Chapter 488
He was certain that if he had been able to contact Ikaros from the beginning, Dio Brando wouldn't have survived a week.
The virtual reality ended, Yuki disappeared, and no one knew what he would do. The three players exchanged a single glance.
"'Taiyi' is a player from the Hero Kingdom. Legend has it that He is in the 'Aether Particles'?"
Nobody's a fool, Yuki's identity isn't hard to guess, which confirms another theory.
"Perhaps there really isn't just one 'Taiyi,' since the intelligence reports say there are quite a few Taiyi?"
"Most of them are fake. I didn't expect to run into the real deal." Motoko Kusanagi didn't know what to say, but she admired Yuki's courage.
Knowing full well that the Judge were searching high and low for him, he still dared to run around recklessly.
"Chirp, but his idea is right. If this 'Taiyi' really is a player from the Hero Kingdom, we might have a chance to catch our breath?" The cute girl looked innocent and puffed out her chest as if she had gained confidence.
The reason why the players of the Reincarnation Game are so restless is because the Judge has met his match and there is a possibility of being defeated.
Not every player wants to return, nor does everyone have a grudge against the Judge, but most players don't want the Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, and some ambitious ones even want to become that sword themselves.
Without a higher-ranking reincarnator to suppress him, why not strive to become a king across factions?
Machine Intelligence don't have such lofty ideals; they simply don't want any deadly threats beyond their own. The encounter with the Aether Particles has ultimately triggered a chain reaction, and the Judge are stripping away what little security they have left.
"That's not all. He somehow severed the connection between the 'Race Game' and the Reincarnation Game. When I returned, the countdown stopped abruptly, as if I had been thrown out." Ikaros added from the side. In the past, when returning, either the countdown would reach zero or the player would leave voluntarily. This was the first time I had been thrown out of the instance.
The three remained silent; they didn't really care about this, since their wishes differed.
Motoko Kusanagi thought about it carefully. She realized that they didn't need to get involved, and the situation wouldn't get any worse. Finally, she nodded.
"Okay, if he really does keep his word, we'll use this 'breathing room' to get things done."
"For example?"
"For example, helping to contact Mr. Kalpas and the others."
Yuki is a hands-off manager, but there are some things only he can do.
Shiki Ryougi's network of relationships doesn't involve wanted criminals, nor does she have the ability to divert the Judge's attention. It's more like a nested doll, where the player's unusual actions cover up 'Taiyi,' while 'Taiyi' uses threats to cover up the player.
Regardless of one's thoughts, past, or motives, anyone who opposes the Reincarnation Game is a friend.
Yuki was rather desperate; after all, his goal was to leave the Reincarnation Game, and he didn't care about the chaos and destruction caused by the various factions fighting each other.
So he now has two plans: one is to fan the flames, and the other is to let the strong prevail.
"Is this the Hero Kingdom? The place that gave birth to two wanted criminals?"
Yuki stepped out of a door shaped like a flexed bicep and entered a new camp. He had obtained this privilege back during the 'Nighttime Murder' by killing the Ashura Rhinoceros Beetle.
As a cheat that defies common sense, it must not only be used, but used to its Limit.
Before me lay a modern metropolis, with many figures moving through the air and the occasional booming sound of explosions.
The Hero Kingdom has a faction talent called 'Resolve'. The more one upholds their will, the stronger they become. It is a kind of 'idealistic' talent, which is why the people here appear to be very extreme.
They were heroes before, and even after becoming players, they continue to pursue their own 'Justice,' 'protection,' or 'freedom.' They are known for being nosy and meddlesome. Rationally speaking, this aligns with their faction's talents and allows them to gain greater power, so relatively few heroes fall into depravity due to the cruelty of the game.
The entire faction is divided into 'heroes', 'villains', and 'civilians', which is easy to understand. It roughly corresponds to their identities before becoming players, and not everyone has a firm will.
Ordinary people can become heroes or villains, but most of them have little presence and belong to the category of people who are saved in the drama.
The information flashed through his mind. Yuki around and noticed that nothing had entered the inspection like the 'Aether Particles'. He was slightly taken aback, but then he understood.
Heroes don't mind playing cat and mouse games; they'd love for as many villains as possible.
In City A, two opposing factions of players live together, making it a truly interesting place.
Yuki could sense the restless energy beneath the earth; the villains were lurking there, devising one insidious plan after another. Before him, towering buildings had enormous screens displaying images of heroes, many of whom he recognized.
X-Men, Avengers, A Certain Academy, One-Punch Man, Blood Blockade Battlefront...
This is indeed a powerful faction; the hero side alone has no fewer than eight epic-level players.
They appear powerful, but in reality, they are not as united as the Heroic King, because this Outpost is divided into cities, with each hero guarding a region, and each having a nemesis.
Yuki found a snack stall by the roadside, drank juice, and studied the big screens. A hero, after all, should be upright and honest, so he openly displayed his photo and even included his phone number.
"Well, it doesn't matter if that bald guy is there or not. That kind of 'invincibility' at the script level doesn't work in the Reincarnation Game. In terms of destructive power, he's just an Epic Tier III."
He stuffed a few glutinous rice balls into his mouth, enjoying their chewy texture. Then he looked at the busy 'ordinary people' around him. His first impression of the Hero Kingdom was a bit like Thorny Rose. Ordinary players were similar to those on Earth, but fundamentally different.
Heroes do so much, much like nannies, even leading you through dungeons. Embracing a "laid-back" mentality is still a mentality, but it doesn't equate to a good life.
They are tempted by darkness, and once they become interested in power, they can easily side with the villains.
It seems to be an atmosphere deliberately created, after all, providing people with a sense of security is also one of the heroes' tasks, but in the Reincarnation Game, there are no ordinary people.
"Have you heard? The Judge are looking for 'Civilian Superman'."
"Him? If I remember correctly, this hero hasn't appeared in a long time."
"Who knows? Epic-level players come and go without a trace, and lone heroes like him are even harder to find."
"This... won't this cause us trouble, will it?"
"Look at your lack of ambition. The Judge are undoubtedly evil, and going against them is what heroes do. Do you think these villains will judge us?"
"Heh, so you want to participate in hero training?"
"That's fine, we'll receive the invitation once we advance to monster level."
A burst of laughter erupted around them. Not everyone can be a hero; it means more resources, higher risks, and a heavier mission.
The atmosphere is good; at least most people are optimistic.
Yuki bit down on the straw, the sweet and sour juice stimulating his nerves. For a cunning old fox like him, simply overhearing a few words from the locals at a roadside stall was enough to expand on the information he gathered.
The alias "Civilian Superman" Rod was carefully chosen, and he is most likely hiding in some dungeon like his "Wizard's Tower" self, for reasons unknown, perhaps he's tired of being a hero.
It's not difficult to get epic-level players to return via the bug, but if the connection isn't severed, they'll eventually come back.
Not for at least six months; I have plenty of time.
Yuki was quite content, leaving behind five points and wandering around the city, watching several battles between heroes and villains, and even participating in a hero training session.
The power disparity between these factions is enormous. 'Ordinary people' who enter the monster world must choose their future path. There are hero training centers here and villain recruitment offices there. It all depends on whether you are willing to abide by the rules and shoulder the mission.
After a few hours, he realized it would be strange if the difference in strength wasn't significant.
Resources are highly concentrated. Even if the leading hero doesn't plunder, ordinary people who perform the missions receive very little reward due to the participation-based system, so they are happy to just be bystanders.
Those with real ambition will become key personnel for development, and each hero faction has its own approach.
There are those who work together in harmony, those who are taciturn and inspire potential, and those who are deliberately tested by certain forces to see if you are resolute or if you will fall into depravity.
"This camp is quite interesting, and quite abnormal, but it's much better than the Dark Forest Theory of 'Aether Particles'."
Yuki wandered around all day, found a park bench, sat down, watched the sunset, and lit a cigarette.
Since gaining the authority to modify the mission frequency, the return time has become meaningless to him. Yuki has also made an agreement with her senior and the others that they will do the missions first when they are released. With the team's current strength, and with the bug of multi-faction teaming, they can easily handle most missions.
A two-pronged approach, without neglecting either aspect, is a risky operation conducted right under the Judge's nose, and the smaller the target, the better.
Yuki wasn't in a hurry. No matter how detailed the intelligence was, it couldn't compare to witnessing it firsthand. After a day, he had found a starting point.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do; be an unsung hero."
He looked into the distance, where a jet of water exploded amidst terrified screams.
The villains have started causing trouble randomly again. They are putting their will to 'do evil' into practice. Just like in a movie, only when the villains constantly do evil in a nonsensical way can the heroes feel their presence.
He stubbed out his cigarette, put on his hood, and Yuki. With a quick step, his sheer physical strength allowed him to instantly surpass the speed of sound, leaving the park in a chaotic mess as if swept away by a storm.
The crowd is screaming and running away. To be a villain, you need to have the strength of a monster, otherwise it would be shameful to be defeated by the masses.
Alarms blared, and City A's defense mechanism was activated. Soon, heroes of equal strength arrived to the rescue. Just as the onlookers had witnessed during the day, a battle between good and evil ensued. If the heroes won, they would be cheered; if the villains won, they would abduct a bunch of civilians and leave amidst their eerie 'hehe' laughter.
Similar tactics have been used countless times, causing these hundreds of extraordinary players, who could have fought back, to only focus on their own dramas and run away in all directions.
But today's scenario is slightly different. Before the city's heroes could even make their grand entrance, a blur of motion rushed out of the park and crashed through the wall.
No need for melodramatic lines, no need for self-announcing oneself to elicit cheers from the crowd; before the dark monster could even make out who it was, a fist loomed large in its field of vision.
Boom--
With his level 9 physique combined with the Orc King's straight punch, he pierced through defensive items like paper, blasting the Rank Monster I into a pile of minced meat. The aftershocks continued forward, piercing through several buildings and eliciting screams.
I forgot to mention that heroes don't care about damaging public property or causing accidental injuries. Their role is simply to defeat evil. In order to eliminate an epic villain, accidentally killing all the players in a city is also considered a Justice act.
"This distorted sense of Justice, in the end, is nothing more than a means to fulfill one's talents and gain greater power. Fortunately, it's convenient for me."
Yuki keenly spotted the dark spots in the light, watched as the pieces of flesh scattered and fled on the ground, and with his finger as a knife, he transformed into countless afterimages and crushed them one by one.
"Yuki Sorajima, join the hunt."
Chapter Four: I'm a Hero Driven by Interest
"Hooray! We're saved!"
"Who is this hero? Can I give an interview?"
"Are you a ranger? Which heroic organization do you belong to?"
Black blood dripped from fingertips, and rotting flesh released a foul stench. Flashbulbs popped up all around, illuminating excited faces.
There are no ordinary people here, only a group of Transcendental Grade disguised as players, who are not afraid of scenes of carnage.
Yuki stood there, stunned. His personality didn't allow him to do anything chuunibyou (a Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur), he just found it very strange.
Unsung heroes and wandering knights are certainly allowed; they are an important part of the concept of 'hero,' just like those alcoholic, foul-mouthed guys in American comics are also called heroes.
The greatest talent lies in hiding in plain sight; the most deadly form of showing off is doing so subtly.
But it still feels strange.
Yuki glanced at the players in the distance, who were groaning on the ground after being hit by the punch, and then looked at the excited faces nearby. He felt a strange feeling that he couldn't describe.
This is a long-established value system, where each player plays their own role, just as they choose to run away even when they clearly have the strength to attack together.
Clatter.
A swordsman with disheveled hair landed beside him, displaying his monstrous combat power, and was sizing Yuki Yuuki while holding the hilt of his sword.
"Wow, it's Atomic Samurai! It's a pity we didn't see him draw his sword."
"He's on guard; it seems this hero doesn't belong to the 'Association'."
"A wandering swordsman, this is a wandering swordsman!"
Shouting and yelling is normal in the Hero Kingdom; there are even professional 'commentators' who explain things to the onlookers during battles.
Atomic Samurai?
Yuki turned his head to look, and sure enough, it was Atomic Samurai from 'One-Punch Man,' with an arrogant expression and a deep sense of vigilance.
"And who are you, sir?" He bowed slightly.
"A hero who happens to be passing by out of interest." Yuki simply copied a certain bald guy's words, "'Helping others to help those in need' is normal in the Hero Kingdom."
"Thank you, but please let us handle this next time. After all, it is the 'Hero Association' that protects City A."
This is very direct, telling Yuki whose territory this is. The city is like a divine kingdom, and ordinary players are the faith. Whether the faith is firm or not depends on how well the heroes support them.
Is it not a requirement or hint in the game, but rather a form of self-discipline and shared values?
Yuki nodded slightly, looking around. If most of the common players in a city are disappointed with the heroes, they will turn to the darkness and soon rebel against the Heavenly Gang, turning the city into a city of sin, the stronghold of the villains.
Therefore, while Yuki's intervention would be useful, it would be best to let the local heroes take action themselves.
Without saying much, he leaped away from the battlefield and saw support players in the air healing those who had been accidentally injured. The admiring gazes he received didn't disappear until he was out of sight.
"The bizarre factions, which forcibly divide players into different roles and create a stage play of good versus evil, are ultimately related to talent."
With no one following him, Yuki stood atop a hundred-story building, overlooking the city, and had quite an eye-opening experience.
This certainly stems from habits formed before becoming a player, but it's primarily a pursuit of power.
The talent 'Resolve' stores 'Faith' and unleashes it in battle. The higher the level, the greater the storage. For heroes, faith is these hymns.
Looking into the distance, beyond the giant city are rings upon rings, resembling an overpass, with open fields in between, and another city at the horizon.
This is the geographical structure of the Hero Kingdom, composed of clusters of cities. Each city has heroes and villains, differing only in their relative importance. Overall, heroes have the upper hand.
However, these heroes did not unite to sweep away the darkness. Most of them just guarded their own little corner of the world. The reason is simple: besides the fact that evil is hard to eradicate, there is also the fact that if there are no bad people, there is no need for heroes.