Chapter 457

Dio Brando grinned wickedly and deliberately asked, "Are you somewhat weak?"

The famous quote about boxer shorts was repeated, Yuki's expression remained unchanged.

"Even at my peak, I couldn't beat this giant lizard. Running away took a lot of my stamina. You know, players like us don't have that many fancy skills."

Dio Brando nodded. This was normal. Players who relied solely on physical constitution were considered bottom-tier at the same level; it was the price of rapid leveling up.

"Hiding behind the scenes and picking off enemies like this doesn't seem like the kind of player I'm used to from the Hero Kingdom," he asked again.

"Because I am no longer a hero, all that remains is a body of vengeance. I cannot die, at least not now." Yuki clenched his fists, as if his wounds had been pierced in pain.

This matches the information in the encyclopedia. Heroes aren't all hot-blooded, righteous characters. The Reincarnation Game changes everyone, but the Judge doesn't care what kind of bitter past a person has.

Yuki raised his chin and asked, "Shall we sign a contract?"

"No need. Contracts aren't very effective against epic-level players. With a little thought, you can easily circumvent them." Dio Brando waved his hand, knowing that overly restrictive terms wouldn't be accepted, and overly broad terms wouldn't be very effective either. He also didn't want to ruin the atmosphere.

"All you need to know is that I can save you, and I can kill you."

The threat was blatant, but it seemed credible in the face of the numerous craters and the carcasses of giant beasts. Yuki nodded solemnly, indicating that he had no ulterior motives.

"Very good, I like honest people." Dio Brando twitched his nose, but didn't smell any lies.

How many days will it take you to recover?

Yuki didn't answer immediately; instead, he thought for a few seconds.

"Three days. I know the Judge will leave the instance after completing the trial. If possible, I want to minimize losses and complete the main quest."

This caution matches the intelligence. Yuki's current persona isn't that of a brainless hero, but rather a vengeful spirit. Anyone with even a hint of revenge would be courting death if they weren't smart enough.

It was perfectly reasonable, Dio Brando couldn't find fault with it. As a major villain, if Yuki too straightforward, it would only arouse his suspicion.

"Alright, I'll give you three days. If you're valuable enough, I don't mind helping to clear out some natives." Dio Brando turned and left, already scheming how to make good use of these fools and achieve his goal with minimal cost.

The Judge followed one by one, disdaining to mingle with ordinary players, preferring to observe and monitor from the shadows.

Yuki watched their retreating figures, also deep in thought, listening to the hints from the Reincarnation Game.

[The 'Death Fire Salamander' Alavis has fallen. Player Yuki, participation rate 39%, reward: 6 Specialization Points]

Alavis is not a representative of his race, so he naturally has no special abilities, but that's exactly the kind of specialization that Yuki wants.

8+8+4+6+6, just right.

The 32 specialization points were finally gathered, and the most amazing thing is that they were gathered through the intervention of the Judge.

[Invest 32 specialization points to raise your physique to level 9.]

[Overall Rating: Epic II]

An even more powerful force filled every cell. Yuki clenched his fist, feeling as if he could blast a lake out of the ground with his physical strength alone.

The joy of promotion filled my heart. Leveling up as an epic player is too difficult. Jumping from Tier I to Tier II is roughly equivalent to the total effort required to go from Monster I to Monster IV, but the effect is also extremely terrifying.

With a level 9 physique, even without any items or skills, one can reach the level of Monster IV player.

Click click.

Yuki his neck, a smile creeping onto his face. Even more satisfying than using someone else to do his dirty work was using an enemy to advance his own power.

Alright, I'm now a pure epic-level constitution-based player.

Chapter Thirteen: Look, isn't this a win-win situation?

Using someone else to do your dirty work is superficial; using your enemy to advance your own goals is the real strategy.

Playing the role of an epic player perfectly is troublesome, but with the combination of the Orc King and level nine physique, even a true 'Civilian Superman' would have to admit defeat.

Yuki uses the enemy's help to advance to the Epic II rank.

The Judge gained crucial assistance, at the cost of two monster-level companions.

Congratulations! It's a win-win situation.

Yuki didn't try to be clever; upon returning to the fortress, he immediately began preparations for war, forcefully suppressing the doubts raised by Slott and the others. It seemed he was determined to repay this favor.

At this point, any small move would be Dio Brando. Dio Brando was well aware of his cunning; his every action was being closely monitored. Even two days later, Hachishaku-sama came to visit.

Refusing to engage in a passionate lovemaking session, he shattered a mountain peak with a single punch. Only after witnessing this truly epic level of physical destructive power did the Hachishaku-sama leave satisfied.

There's not much to say after that. Yuki, of course, didn't contact anyone. He spent his days meditating to regulate his mind and body, looking like he was preparing for the final battle. Then, on the third day, he led tens of thousands of human warriors to set off on time.

Thump, thump, thump.

The giant robotic arm supported the fortress weighing hundreds of thousands of tons as it rumbled forward. Humans were both nervous and expectant. They had fled from the outer battlefield with their heads in their hands, and now, returning to this familiar place, they had become participants in Great Game.

But Yuki knew that humans were now only good enough to fill the teeth of the Machine Race. It was just that the scouts of the various races no longer had the ability to annihilate them, so they followed from a distance.

"Ignore them. The various races don't know whether Alavis's fall is related to humans, so they won't easily send their main forces."

"Good, the path you found is quite well hidden, conveniently bypassing the territories of the Elves and Dwarves." Lucy stared at the electronic map without blinking, then suddenly sighed, "If only your kind were truly willing to help, we wouldn't fear any race."

How can I safely clear dungeons if they don't die?

Yuki grinned slightly and said coldly, "It's better to rely on yourself than others. It would be good enough if they could help me even a little. Do you have any news about other people like me?"

"The Insect Race's willingness to contact us is likely also the idea of the helpers."

"No, now is not the time to complicate things." Yuki shook his head without hesitation. The Insect Race helpers were mostly epic-level players, and he couldn't let those Judge find more helpers.

Judging from the current situation, since the other party wants to hide and reap the benefits, we should just watch the show and not get involved.

"By the way, this route passes through the Battleship Graveyard. You'll leave 1,000 soldiers and most of the mechanics there."

Yes, but will your own kind object?

Yuki grinned, Judge, of course, didn't object. They had already agreed beforehand that while they would help, the main quest still had to be done. Having observed humans for so long, they knew that humans' greatest strength was their I Guess."

As long as you have the materials and the goal, you can create anything.

"Human affairs are none of their concern. This contains follow-up plans. Keep it as top secret and do not open it."

Lucy knelt on one knee, raised both hands to receive the memory card, inserted it into the computer and glanced at it. It contained some equipment details and future plans. After taking it out, she put it into the necklace on her chest. Unless she was killed, no one could get it.

Yuki showed little expression, gazing at the wasteland outside the porthole. His eyes shifted slightly to the side, revealing dust motes floating in the sunlight.

They're keeping a close watch on me.

This is a level 6 surveillance item. The Judge is watching his every move. When Lucy was browsing the information earlier, a few specks of dust landed on her shoulder, which is why they were observed.

Is the Judge, despite being exceptionally powerful, overly cautious?

Yuki, his fingers interlocked and resting on his abdomen, comfortably nestled into the Steel Throne. Did he really think that being cautious and timid would give him the upper hand?

Innocent!

Humanity has entered the outer ring and inevitably clashes with other races. Even though things are different now, they still have to use all their strength against each race.

A single Dwarves Reconnaissance airship requires the use of fortress firepower, and an Elves scout fleet can cause humans considerable tension, often necessitating Yuki's personal intervention.

Even without Epic Metamorphosis, a level 9 constitution is sufficient to reach epic level and is more than enough to repel small groups of troops.

The Los Lobos circled around, watching the humans swimming upstream warily. The closer they got to the inner ring, the more frequent and intense the battles became. Eventually, the Machine Race, the Undead, and even the Sirens appeared.

This is a test of humanity's Limit. Once all their trump cards are revealed, they will use overwhelming force to annihilate humanity. However, Yuki's chosen route does not pass through other territories, so there is no need to use all their strength to eliminate them. Therefore, everyone is waiting for the other side to make a move.

Humans are now stronger than the Orcs of the past, so casualties are inevitable. The key question is who will deal with these rats and bear the consequences of those casualties.

Using the fortress as a base, Yuki advanced towards the territory of the Machine Race. This was a path of tempering, with more than a dozen encounters every day like waves washing away the sand, leaving behind only the most elite humans.

The gains are substantial. As we advance, refine ourselves, and clean up the battlefield, humanity's strength is slowly increasing, but this situation is very unfavorable for the Judge.

"Mission time limit? You didn't mention this." Yuki sat calmly, looking completely 'ignorant,' which embarrassed Nine Dragons, who had come to negotiate.

The Judge had been secretly following and closely monitoring him, and could confirm that Yuki had not communicated with the outside world, had not engaged in any underhanded tactics, and was proceeding methodically toward the Machine Race's territory.

But it's too slow, like crossing the street. You have to look first, slow down, and then cross. It's safe, but they can't afford to waste time.

There are five days left until the one-month mission cycle is over. At the current speed, we'll probably just reach the Machine Race territory. We can't leave no room for maneuver at all.

"I understand your urgency, but please understand me too. I'm really trying my best to get there." Yuki's face was full of sincerity. He was shirtless, and his muscles were covered with charred marks, scars left by the Dwarves melt-blast bombs.

The fact that a 'nuclear bomb' capable of shattering a mountain only left this small scar demonstrates the unparalleled strength of this physical body.

Nine Dragons scratched his face, unable to find any words of blame. Not only Yuki, but the entire fortress had been blasted with several holes and was being repaired as they advanced.

Humanity has done its best, but after only a few days of progress, more than 3,000 people have been killed or wounded. This road was truly paved with blood and flesh. Yuki has repeatedly charged ahead, but to avoid retaliation, he has not dared to kill.

"Too slow." Nine Dragons shook his head coldly, snapped his fingers, and projected a holographic image. "We captured a Machine Race. Through reverse intrusion, we confirmed that the target was within our territory and that she was the Machine Race's accomplice. For some reason, an epic-level player was assigned to a mid-level race."

Do they have super hackers?

Yuki tensed up for a moment, then realized he hadn't been exposed. The Netway Will had been prepared; it wasn't so easy to hack into.

"She can escape."

"That's right, that's what we're worried about. Fortunately, the Machine Race hasn't migrated. According to hint 6, as long as we eliminate the Machine Race, we can annihilate her."

Machine Soul Backup involves a reboot and cannot bypass the prompt.

"Humans have made progress, but the gap between them and the Machine Race is too great; they can't do it."

"Then let's add us, including Lord Dio Brando, for a total of nine players at Monster III or higher. That should be more than enough."

Yuki nodded. There was no need to calculate it at all. Dio Brando was an Epic Tier III player, and with the help of a super hacker, the Machine Race absolutely couldn't stop him.

This is a war between humans and Machine Race, a sacred and Great Game, in which other races will not interfere.

"But the problem is, it's not the Machine Race that's stopping us now." Yuki shook his head and nodded to Slott, who pulled up a statistical chart.

The main forces spying around were Dwarves and Elves, along with some golden Angels warships. Yuki had exhausted all his energy dealing with these races.

"We can easily wipe out this small group," Nine Dragons said casually.

"Think carefully before you speak. This goes against the basis of our cooperation." Yuki frowned. The two sides had agreed that humans would fight the Machine Race to lure out the target, and then the Judge would behead him and wipe out the Machine Race as well. It was that simple and brutal.

But this meets the requirements of the copy; the Judge is merely an assistant to the human assistant.

"Do you think we want to cause trouble? It's just because you're too slow and there's not enough time." Nine Dragons spread his hands, looking frustrated.

The investigation of the target took 15 days, and waiting for this bastard wasted several more days. It would have been better to just kill him at all costs. But the plan is in its final stages, and there's no way they can jump ship halfway.

Are you blaming me?

"No, I just feel like I've had some bad luck. It's like a kid rushing to finish summer homework—not in a hurry at the beginning, but not enough time at the end." The old mercenary joked, stroking the Scarface on his face, then his expression turned cold as he raised his hand to set up a soundproof barrier.

"Listen, we don't want to cause any unnecessary trouble, and we know this will trigger a chain reaction, but we hope you'll share this risk. I know you left some humans behind, so even if everyone here is wiped out, they won't be eliminated; it just means the main quest can't be completed."

"Complete the mission for us, and upon your return, the Judge will compensate you—even more than the main quest rewards you could receive."

Time was of the essence, and Nine Dragons didn't want to waste any time. He immediately revealed his trump card, knowing the consequences of doing so.

If the Judge were to intervene personally, humanity would be too powerful. All races would prepare for war and assemble in advance, and then it would no longer be a matter between humans and Machine Race.

It would be a major racial war, with Angels, Elves, Dwarves, Sirens, and even Monster Race all sending their main forces to watch. The uncertainty was too great, and any accident could ignite the battlefield.

The Judge could simply leave after dealing with Ikaros, but the risk would fall on Yuki. Humans, with their limited strength, were utterly incapable of protecting themselves in such a massive battle. Therefore, they proposed another solution:

Yuki abandons this instance and returns to playing casually, with the Judge compensating for the losses.

"Is it possible for me to refuse?" Yuki thought for a moment, then smiled wryly.

"No, this is an order. You must continue according to the script." Nine Dragons refused without any mercy.

He's in a hurry, he's become the "Hurry King".

Yuki had been waiting for this opportunity; if he didn't create chaos, how could he fish in troubled waters? If he didn't create chaos, how could he use someone else to do his dirty work?

The surveillance was so tight that he couldn't utter a single word to the outside world, but as predicted, all he needed to do was stall for time, and the other party would hand him the opportunity.

You're the one who brought the Angels and Monster Race together; you're the one who made our group meet.

With a conflicted and helpless expression, Yuki nodded solemnly. "Alright, high risk, high reward, I'll take the gamble with you."

"Great!" Nine Dragons gave a thumbs up, turned and left. "Head straight towards the Machine Race territory. We'll crush those natives who try to stop us."

Yuki sat upright, gazing at the spot where the mercenaries had disappeared, and gestured with his lip to the bald man next to him, who was covered in sweat.

"Did you hear that? The fastest possible attack speed, ignore any obstacles along the way, declare war on the Machine Race directly."

"But... but if that happens, the Dwarves, Elves, and even Angels will send large armies to follow. Your own kind can't possibly take them all down at once, can they?" Slott wasn't stupid. He knew to use his trump cards only at crucial moments. Revealing his strength now would only make humans a thorn in his side.

He didn't even know what these strange 'helpers' wanted to do—were they declaring war on all races?