Chapter 425
Aside from putting fellow players at great risk, it seems that letting the senior players level up alone was the right decision.
Yuki that he had actually done the right thing by accident. For example, he had forced his seniors and others to join the "Nighttime Murder" operation, which would have resulted in half of them dying anyway.
This is not a limitation for him, because he doesn't need to go into dungeons to find epic enemies, and the barriers between factions are meaningless to 'nothing'.
Through the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons and the Nighttime Murder, he gained access to factions such as the Aether Particles, the End World, the Battle Maniac, and the Samurai Kingdom, and his subsequent plans had already been laid out.
"I have no more questions, thank you, Ms. Ryougi Shiki." Yuki bowed slightly, finally feeling like he was being mentored by a powerful figure.
"No need to thank me, we're even now." The indifferent young woman slowly rose and left quickly. "I'm at ease with Mona following you. You two get along well."
Uh, why are you running?
Yuki had just raised his hand when Ryougi Shiki Ryougi disappeared. Turning around, he saw Mona grinning at him.
Well, this can't be returned.
Chapter Four: Aether Particles
This was clearly a premeditated plan by the mother and daughter, who knew that Yuki didn't like to owe favors, but more importantly, it was about their own value.
Valhalla is extremely important to Yuki. Without their intelligence network and Shiki Ryougi's experience, Yuki would have taken countless detours. Even while deliberately avoiding the "Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge," it might have taken several dungeons to figure out a simple setting.
Judging people by their faces is meaningless; finding like-minded allies is too difficult. Even Yuki doesn't understand the flow of time between her hometown and the Borderlands. According to Thorny Rose, the flow of time is normal. By the time Ryougi Shiki Ryougi return, Kokutou Mikiya will probably be a fossil by now.
Judging from Homura Akemi's situation, the timeline seems to be quite chaotic, but that's beyond his control. Since Ryougi Shiki dared to go Shiki Ryougi, she must have been confident.
Besides intelligence networks and experience, Valhalla's most important function is communication and coordination, allowing Yuki to operate from behind the scenes without having to show himself.
"The Savior have made contact with Valhalla, and instead of seeking retribution, they want to cooperate? That troublesome pink-haired girl must be Elysia."
"The Anthropomorphic Front is gathering information about 'Taiyi.' They definitely want to escape the Reincarnation Game; they even confronted the Judge?"
"The Nindo Group is also pursuing the secret, but they eliminated the Adventurers entered the dungeon. Well, you could see them as allies of the Judge."
Yuki has done nothing these past few days, just stayed at home, occasionally going to the Diving Club's bar to sit and watch the changing winds of the Borderlands, while the Judge are busy to the point of exhaustion.
The various factions are becoming increasingly chaotic, which also stems from 'Taiyi'. He cut off the players' path to advancement, and a group of people were already deeply conflicted due to being trapped in the same situation. When his presence re-emerged, it stirred up a huge wave.
Some were chasing secrets, others seeking treasures, still others taking advantage of the chaos. Countless players harbored their own agendas, rumors flew everywhere, and some fearless players even dared to impersonate 'Taiyi' and commit telecom fraud based on the slightest bit of information they obtained.
"That's right, I caused a catastrophe and once fought against the Reincarnation Game. Now I'm trapped in a seal. V50 with me, and after I break free, I'll help you ascend to legendary status."
"Want to know the secret behind this upheaval? Want to know why I'm fighting against the Reincarnation Game? Add me for 50, and I'll tell you the story."
Yuki laughed as he read on. It was utter chaos. The Reincarnation Game had erased 'Taiyi' so completely that he was practically invisible in the face of 'Nighttime Murder.' Even now that he had been resurrected, few people knew who he was, what he had done, or what glorious past he had.
A memory, a fragment, or a legend buried in a dungeon—this gives players a huge creative space. The most outrageous story is that the Reincarnation Game has an anthropomorphic form, which became cold and ruthless because it was seduced and abandoned by 'Taiyi'.
Well, in the eyes of someone obsessed with love, everything can be turned into a romance novel. Luckily, the Reincarnation Game doesn't have its own consciousness, otherwise it would have wiped out these pests on the spot.
Most of it was just a joke, but the real big shots did have some clues.
Yuki's expression returned to normal; he gently rubbed his cheek, and his gaze became focused.
Some epic players were even eyewitnesses to the upheaval, but they only knew that the event happened; when it occurred and what they experienced were completely forgotten.
"That's a good thing; it will only fuel their curiosity and greed."
Yuki found this sense of presence just right. Players were certain that 'Taiyi' had truly existed and was incredibly powerful, so what he left behind must be precious, perhaps even containing the path to breaking through to epic levels.
"Keep an eye on these instances; regardless of whether they're real or fake, these people are definitely looking for them."
Yuki drew a few circles. As the only player who had directly faced 'Taiyi', he knew that the other party was a cunning old fox who was no less skilled than himself, and an absolute 'nothing'.
He doesn't want to see you. No matter how powerful your detection skills are, you won't be able to find him. He will also leave behind some treasures so that the explorer can return satisfied.
That's interesting. Once you get the treasure, it will involve cause and effect. The Judge will come as soon as they smell it. And the player who can obtain the legacy must be at least an epic player. Just thinking about how many tests, threats, and decisions are involved is enough to make your scalp tingle.
What does it have to do with me? The best way to deal with being fished is to just give up and stay put, and you won't step into a trap.
Yuki tossed aside the next intelligence report, letting out a few disdainful snorts. These were all intelligence reports on the 'Taiyi's' legacy, each one detailed and highly credible.
A straight hook and salty bait—only a fool would fall for that.
His current task is to wait, and then fan the flames, making the Borderlands even muddier.
"Death Canyon is in its final stages. By the time I finish my business, my seniors will be back around the same time."
Yuki glanced at the latest intelligence sent back by the fax machine, and looked up to see Mona push open the door and come in. This princess of Valhalla had become a gofer, shuttling between the two camps and constantly bringing intelligence.
"Whew, I'm exhausted. Why do I feel like you've tricked me?" Mona placed a stack of documents on the table, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"Next time, act more convincingly. Don't just take the documents out at the door." Yuki rolled her eyes. How could these top-secret documents not be kept in her storage space? "Sweat is cold; at least use some hot water when you're acting."
"Ah, you saw right through me." The girl stuck out her tongue, then naturally leaned closer, rubbing her slender shoulder against Yuki's back. "Brother, let's go out and play! It's so boring staying at home all day."
The saccharine tone gave Yuki goosebumps, and he quickly shrank back a little.
"Go away, go away! There's no time for such a grand undertaking as fighting against the Reincarnation Game."
"Nonsense! You clearly went to see those idiots in the 'Diving Club'!"
"Ahem, this is a reasonable relaxation."
"Then why didn't you take me with you?"
"According to the rules of Thorny Rose, minors are not allowed to enter the bar."
"Those kids are way younger than me!"
Mona gritted her teeth, realizing she really couldn't do anything about Yuki. The only consolation was that she had discovered more of Yuki's secrets during this time.
He wasn't a cold-blooded, ruthless, clockwork-precise schemer, because such a person wouldn't be researching Transcendental Grade skills about 'hangovers' with a bunch of fools.
But he wasn't a lazy bum. Even if he did nothing, he still manipulated the situation in the Borderlands. Some clues about 'Taiyi' were spread out through his mouth, passing through dozens of hands.
Just like at this moment, Yuki was researching the data, had a chilling indifference about him. Mona a fool could tell that the 'Aether Particles' was in trouble.
So that's how it is. No wonder it's the most chaotic and powerful faction; it's a complete hodgepodge.
Yuki seamlessly switched roles; he was just attacking Mona, and now he's plotting how to ambush others. There are more epic-level players in 'Aether Particles' than in 'Valhalla,' but the factions are in complete disarray, fighting endlessly for the privileges of the Pioneers.
Just from the information, Yuki could recognize worlds such as 'King of the Undead the Lord of the Rings', 'The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End', 'Re: Zero', 'The Familiar of Zero', 'World of Warcraft', and 'Record of Lodoss War'. No wonder he ran into so many familiar faces.
These worlds are full of internal conflicts, let alone when they're all mixed up in one Outpost.
"Frieren's hometown is really interesting."
His fingers tapped a rhythm on the table. Chaos meant opportunity, and several ideas flashed through his mind in an instant. After thinking for a while, he erased Saito Hiraga from his plans.
It's best not to drag this ill-fated couple into this mess. Besides, Saito Hiraga is definitely being watched by the Judge, so Li Dan and Raymond's pseudonyms need to be strictly distinguished.
"Should we wait for the Mushroom to come back before going together? Forget it, that dungeon will last for a few more days, let's go check it out first."
Yuki twisted his neck. Accustomed to the fast-paced life, he had only rested for five or six days after this comeback and felt quite tired.
"Mona, go back to Miss Ryougi Shiki's place."
"You're going to the Aether Particles? Take me with you." The girl pouted; she'd been running errands for the past few days.
"Bring my ass! You're Valhalla player, how am I supposed to bring Aether Particles?" Yuki waved his hand and quickly left amidst the expectant gazes. This girl was too much of a nuisance; he was afraid that if he relaxed for a few more days, he would truly become a couch potato.
He arrived at the management room above the stars. It was quiet enough there. There was another reason why he didn't bring Mona Yuki himself didn't know if he could travel between factions. If he couldn't, wouldn't that be embarrassing?
According to the Reincarnation Game rules, players cannot go to the opposing faction's Outpost without an invitation. This is a form of protection; otherwise, the stronger faction would have already wiped out the weaker faction.
"I have access to the Sloth Bishop; this thing should have shattered even more and been recycled by the Aether Particles players."
This permission wouldn't be displayed on the panel; there was only a vague sense of its presence. Yuki put on the Fool's Mask, changed into a hooded blouse with a Western fantasy style, and followed this feeling—
Permissions activated, self-invitation, coordinates determined.
In a daze, several lights seemed to flicker before his eyes. These were teleportation mediums. As his vision zoomed in, Yuki saw a castle, a forest, a volcano, and a plaza, as if he had entered a fantasy-style dungeon.
Select public media, plaza, and activate permissions.
A blurry sensation of spatial teleportation washed over him. Yuki closed his eyes and, relying on that small fragment of authority, disappeared amidst the Thorny Rose.
Da da da.
The sound of horses' hooves reached her ears, and the air was filled with the fragrance of herbs. When she opened her eyes, everything she saw made Yuki feel quite uncomfortable.
Not far away, a Nightmare Beast left burning tracks with the sound of its hooves. Hundreds of players were around it; he could see green-skinned Orcs, pointy-eared elves, moving rocks, and several skeletons.
This is a bustling medieval-style town, with the sound of a harp echoing in the air. If he didn't know the answer, he would have thought he had entered a Western fantasy dungeon.
It's somewhat similar to 'The Wizard's Tower'. Just as Mona said, the Thorny Rose is too ordinary.
There are no monotonous high-rise buildings; it's even more complex than the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. Outside the town is a continuous Black Forest, and in the distance, a volcano is surrounded by dark shadows—the territory of banshees and dragons.
That's right, these are all players. The magical creatures that only appear in comics have come together to form a strange picture.
He saw several skeletons sitting in a teahouse next to the square, served by fair-skinned and beautiful elves, who seemed to have no idea what the point was of spilling all their tea on the ground after each sip.
He saw the cat-eared beast girl and the green-skinned Orcs together, passionately kissing and embracing, oblivious to the stares of others.
This is nothing short of a chaotic dance of demons; even Night Parade of One Hundred Demons would be better, at least there's a clear dividing line between humans and ghosts.
Yuki couldn't bear to look, then felt a green light sweep over his body. It came from the town's tallest building, a black 'Y'-shaped Lighthouse with a giant green eye on it that looked very evil.
Searching for items will be disastrous for players from other factions. They will definitely be recognized, and once the medium is sealed, it's like trapping a dog inside. Even an Epic IV-rank player cannot take on an entire faction single-handedly.
He knew what home-field advantage meant. Just like the authority suppression in the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, faction wars also needed the support of the host, and very few players would come directly from another faction.
"But I'm different. I'm an Aether Particles player now."
His courage stemmed from calculation. This player of the Aether Particles was Taiyi. Others wanted to escape the Outpost, so they had to use a medium, namely a teleportation crystal, to reach the Borderlands. But he could run away at any time.
After standing there for a few seconds, the green light suddenly swept away, clearly acknowledging his identity.
"Friend, just got back from the Borderlands? Any good stuff?"
Do you have any 'Mechanical Believers' dolls? I can buy them at full price.
"Any interesting news? Tell me about it. I don't have any points, but I can contribute a great story."
"Come with me, I have fascinating stories to tell, and I can even share them in bed."
Many players gathered around, leaving Yuki bewildered. After exchanging a few words, he realized just how cruel the principle of "the strong get stronger, and the weak get weaker" truly was in the Reincarnation Game.
The players—lizards, elves, stone golems, and fairies—were dressed in tattered equipment, but were only at the Extraordinary level. The 100 points from the teleportation, which was equivalent to one enhancement point, were extremely precious to them.
The convenience of Borderlands is irrelevant to them; even a single trip requires the entire team to accumulate points, making it a luxury.
Yuki finally managed to break free from the crowd and saw many players appear near the public crystal, then hurriedly walk towards the people who were there to meet them.
These are all middlemen who specialize in bringing back strange and unusual items from the Borderlands, much like how there are hovercars flying through the air in this magical world.
After paying the guards 10 points for protection, knocking out a dozen thieves, and twisting a bird's head off a robber's head, Yuki finally had a chance to catch his breath. Only then did he understand why Frieren was homeless and why he felt that Thorny Rose was like paradise.
This godforsaken place is not only plagued by infighting among players, but also by monster-level players who are high above and desperately plundering resources, causing chaos below. It is a quintessential example of the Dark Forest law.
Deceive others, plunder others, kill others; other players are just mobile resources. Loot their items, steal their soul materials, and exchange them for points to feed yourself.
The Holy Mother has no chance of survival here, because if you don't plunder, you can't become stronger, and you'll most likely die on the next mission.
The game's designated private spaces have long been destroyed, and homeless players are everywhere.
"It's not as good as the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. At least there's a clear distinction between opposing factions, which will be better for players in your own faction." Yuki found a quiet corner and opened the map. He deliberately came to the edge of the Aether Particles faction to experience the 'hospitality' of the local customs. This experience was even more lively than in the dungeon.
"The places with truly well-ordered systems are all dominated by powerful factions, with at least Monster IV level players in charge."
He saw 'Halkeginia,' the power led by Saito Hiraga. He saw the 'Monster Front's' Doomsday Dragon Mountain, the 'Undead Great Tomb,' the 'Sage's Tower,' and so on.
These places have good order, but the price is higher protection fees, and you have to be prepared to be cannon fodder at any time. According to the Valhalla's intelligence, the Monster Front and the Hero Kingdom just fought a battle, and hundreds of players on both sides died.
There are no casualties; the Reincarnation Game will continuously send out qualified soldiers. Conquering dungeons is secondary; there are simply too many ways to make money.
Players? They're just consumables, no different from the natives in dungeons. I doubt these people have the same pride as the Fourth Calamity.
Struggling to survive in dungeons, it's hard to catch your breath even after you return. If you were like Thorny Rose, receiving a quest only once a week, you'd probably all commit suicide.
Yuki put away the map; his purpose for this trip was simple.
Surely Hidden Sage shouldn't be completely invisible?
"There is indeed a player Raymond in the Aether Particles."
"He acts Arcane Grade, rarely shows himself, and never cooperates with other players. Hometown? Someone told me that he and the Sloth Bishop came from the same world, but the Sloth Bishop has already fallen, and his territory has been divided up. It's possible that the two have a past grudge."
"This doesn't seem like a coincidence. The Sloth Bishop died in a premeditated murder, but no matter how much interrogation he underwent, none of the ants he left behind provided any answers. Perhaps you should look for players who share the same hometown as the Sloth Bishop."