougi came running over with a bright smile on her face, "You really came! How about it, is my house big enough?"

Pshaw, that's nothing compared to my unlimited personal space.

Yuki nodded, looking around. "Where is your mother?"

"Hey, you're visiting a girl's house, why are you asking about her mother right away?"

Nonsense! If it weren't for the infamous Shiki Ryougi, would I bother coming all the way to the Borderlands? Wouldn't it be better to go on a date with Hayasaka?

Yuki almost complained, but since he needed their help, he had to hold back. "Ryougi Shiki is the host, so of course I, as a guest, must greet him."

"Then you'll be waiting a while. She's still not back. Wait a minute, why are you running?"

"I'm going out to run some errands, and I'm a master of time management." Yuki glanced at Mena Ryougi's chubby face. What a joke! You think I'd be controlled by a brat like you?

Diarmuid turned around in surprise, never expecting that the quirky young lady would have a day when she was at a disadvantage. Seeing Yuki turn and leave, and then seeing Mona frantically winking at him, he simply went to look at the fish in the lake.

This Mr. Li is quite powerful; it's best not to provoke him easily.

Mona that he couldn't get through to anyone, Mona gritted his teeth and took a few steps forward to grab Yuki's sleeve.

"Don't go, can you talk to me for a bit?"

"Sorry, I'm not a lolicon."

"I'm not a loli either, I've already said I'm older than you, okay?"

Yuki looked the other person up and down: long black hair, a black dress, a flat chest, and slender legs. He said nothing, just shrugged and spread his hands.

You!

Mona was furious. All the plans she had prepared were useless. The root cause was fixed, and it wasn't her fault.

Despite his anger, he quickly came up with an idea.

"How about I tell you about your mother? Wait, and the stories of the five Heroic Spirits!"

Yuki paused slightly after taking two steps, thinking to himself that Mena Ryougi's ability to read people was truly impressive, but he didn't immediately agree. Instead, he glanced at Diarmuid.

The knight looked helpless, but he was quite satisfied with Yuki's questioning glance and nodded slightly.

Powerful, intelligent, and well-mannered, he is also a respectable gentleman.

With the 'adult's' permission, Yuki around, his cold face suddenly breaking into a wide smile, and took the feed from Mena Ryougi's hand.

"Come, come, Uncle will feed the goldfish with you. Tell me quickly."

This seamless transition left Mena Ryougi completely stunned. She was at a loss for words, unsure how to label Jiecheng. His bravery in the face of the Witch God and his cunning in incorporating an entire instance into the script were nowhere near the shameless guy before her.

Well, yeah, I guess we've met our match.

She became more interested and chased after them.

"Uncle, how long have you been involved in the Reincarnation Game? I've been here for over ten years."

"Hehe, maybe twenty or thirty years, a couple hundred copies."

"You're bragging. You think you can just fly to the moon with a hundred or two hundred dungeons?"

Compared to you, I'm already on top of the world, okay?

A mixture of probing and resentment caused Diarmuid, who was guarding nearby, to smile and quietly retreat.

Alright, let's go prepare some tea and snacks.

The Mena Ryougi may appear to be full of childlike innocence, but anyone who is deceived by this appearance will surely die a terrible death.

Yuki had only seen that kind of intelligence in a handful of people. She was more like an old fox disguised as a little girl, and if you weren't careful, she could even figure out the color of your underwear.

'But strangely, it wasn't acting; her intelligence and wit, typical of a little girl, seemed completely natural.'

Yuki couldn't understand why either. If it were just based on acting skills, he could perfectly portray an innocent young boy, but it was ultimately an illusion, and even he himself felt disgusted.

Experience and strength increase, but the body and personality remain fixed in the same place?

That's interesting.

"Don't you find me interesting?" Mona rested her chin on her hand, her white-stockinged legs swaying gently. This legal loli had a strange allure. Seeing Yuki's gaze, she chuckled again.

"If you want to look, just look openly. Isn't there a saying that goes, 'Lolis have three good qualities' or something, like being delicate, weak, and easy to push over?"

"I've already said it, I'm not a lolicon!"

"So what kind of fetish do you have?"

"None of your business, I'm not into that anyway." Yuki rarely encountered such a formidable opponent. In terms of skill level, she was far superior to her senior. She quickly tapped the table. "Speaking of which, the King of Heroes is an epic-level player, and there are five in the Valhalla?"

"Yeah, you don't actually think epic-level players are everywhere, do you?"

That's not quite right.

Yuki waved his hand. The information revealed by Mena Ryougi broadened his horizons to a new level, allowing him to glimpse the high-level power within the Reincarnation Game.

Reaching the Epic level is extremely difficult. Even though he has fulfilled the prerequisites and obtained a massive amount of points, he is still some distance away. One can only imagine what a leap it would take to reach the Epic level. No wonder Johnny Silverhand looks like he wants to lick my boots.

As long as I don't perish, I'll definitely reach epic level. There seem to be only 4 players of the same level in the Mechanical Faith faction. They and the Valhalla are both powerful factions. You can imagine that other weaker factions are lucky to have even one or two players.

Well, there are also epic-level players who are prominent figures in their respective factions, representing them in various ways.

"Mona, what did you mean when you said that all five Heroic Spirit Kings have some of the authority of the Pioneers?"

"It means literally that the Pathfinder's authority is divided into five. You don't actually think that any faction can have a single, exclusive authority user, do you? Wouldn't that make them a true god?"

Of course there is! There's one right in front of you.

Yuki didn't dare look into those azure eyes, and instead asked, "Why not?"

"Of course it's about falling. The difference between players in each faction isn't that great, especially the initial group of players who were all at the same level. When a 'god' falls for any reason, his authority will be divided, unless someone can eliminate all competitors and unify the authority." Mena Ryougi spoke eloquently, waving her hand: