Chapter 367
Satoru Gojo stroked his smooth chin. These twelve demons were all veteran players of Monster III or higher, far surpassing his Core 20 squad in quality. After all, characters like Yomi Isayama and Kyojuro Rengoku were already among the top-ranked.
Fortunately, I've gathered quite a few strong individuals this time.
He turned his head and looked at the reinforcements he had painstakingly gathered.
There are only fifty or sixty people, but each team is quite powerful. The captain is at least a Monster III player, and the team members are all Monster level. If they really set up their formation, the Demon Extermination Squad would have to use a human wave tactic to win.
Of course, this is wishful thinking. In the Reincarnation Game, the weak may defeat the strong, but they can never stop the strong.
The players who came to lend their support each had their own reasons and seemed quite relaxed at the moment. As elites from their respective factions, they were already seasoned veterans and had no interest in the life-or-death struggle between these extraordinary and Transcendental Grade level players.
Regardless of which faction you're in, lower and middle-level players are expendable resources, like leeks; you harvest one batch, and the Reincarnation Game will send out another.
Only through continuous purification in dungeons and mutual slaughter can those who remain have the chance to advance to monster level.
"Everyone, you've done a great job. This first step went smoothly. Next, we need to find Mundus and the remaining twelve demons, eliminate them, and then we'll win the war." Satoru Gojo's tone was relaxed, radiating confidence.
"Is it that simple?" Taihou floated in the air, her long, black-stockinged legs crossed in a peculiar pose; with just a slight movement, the top of her thighs could be seen.
"Strategically it's that simple, but tactically it's very complex. The plan is over 300,000 words long. Would you like to take a look?"
"Uh, there are too many words, it's giving me a headache." Taihou quickly waved her hand. She was just there to be a henchman, why should she care about so many things?
"It sounds like this war is going to be short. Maybe I can even go back to the Superpower Academy and take a nap." Misaki Shokuhou yawned, glanced at Yuki who was deep in thought beside her, and deliberately nudged him with her elbow.
"Mr. Li, is there nothing you'd like to ask?"
Yuki was working on the settings; they'd already created many dungeons, but this was the first time he'd participated in a player-versus-player war. Hearing this, he looked up and stared directly at Satoru Gojo.
"You want to get straight to the point?"
Satoru Gojo's smile faded, and he solemnly replied, "Yes, apart from you, all of our forces are in the open. I've done all the preliminary work. You don't need to participate in the melee; you only need to act as a key force to make the final decision."
The core of the plan is a short, swift attack. If they confront Demon Extermination Squad, both sides will have allies, and if they start calling for reinforcements, the war will only escalate indefinitely.
Yuki recalled the story of "Forgotten Hidden Jianghu"—players from other factions wouldn't be polite; they would only treat "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons" as a hunting ground, and that would be a true chaotic dance of demons.
"Don't forget, humans are weaker than demons." Yuki pointed out the key point: the high-end combat forces of both sides consisted of twelve evil demons on one side and twenty core squads on the other, with the former being much stronger.
"Yes, that's exactly why I need your help," Satoru Gojo said frankly.
"The paradox is that we need to act last, which doesn't change the balance of power at this moment." Yuki current state, was somewhat ruthless, coldly saying, "Besides, can you guarantee that the demons haven't gotten wind of it? You've been fighting for so long, haven't there been any spies planted in the higher-ups of the Demon Extermination Squad?"
With that indifferent tone, everyone's expression changed, and many players began to whisper among themselves. Kisho Arima finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"Mr. Li, please do not make unfounded speculations that could undermine morale..."
"He makes a good point." Satoru Gojo raised his hand to interrupt, carefully observing Yuki, and then smiled, "No battle is ever 100% certain; it's inherently a gamble, which is why I didn't send any of you out."
He didn't need the other party to remind him; he already held a trump card but hadn't played it yet, but then he Yuki shake his head.
"You've bet too much. Even if there's a problem, you have no choice but to keep gambling. Are you going to stop now?"
His smile froze. Those words were like a knife, tearing away the shell of confidence. Yes, it was impossible for Satoru Gojo to stop now.
The continuation of a faction does not depend on high-end players, but on how many ordinary players there are below. They all have the potential to become monsters or reach epic levels. And he cannot, like Yuki, judge people by their appearance and select important trainees.
If the plan is terminated now, hundreds or even thousands of players will have died in vain. With all twelve evil spirits attacking at the same time, few will be able to escape back to the Borderlands. At that point, only a few experts will remain, and the dungeon will be able to bury them.
A hint of interest flickered in his blue eyes, and he nodded, replying, "You're right. Having paid such a high price, I have to gamble to the very end. But rest assured, the safety guarantee remains in effect. If it is indeed a trap, I will arrange for everyone to evacuate first."
The real fear is that they won't be able to withdraw. The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons dares not offend so many factions, but they can find other factions to accomplish the task. Just like the Fighters and the Battle Maniac, the two sides already have many conflicts, so they might not hold back.
With a slightly pleading look in his eyes, Yuki didn't voice this, and he too fell into contemplation about whether or not to continue betting.
Mona can read the script. Based on the current clues, there's a high probability that there's something wrong with this faction war. But if the Demon Extermination Squad loses, wouldn't all my efforts be for nothing?
There have already been some gains, Yuki has taken the opportunity to delve deeper into the Reincarnation Game, but that's not enough. Her seniors are growing, and she needs to make the most of her time.
What are your chances of winning?
Satoru Gojo blinked, glanced at the castle engulfed in war in the distance, and smiled confidently, "Don't worry, we'll win."
I'm not at all relieved! Your words remind me of that famous scene. It's not like I'm really going to become a 2.5 version of Satoru, is it?
Yuki made a face showing signs of toothache, now completely worried. After thinking for a moment, he said:
"Let me do you a favor. Join the battle now. With my strength and status, I can most likely force them to reveal their trump cards, giving you ample time to make your choice."
Upon hearing this, Satoru Gojo showed an incredulous look of surprise, while Taihou and the others turned their heads, somewhat puzzled as to why he had stepped forward.
This is the most efficient way to resolve the current situation. The Demon Extermination Squad is no match for the demons. Even if they send out all their forces, they can't force out any of the real high-ranking members. Satoru Gojo wants to keep them to deal with Mundus, so he naturally wouldn't dare to suffer any losses.
Only the appearance of a powerful player from another faction can force the Demon to reveal its trump card, because this trump card exists specifically for players from other factions.
If the Demon Extermination Squad makes the first move, they don't need to hold back; they can sacrifice a pawn to save the king later.
If not, of course everyone is happy, because without prior preparation, it's impossible to call for reinforcements from other factions in just a few hours.
There are many advantages, but the problem is, since everyone is on the same side, why should he take an extra risk?
"Are you crazy? Will you really jump into a fire pit?" Mona whispered a reminder, then realized that Yuki must have a way to escape; this man wouldn't risk his life so recklessly.
"I want them to win, it's that simple." Yuki's answer was straightforward; Demon Extermination Squad didn't win, how could he continue his charade?
"Win or lose, you will always be the most steadfast ally of the Demon Extermination Squad. Your enemy is my enemy, no matter who he is." Satoru Gojo was filled with gratitude. Yuki's statement was extremely important, and the reinforcements from other factions would not easily withdraw.
Okay, I believe you.
That's exactly what Yuki. He realized that the faction wars were not controlled by the Reincarnation Game. Recalling the desolation he saw when he first ascended, he knew that sooner or later something similar would happen on the territory of Thorny Rose.
Through this experience, he learned how to wage faction wars.
From the current perspective, the more people the better, and the more reliable the better. After the two dungeons Yuki has made many friends, and perhaps at some point in the future, he will need the strength of these friends.
"Mona, you stay here and don't run around."
Yuki restrained the restless girl; Valhalla was an important part of the plan, and he couldn't afford to let anything happen to her.
"How about I go with you, or I can help you with your fortune telling?" Mona reached into her storage space and took out a bunch of strange things like tarot cards, dice, and a compass.
How many gadgets does this kid have? He's like Doraemon!
Yuki glanced at her, shook his head, and disappeared from the spot.
"This Mr. Li is truly decisive." Saito Hiraga had originally intended to accept the task to repay the favor, but after Yuki him to it, he could only scratch his head and say, "Mr. Gojo, you've really found a reliable ally."
"A true hero, I admire you. By the way, what favor does he owe you that he would risk everything?" Zuo Qianhu clapped lightly, his face full of puzzlement.
Players are inherently selfish, prioritizing their own survival above all else. For a master of this caliber, the Demon Extermination Squad would have to pay an enormous price to repay the favor.
Under everyone's gaze, Satoru Gojo's lips twitched as he suddenly remembered Yuki's words.
"If it were Reincarnation Game, would you dare to oppose it?"
This Mr. Li's troubles are probably quite terrifying, but I...
He glanced at the 'witnesses' around him, took a deep breath, and while emotionally admiring Yuki's decisiveness, rationally—
In any case, we have to get past this hurdle first.
Da da da.
Yuki shimmered in the Eternal Night, the burning flames illuminating her fleeting afterimage.
Experience, learn, and summarize.
Her red eyes scanned the surroundings, her heart as calm as still water, taking in plans for things far in the future; the current situation was simple.
By continuously unsealing the Black Blade, they gradually approach the truth and seek a way to escape the game from 'Taiyi'. However, this path is by no means easy. Judging from the Outpost before activation, a war once broke out there.
Is it internal strife or an invasion? Is it related to leaving the game?
These questions remain unanswered, but that doesn't stop Yuki learning the Satoru Gojo; he'll prepare himself first.
'If a war truly Thorny Rose alone will be far from enough. I need to find a way to seek power from the outside and bind more and more players to this cause.'
Players like Shiki Ryougi, who are determined to return, are natural allies. Similarly, players like Satoru Gojo need to be brought under control; otherwise, when the mystery is finally solved, there won't be time to prepare our trump cards.
Yuki's thinking was clear: regardless of whether it was useful or not, holding more cards was always a good thing. And by the way—
"Training through killing."
A sudden stop, coming to a standstill from the speed of sound.
A green ray of light shone from the side, passing across his chest. He drew his shotgun, twirled it in his hand, and with a deafening roar, the shanty was blasted into pieces.
A spider with a human head and black hair leaped out, its several arms each holding a tool. A small silver shield emitted a crystal light, and a black short gun hidden behind the shield was already charging up.
Swish.
Before the item-focused player could even see where the enemy was, a flash of silver light appeared, and the several-meter-tall body, along with the Chaos Item, was split in two.
Yuki passed through the severed giant spider, whose splattered black blood couldn't even touch his body. With a twist of his wrist, he saw emerald green ghosts suddenly appear all around him, each wielding a sword, spear, or halberd, surging towards him like a tide.
Devil's Vision.
His eyes glowed red, piercing through the illusory figures, locking onto a soul hidden in the ruins. The Bloodblade, reversed its direction and plunged into the ground.
Burn.
The Red Lotus Fire burst forth from beneath his feet, forming waves of fire that incinerated the fragile ghosts into nothingness. With a quick step, he caught up instantly, then raised his right leg high.
Kill.
Boom--
A hundred-meter-deep crater instantly appeared, the earth was swiftly and decisively cracked, and the player, a Transcendental Grade Level III expert, was crushed and turned into a piece of emerald crystal.
These are the raw materials for the Chaos Item, but Yuki didn't even look at them, grabbed them directly, and stuffed them into the gun barrel.
Click.
With the bullets loaded, Yuki, standing on one leg, turned around and aimed behind him. There, at the breach in the castle's outer wall, was a fierce battle raging, and a pale-faced 'zombie' just rushed out.
It saw the Black Hole muzzle of a gun, its blank face displaying a fascinating expression. Before it could even pull out any defensive gear, its entire field of vision was filled with green bullets.
Bang!
Another Transcendental Grade player was blasted to pieces, chunks of flesh harder than steel flying everywhere. This revealed a hanged ghost, which still made no move to react, with bloodstains already appearing on its neck.
What?
The battle on the wall paused for a moment, and both humans and ghosts looked on in astonishment.
Outside the city, a man in a black trench coat, holding a knife in one hand and a gun in the other, pressed down on the breach like a mountain. With a casual slash, he cut the ghostly assassin who had silently appeared behind him in two, the scattered spiritual flames illuminating his menacing white teeth.
He was smiling.
Chapter Two is correct, this is indeed Musou.
One step kills a demon, leaving no trace for a thousand miles.
Whether it's a ghost or a demon, no matter how terrifying or beautiful they may be, whether it's an illusionary attack, a prop trap, or a mental charm, they all come down to one strike.
Accurate, efficient, and cold.
Once he developed his skills, Yuki discovered that the Reincarnation Game had become 'simple', no matter how many cards these players had up their sleeves, how well they cooperated, or how insidious their plans were.
Below the level of monsters, none can survive more than three seconds; below the level of the Transcendental Grade, even getting close is a luxury.
He simply stepped through the gap, crossed the huge plaza, and shredded any player who dared to stop him until his figure disappeared into the Tenshukaku, which brought Satoru Gojo and the others who were watching from afar back to their senses.
Everyone knows that Mr. Li is very strong, but no one knows how ridiculously strong he is. Everyone present is at least Monster III level, with various fighting styles and a complete combat system already in place. Yet, seeing Yuki slashing people, it feels more like an art form.
"Extremely fast speed, solid foundation, must have been honed through countless bloody battles." Terry Bogard adjusted his baseball cap; as a fighter, he found this type of person quite pleasing.
"Hmm, he calculates the route every time he strikes, anticipates the enemy's reaction, and his energy output is just right each time, which greatly reduces consumption. He's a very skilled hunter." Skadi stopped staring blankly and her face was full of agreement.
Never hesitate to unleash your full power when it's time to unleash it, and never lose your temper when it's time to conserve your energy.
"It's not just about sheer power, it's like something he's naturally mastered. He must have gone through more than 30 dungeons to have mastered the technique to the core." Taihou stroked his chin, his eyes seemingly overflowing with tears.
"I'm very curious, what kind of world was this Mr. Li in before he became a player?" Misaki Shokuhou thought further ahead, glancing at Ryougi Mena Ryougi, who stood with her hands on her hips looking quite smug, and chuckled:
"Anyway, it's not the Valhalla. I've met another Mr. Li; he was a powerful martial artist, but definitely not this kind..."
"This kind of killing weapon." Zuo Qianhu's summary was just right. He was also a 'Sword Saint' and could see that Yuki's skills were not particularly exquisite and his swordsmanship was just average.
But that natural ease, that Lightness killing as if it were eating or drinking, could not be developed through ring duels. Incidentally, I also discovered a problem.
"Mr. Li, perhaps you're at the half-step epic level?"
This is a unique term used by players in the cultivation world. The leap from Monster IV to Epic is huge, almost equivalent to the sum of Monster I to Monster IV. Players like Taihou, who are more tech-oriented, prefer to use percentages.