Chapter 446
Bringing death, slaughter, and torture to other races... this is truly...
That was so much fun!
A strange smile appeared on his handsome face. He raised his foot and crushed several spore eggs as if stomping on a watermelon. Then he threw out a molten grenade, igniting all the mycelium.
The girl gazed at the burning 'campfire,' and heard the screams of Orcs coming from inside the living quarters. She and her squad members exchanged glances and saw that everyone was expressionless, their eyes filled with excitement. They raised their guns and shot the Orcs that rushed out.
Similar things happened all over the battlefield. This Great Game is brutal. At least between these two lower-ranking races, there was no cooperation or pretentious negotiation. One side destroyed the other. It was that simple.
They chased after them, killing all the Orcs who could move, stripping them of their weapons and throwing them to their own people, so that these people who usually had no chance to participate in battles would also join the slaughter. This excited mood seemed to be contagious; even the most notorious cowards joined in with their swords. When they killed a seriously wounded Orcs warrior, their hands stopped trembling.
They didn't even consider the possibility that Abdulas might turn back; they just kept fighting until it was completely dark, until they were exhausted, until they could no longer see a single living Orcs in their sight.
"Khorne would probably laugh heartily at this sight. I almost forgot, 'Taiyi' is the Khorne Champion."
Yuki gazed at the blood-soaked battlefield. After killing the Beast King, he didn't make another move. The Scarface man led hundreds of warriors into the ruins, slaughtering everyone indiscriminately, regardless of age or gender, filling the ruins of the Steel Fortress with a stench of blood.
Yuki lowered his head, watching the human warriors search each room, and nodded slightly.
The system notification indicated that the effects were rapid; humans had indeed become stronger, while Orcs had become weaker, unable to resist even if they wanted to.
In addition to that, there is the change in mindset.
"Human beings are both kind and cruel, both cowardly and brave. What I need to do is to bring out their bestial nature."
Yuki doesn't have time for philosophical games, and he disdains talking about humanity; he simply takes the most straightforward and brutal approach.
They had suffered too much in the past and accumulated too much pressure, and now they just wanted to vent it all out. The Orcs were just unlucky enough to become the targets of this venting.
Killing and victory can be truly addictive; these people are like springs compressed to their Limit, which become very useful once released.
That's about it.
He snapped his fingers, and the burning energy transformed Yuki into the brightest torch in the night. The sounds of blades piercing flesh and the inexplicable battle cries ceased, and countless eyes focused on him.
All was silent except for heavy breathing and the sound of dripping blood, but his eyes burned with intense Incandescence.
At this moment, the figure standing on the ruins is a totem, a God of War who has restored humanity from rats to human beings. He doesn't need to say anything, doesn't need to make any statement; the dull touch of the blade piercing flesh, the surging power, speaks volumes to everyone.
Prove it with killing, awaken it with blood, and pave the way for faith with slaughter and corpses.
[Player Yuki, your reputation with humanity has reached 'Godlike'. Reward: 4 Specialization Points, 4 Enhancement Points]
Yuki's lips curled up slightly. "See? The investment of ten days has already yielded results."
He never uses words to persuade, he only proves his promises with results:
Listen to me, and you will not only live, but you will also win; you can transform from the oppressed into the perpetrators.
"In just one day, the once invincible Orcs was nearly wiped out. Does that seem unbelievable?"
The voices were calm, and no one answered. This was truly unbelievable. Many people are still confused, simply venting their desires.
All the usual stress, fear, and helplessness are released, and only when you calm down at this moment can you start to think about the reasons.
There's no reason why this victory could be attributed to Yuki; in retrospect, it seems even more unbelievable.
In the past, when it came to fighting positional warfare against the Orcs, humans probably didn't even have the courage to kick a dog when it's down. They would just tremble and observe everything with suspicion, afraid of stepping into a trap.
"There's nothing incredible about it. Courage is paved with blood and victory, allowing us to accomplish things we never dared to imagine before."
Yuki naturally had a comprehensive plan. The reason for spending ten days in rotation was that everything had a purpose. For example, in this battle, humans could have been mere bystanders, but Yuki insisted on inflicting heavy losses on them.
"Before this, everything you did was driven by the instinct for survival. Now, I'll give you one minute to recall the pain of migration."
The breathing grew heavier and heavier, and countless images flashed through each person's mind.
The Dwarves airships flew overhead, and everyone hid in the caves, barely daring to breathe, yet they were still discovered. The Dwarves tossed down molten lava bombs as if playing a game, and those who were set ablaze didn't even dare to scream, fearing they would attract more attacks.
Monster Race were flying by hundreds of kilometers away, so everyone had to hide. If they were tracked, a lottery would be held to decide who would go out as bait to die.
There are also those scavengers who were forced to self-destruct when they encountered undead vanguard soldiers, and those mothers who had to smother their crying babies to death in order to avoid exposing their tribe.
Too many terrifying images flashed through her mind. Lucy gripped the hilt of her knife tightly, feeling her eyes turn bloodshot and her neck feel like it was being choked, making it hard to breathe. She had thought Yuki was the kind of person who thought, "Why don't they eat meat porridge?", but now she realized that he knew all these stories.
So, how do you feel right now?
Everyone was slightly taken aback. Their nostrils were filled with the stench of blood, and they were surrounded by rotting corpses. They had experienced this scene countless times before, but this time, they were the ones who had perpetrated this massacre.
What does it feel like?
Lucy stroked the hilt of her knife, the sensation of stabbing the Orcs warrior returning to her hand like a healing balm. Aside from her still bloodshot eyes, her breathing became even. The answer was simple.
Exhilarating, infatuated.
Why do dragon-slaying heroes eventually become dragons themselves? Because the pleasure derived from dragons aligns more with human nature. No one likes pain, so why do most people strive to become stronger?
To enslave others, to plunder others, to step on others' heads, rather than to be stepped on by others.
"Remember the screams of the enemy, remember the feel of the blade piercing flesh, remember the despair in the Orcs' eyes, remember the exhilaration of beheading them as they knelt and begged for mercy!"
Yuki's voice suddenly grew louder, as if a demon had launched a fatal attack, drawing out all desire and bestiality.
Without another word, he suddenly turned around, like a torch illuminating the way forward, with countless blood-stained warriors kneeling on one knee behind him.
"Follow me, and from now on, the race you worship will be trampled underfoot! The race that once trembled at the mere sight of you will be dead beneath my blade!"
"From this day forward, we shall ascend to the throne of God!"
Chapter Six: Hiyori's Strategy
"Humans defeated Orcs? How is that possible? They're just a bunch of rats!"
"Could it be that this is thanks to the helpers?"
"It must be true. How did they do that? Any five-ringed angel could easily break those rats with just a glance."
"It doesn't matter, they're just a bunch of rats, Tianyi Chang wouldn't even bother mentioning them."
The beautiful flowers exuded a captivating fragrance, and the lovely angels whispered among themselves, like gossip over tea.
The war between humans and Orcs is too far in the future. Even the Orcs are just a bunch of slightly stronger rats, and the Angels don't even consider them a threat. The Angel Council spent ten minutes discussing it and concluded that it was the helpers who did it, and that humans just got lucky.
They cared more about the coffee that Hayasaka Ai brewed or the black tea that Kaguya Shinomiya brewed. These drinks tasted strange, but once you got used to them, they were like an addiction, and they would look at them longingly every day.
There was no other way; the Crimson Moon World was nearly destroyed, and they couldn't grow coffee beans or black tea anymore. The tasteless bait was now as unpalatable as chewing wax.
It's Yuki!
Mai Sakurajima and Hiyori exchanged a glance, skillfully concealing their excitement. There was nothing to be excited about, really. That man was no ordinary person. At first glance, he seemed unremarkable, but before you knew it, a knife was already at your throat.
"Alright, that's enough for today's story. Didn't you want to go to war?"
Hiyori closed the book, the angels around her were displeased, and the blonde, childlike angel Nier pouted.
"Hiyori- neechan, we're getting to the exciting part. How about I have Anna go for me?"
"No, we have to get down to business. I'm telling you stories to help you focus." Hiyori shook her head firmly. Angels don't have the concept of 'older sister'; that was something she imposed on them, and she was very particular about controlling the timing.
The Angels wanted to infiltrate, but they couldn't provoke a backlash. What they did not corrupt the Angels; on the contrary, it increased their combat efficiency, so the higher-ups stopped interfering.
"Alright, Jilly, Mosankela, bring your squads and come with me." The angel flew up, her tone coquettish, "Give those dead souls a day to be reduced to ashes, leaving no survivors, then come back with me to hear the story."
"Yes, Sister Nier."
Dozens of angels flew away in a flurry; their beautiful appearances, coquettish tone, and the content of their words sent chills down one's spine.
A highly deceptive weapon of war.
This is Hiyori's final assessment: the Angels are beautiful, yet extremely rational, with terrifyingly high combat efficiency, leaving nothing but desolation in their wake.
Because she realized this, she didn't naively think she could easily make friends with them. If you became complacent, Nier would smile and chop off your head.
"The Undead are in deep trouble this time. Their entire settlement will be wiped out." Mai Sakurajima, wearing an adorable bunny-eared apron, walked over with a strange expression. "Since we joined the dungeon, we haven't fought a single battle."
"But we still managed to raise our reputation to 'Respected' and receive the game rewards."
"That's what's strange. Lately, I've been either grilling steaks or reading manga, and I don't feel like I'm in a dungeon. On the contrary, Yuki has done something big again."
"Oh dear, Mr. Yuki is walking the path of a hero, and we have our own strategies and methods. Isn't that good?" Hiyori smiled and shrugged, which was exactly what Yuki valued most.
Unconventional, subtle strategies may not be as dramatic as Yuki's, but the effect is the same.
"We've gotten much closer to these angels, and the ones we've focused on have almost become friends. It's impossible for Nier and Giles to disobey orders, but if we get into danger, they'll definitely come to our rescue. This friendship is very useful."
Hiyori squinted, and then her head was gently patted.
"Don't imitate him, you're like a little fox." Hayasaka Ai, dressed in a maid outfit, walked over. She roughly understood Hiyori's thinking and trusted the latter's methods. "I just think Yuki must be having a tough time, while we're enjoying life here every day."
"Mr. Yuki would be happy to know, and besides, we now have leads on what we needed to investigate."
They weren't afraid of being overheard Shared Reading; the group ostensibly discussed what to eat later, but they were actually already comparing answers.
First, they have a fairly good grasp of the personalities, characteristics, and details of the Angels, and have discovered which races they have irreconcilable hatreds with.
Secondly, while listening to the stories and watching the series, I learned about the power systems of many races by extracting information from the various angels, and even the existence of some players.
Third, the Judge have arrived and seem to have clashed with the Sirens. They retreated immediately upon encountering the Angels patrol. Giles said these people are very powerful and do not have the aura of other races. Skywing Chief specifically summoned them to inquire about their situation.
"Frieren and Mona have also been located. One is with 'The Annihilation Seeker' Abdulas, and the other is with 'The Storm Giant Whale' Mesodals Kaguya Shinomiya whispered. She had just inadvertently asked Giles, the Archangel of the Eighth Ring.
In theory, the squad and the Monster Race are enemies, but once they get to know each other, they don't bother to hide this ambiguous secret anymore.
Hiyori nodded, flipped through the thick notebook, and found the information on the Monster Race. It wasn't complete, but it was much more detailed than the information on the lower-ranking races.
"The individual strength of the Monster Race is very powerful, but there is no clear ruler. Most Magical Beasts live alone, and Mona and the others are doing the right thing."
"How about we get in touch?"
"Don't rush. We can't persuade the racial Alliance with just a few words. Let's continue infiltrating the Angels, just for a crucial moment." Hiyori had learned the essence of survival tactics from Yuki, and this one was:
Do not act rashly based on your own assumptions; every decision should be based on sufficient intelligence.
Each race has its own talents and personality, and the arrogant angel, looking down upon all living beings, must find an opportunity.
The group pondered silently, but couldn't find any clues.
"This can't go on. Our reputation and respect have probably peaked." Mai Sakurajima shook her head. She didn't want to stagnate and enjoy life in isolation. "We should make a move."
"How can we move? With our strength, we're not even qualified to participate in the Race War. The undead settlement is our Limit. Besides, the Angels value orders above all else. Without orders to attack, how dare we act rashly?" Hayasaka Ai immediately retorted; she was anxious too.
"I told you not to rush. This instance is extremely risky but has enormous rewards. We can take our time. I think Mr. Yuki is also secretly developing his abilities. I've looked at the data; humans have potential."
Hiyori remained unhurried, then suddenly changed the subject:
"Don't forget, everyone. We have a perfect understanding. Although we don't have direct contact, Mr. Yuki will definitely send us an opportunity from afar."
They were at an impasse, but Yuki was still active. As veteran players, Mai Sakurajima and the others thought along those lines and their eyes lit up.
"You mean, the pig-headed man leading humans to defeat the Orcs was giving us an opportunity?"
"Yuki's greatest skill, and I think Mona and the others also benefited." Hiyori narrowed her eyes, already understanding Yuki's meaning. "Did you hear the angels' conversation? They are indeed arrogant, but they are also amazed by this the Miracle."
The angels certainly didn't take humans seriously, yet they repeatedly mentioned 'helpers.' It would be normal for the Undead to wipe out the Orcs, or even the Insect Race or Sirens.
But it is precisely because humans are the weakest in the Great Game, ranked last and least noticeable, that most of the credit naturally goes to Yuki.
Yuki is a player, and each race will be assigned to a player, which suddenly increases the uncertainty.
"So that's it! He's deliberately increasing the players' presence to make powerful races feel threatened!" Hayasaka Ai clapped her hands excitedly. There were risks involved, such as whether the Angels would try to wipe out humanity in its infancy.
But this also presents an opportunity, because a group of players have broken away from the instance and are extremely powerful, and their whereabouts have been exposed in recent days.
"If we were normal players, we would definitely incite the angels to annihilate humanity, but we are a criminal gang." Kaguya Shinomiya understood as well; this was the opportunity, the opportunity that man had provided.
The metaphor of a criminal gang was unpleasant, yet apt, making Hiyori's eyes crinkle into crescent moons as she smiled sweetly.
She saw a seven-ringed angel flying towards her; his white-gold robes indicated that he was a close attendant of the Winged One, and without asking, she knew he must have come to invite them to a meeting.
To deal with players, you naturally have to rely on your own kind, so asking for their opinions is perfectly reasonable.
Hiyori and yawned, having already prepared a comprehensive plan.
"Let's go, let's go fan the flames, let's use the conflict between the two to uncover the secrets. I need to know where the target of the trial is, who it is, and how it should be conducted—"
"Let's create an opportunity for Mr. Yuki!"
Yuki always prioritizes efficiency, so he doesn't employ any fancy schemes or intellectually challenging battles.
His goal was clear: to kill and seize the Divine Torch.
All his actions were directed straight toward his goal. To achieve this, he used the simplest and most brutal methods to improve humanity and gain reputation, all in order to obtain a handy tool. As for mercy, corruption, or anything like that, they were completely out of the question.
He wants humanity to become stronger and more ruthless, whether forced or voluntary, to charge towards the Divine Torch, no matter how many will die along the way.