Chapter 431

"Oh no, he's targeting me."

Ah???

Consciousness spread out, struggling to penetrate the barrier of Eternal Night, and caught sight of another rapidly ascending figure. Looking again, the man trapped in frozen time was turning into a bubble.

A clone? How is that possible?

Even a legendary-level clone skill could be seen through by him at a glance. Isn't this even more Clown that he was actually fooled by a clone?

Ha, I was just kidding you!

It all happened in a fraction of a second. Yuki seized that moment and lunged at the giant eye that had just been shrouded in Eternal Night.

The plan is very simple in essence.

The Eternal Night is nothing but a smokescreen; even the Conceptual Craft Essence can't suppress the Witch God, let alone these Judge.

He was merely using the Lord of Shadows' to attract attention and intimidate the other party with the name of Taiyi. All the talk of the deal and Total Annihilation was just to make the Judge focus his attention and treat it as a major battle.

In order to uncover the secrets and read information about 'Taiyi', Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge has devoted more and more power, especially with the appearance of the Black Blade. This thing is real, and it can make Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge concentrate like an otaku seeing his two-dimensional waifu.

Yuki had been waiting for this opportunity.

His true form had been hiding inside the Furnace, evading the scan of Eternal Night. Just as Dio Brando was filled with extreme shame and went mad on the spot, he jumped out, activated the Eternal Night Domain, and instantly appeared before the giant eye.

"The strongest spy is impossible to approach from within the judgment space, but to spy on them at close range, one must reduce their power; this level of strength is just right."

Yuki pondered the information about Shiki Ryougi. The Valhalla did not know the identities of the twelve Grand Inquisitors, but the investigation of the 'Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge' was of paramount importance. The matter of 'descending power' alone had come at a great cost.

Looking at the burning giant eye in front of him, the latter was frantically trying to withdraw its power, but the plot was too absurd, and it was too late to retreat now.

From the very beginning, there was no transaction, nor was there any Total Annihilation strike. Yuki's only target was Him, and he was waiting for this one and only opportunity.

Epic Metamorphosis. The Soul King.

Yuki picked up the Storm Dragon Spear, and without a word or hesitation, plunged it directly into the center of the snake's eye. He heard no screams, only the giant eye Extreme Speed shrinking inward. The Grand Inquisitors, who were supposed to protect Him, were all caught off guard.

No one could step in to cover for him, and He shouldn't have invested so much power, but the logic is sound.

This was His first contact with Taiyi, how could He not spy on it? Who knows how the conversation went astray, who knows how Taiyi was so different from the legends.

Where's that sharpness? Where's that confidence? All that buildup, just to put on a show for me?

"Regret? Regret can wait!"

The dazzling golden lightning shattered the shrinking giant eye, turning it into a sky full of sparks. Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge had already closed its eyes in pain, and the second step followed immediately.

Soul Extraction.

The countless sparks were instantly annihilated by the thunder, Yuki drew his sword and spear, merging into the Eternal Night without hesitation.

Call out--

The entire process took only 0.05 seconds. The red beam Piercer the Eternal Night and reached the sky. The next moment, Dio Brando appeared in the afterglow, looking around and trembling all over.

We've been tricked, completely tricked. This person had already written the script and was just waiting for the Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge to see through us.

A wave of shame washed over him as he watched the fading Eternal Night, his twisted roar echoing across the wilderness.

"Everyone, find him! Don't let a single particle escape!!"

What exactly happened?

Other players couldn't see what was happening within the Eternal Night Domain; they only felt that the battle was very strange, with both sides wasting nearly ten minutes before suddenly starting to fight.

The deployed Judge hurriedly stepped into the Eternal Night, and the other players, sensing the almost manic rage, dared not slacken their efforts and followed suit. The blockade was slowly being closed in, leaving not a single particle unchecked.

You've fooled us, but you can't escape now.

Dio Brando's energy fluctuations grew stronger and stronger, and he transformed into his true form, clenching his fists, ready to find Yuki and tear him to pieces.

One minute, two minutes, three minutes...

More and more Judge descended upon this place, with Uchiha Madara even arriving in person, his killing intent distorting the very air.

But when the Eternal Night completely dissipated before their eyes, the busy players all looked up at the two big shots standing in the air, and they all fell silent, their rage palpable.

Nobody's here? He escaped? No, was he certain he could escape from the beginning, and deliberately set a trap to fool us?

This unprecedented formation, this overwhelming power that crushes all factions—are they all Clown?

Dio Brando and Ban exchanged a glance, speechless, unable to comprehend how their target had managed to escape, or where he had gotten the audacity.

"This... this is Taiyi? How... how..." Dio Brando couldn't describe it. He hadn't felt any power, but recalling it now, the sinister aura it exuded sent chills down his spine.

To take the heads of Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge soldiers from among ten thousand is no longer a matter of the weak defeating the strong.

"Yes, this is Taiyi. He's not as powerful as the legends say, but he's certainly troublesome."

A gentle voice came, and Aizen arrived as well, a bitter smile on his face mixed with a hint of shame.

Three Grand Inquisitors? Was this battle really that intense? It didn't cause any Earth Collapse.

No player dared to ask, feeling that things weren't as they'd imagined; why did all the big shots look like they had no way to express their grievances?

The three looked at each other, speechless, as if they had punched cotton, unable to exert any force.

"On the bright side, the result isn't too bad. At least we can confirm that 'Taiyi' doesn't have the legendary ability to All Things Slain, so we don't need to be nervous anymore." Uchiha Madara took a deep breath, finally salvaging some of his dignity.

This is good news. The unknown is becoming known. Knowing Taiyi's power ceiling will make things much easier.

But it was also bad news; the three looked around but couldn't find a single trace.

"There was no reaction from the medium, and he wasn't found at the exit of the Borderlands."

More intelligence gathered, making things even stranger, because the Eternal Night had completely dissipated, and hundreds of monster-level players searched back and forth but still found no clues.

He just vanished into thin air?

"Has this person already left the 'Aether Particles'?" Dio Brando sent out a dog-shaped Stand, while he himself looked around.

"Impossible. The spatial walls of each Outpost are incredibly strong. Only a 'medium' can open a passage to the Borderlands." Uchiha Madara immediately shook his head, paused for a moment, and then added, "Unless he has some way to leave the Outpost directly without a medium or forcibly breaking through the spatial walls."

Aizen and Dio Brando stared at him without saying a word. This guess had some merit, but things that went beyond common sense and rules could not be verified at all; they could only be considered wild speculation.

"He's here, he must be here! We must hold on to him at all costs, turn the place upside down, and find him!" Dio Brando, still furious after being tricked, glared at Aizen.

"Let's intervene directly. Put every player using Aether Particles under surveillance and drive them back from the Borderlands. I refuse to believe they can hide like that."

This is serious; it's tantamount to launching a trial against an entire faction, ignoring all the interests of its native forces. The entire Reincarnation Game will have nowhere to go, which is extremely rare in history.

"I agree. Although we don't know how He escaped, He's most likely still at this Outpost." Uchiha Madara nodded in agreement. They had finally found a substantial clue, and there was no reason for them to let it go.

Time, and more time. So much time has passed, and there's been no progress at all. We've held numerous meetings, and finally, we have a direction for our investigation.

For example, Raymond is completely different from Li Dan, and is more in line with the conjecture of 'fragmented clones'.

For example, 'Taiyi' is still in the recovery period and does not have the power to directly confront it.

The woman who escaped earlier has already been investigated by spies. It won't be long before they find out her background and locate her in the Borderlands.

Even if she can still hide, she still has to participate in the missions. Now every 'Aether Particles' player's dungeon missions are monitored throughout.

Aizen glanced at the two of them, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his face, "Have you two been blinded by anger?"

"Not entirely, but with such a treacherous enemy, we have no choice but to let him All Things Slain his path and have a good, satisfying battle." Uchiha Madara paused for a moment, then spoke with difficulty, "It's better than being played like this, like, like..."

Because of the pride of the strong, there was no need to say anything more. The three exchanged a glance, then awkwardly turned their heads away.

Like Clown.

Ha, what a trap!

While the Judge were in a state of impotent rage, Yuki had already returned to the Thorny Rose, without lingering fear or sense of danger. All escape routes had been prepared, the only difference being the harvest.

Since he had a cheat code, why not use it? Yuki not only used it, but used it to the Limit. Compared to life and death, morality and face really meant nothing.

Conspiracy? Scheme? Prediction?

Sorry, I'm better at it than any of you.

Yuki never intended to replicate Taiyi. I am who I am, with my own strengths and path.

"Can you bear this shame? Even if you can, once you find out my background, you'll have no other choice."

To deal with an incomparably powerful swordsman, it is best to avoid his sharp edge, dull his blade with countless lives, and then deliver the final blow.

But while dealing with a cunning and treacherous strategist may not be as dangerous as dealing with a swordsman, the level of difficulty is on a completely different level.

The former is the question of how to overcome it. The latter is the question of how to find it.

With no entry point in the Thorny Rose, and no clues for the Head Hunters, the only solid evidence is the Aether Particles —how could they not hold onto this lead tightly?

Monitoring a faction is too easy. They can camp at the coordinates of the Borderlands between the Aether Particles and the border, searching for every player entering and leaving. Even the Borderlands itself is not safe. Yuki guesses that the Judge should have the authority to expel players and kick them back to the Outpost from the Borderlands.

Find me, and also find Frieren. If all else fails, monitor the instance of every Aether Particles player. Within the Reincarnation Game, no one can hide for long; the only difference lies in how many resources are invested.

"Unless, we break free from the framework of the cycle of Reincarnation Game."

Yuki laughed. The legacy Taiyi left him contained no power, let alone the ability to instantly kill an Epic IV-rank player. Yet, it allowed him to transcend common sense and break free from the game's rules—that was the biggest cheat code.

It's like no one would have thought he could escape without any intermediaries or Borderlands crossings, right under the noses of so many players with such high levels of access.

This 'Taiyi' is a player of the Aether Particles, so he cannot have permissions for other factions, and without an invitation, he cannot go to other Outpost. This is the premise of our thinking.

The premise is flawed; even Sōsuke Aizen couldn't find the correct answer.

"Let it ferment slowly. I already know that the Judge's mission has a time limit. If this continues, it will inevitably clash with the 'Aether Particles' sooner or later. Deathwing is no pushover either; they'll have a lot to do with it."

"Even if they are cowards, a huge amount of resources will be poured into the Aether Particles, and loopholes will inevitably appear in other places."

Yuki was very satisfied with the short trip, which was concise and efficient, and as always, he was able to accomplish multiple goals simultaneously.

Tactically, he severely damaged Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge and, as expected, gained special privileges.

Is this the Judge's Outpost?

Yuki closed his eyes and could see a few dim stars in a gray world, but he only glanced at them before looking away.

It's too dangerous. Going deep into enemy territory is something we can't do casually, at least not now.

"And then there's this thing, a real unexpected bonus."

He looked at his panel and saw that a new item had been added to the special skills section.

[Truth's Eye (Incomplete)]

[With the eye that sees through all things and monitors all things, in this state, all disguises, illusions, and mental shielding skills are ignored within the user's line of sight.]

This is a great skill, exactly the one I lack most.

This special skill comes from the Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge, and the reason why Yuki dared to fleece Him was because he compared what Taiyi and Shiki Ryougi had said.

Giving comes at a price, while plundering comes without any burden.

Without this fundamental premise, how could he dare to attack the Judge? He closed his eyes and carefully sensed it, feeling that he was not far from reaching Epic Tier II.

Besides strategy and tactics, there is a third takeaway.

"I've been hiding for several days. Mona and the seniors should be quite familiar with each other by now."

Leaving space for them to get to know each other was a strategy he had planned long ago. With a little unease, he lit up the starry sky, glanced at it, and felt relieved.

Hmm, maybe we're getting a little too familiar?

Mona was a socially awkward person, yes, a pure social terrorist, and his skin was so thick that even Hunter's Blunderbuss couldn't penetrate it.

She didn't understand awkwardness and forced her way into the bathhouse meeting, leaving the people who were discussing her speechless, so they had to start a fight.

A childlike innocence is a result of a fixed origin; without any acting, it is the best disguise. Even Hayasaka Ai could not coldly question those clear blue eyes.

However, she is also an extremely cunning and experienced player, capable of providing perfect answers to any questions posed by Kaguya Shinomiya.

"What relationship? Of course, he's my older brother. That sense of security, isn't that something only elders can provide?"

"No, no, no, my brother said he's a leg fetishist, and some kind of giant-breasted alien. Mona is so short and flat-chested, he definitely wouldn't be interested. Oh, Miss Frieren, your breasts are so big! Can I touch them?"

"You want to deal with him? Mona can be an inside man. You're all people my brother likes, so of Mona has to obey. Oh? Isn't Kaguya? But Hayasaka- neechan said she'd make you part of her dowry."

"Hayasaka- neechan wants an opportunity? Does she need Mona's help to drug her? Hiyori- neechan knows best about this, right? Hmm, the book you were just looking at is called Hallucinogen, Mona has read that novel too, the plot is..."

In just a few words, the solemn atmosphere of the three-way trial was shattered, and the master Hiyori was given book censorship restrictions by her senior, Frieren simply submerged in the water, leaving only her eyes showing.

Just like right now, she was sitting in Mai Sakurajima's lap, licking her milkshake, tilting her head, listening intently as Frieren recounted her thrilling escape. As if sensing something, she smiled and waved at the ceiling.