Chapter 489
"Thanks to their faction talents, they don't need to participate in faction wars and can increase their power outside of dungeons, while also satisfying their own values. No wonder they enjoy it so much."
Yuki stroked his chin. Homeless heroes either join other cities or become wandering knights, practicing the Justice in their hearts.
Rod, the "Civilian Superman," is a wandering knight-errant who, just like in American TV shows, forms a small team and hides among the common people as an unsung hero. Unfortunately, his companions later fall, and he becomes decadent as is often the case in the series.
"I made the right choice with this vest; it's even more useful than I expected."
Yuki hadn't anticipated this, but now it seems that as long as Rod doesn't step forward to prove his innocence, anyone can impersonate him. As long as evil is fought, what title he holds, or whether he is Rod or not, is meaningless.
He completely disregarded Atomic Samurai's warning, slightly adjusted his plan, and removed those fancy and convoluted steps.
After experiencing it firsthand, I found a simple way to gain reputation and attract the attention of the Judge and others.
Nothing needs to be said, nothing needs to be explained--
Yuki spread his hands, looking at the writhing chunk of flesh, which was completely enveloped by threads of Soul Corruption. After releasing his hand, the chunk of flesh flew away into the distance.
He gripped the longsword, constructed of Immortal Crystal, his aura murderous.
"Eliminate evil completely."
Devilman, annihilate.
The Bloody Gang was wiped out.
Only a handful of people escaped from the Dark Tree.
A powerful, epic-level player goes on a killing spree, hating evil as if it were his enemy, sweeping away the criminal forces in City A like a whirlwind.
His power is singular, yet no one below the epic level can withstand ten sword strikes from him. His tactics are monotonous: he goes to the door and kills until there are no villains left in his sight.
If it were in the Aether Particles, Yuki would already be under siege, but in the Hero Kingdom, this is a matter of course. Heroes never negotiate with villains, and they don't even consider each other as their own kind.
Therefore, Yuki didn't need to hide; the onlookers would spread his information, and after two days, even though he had only killed some weaklings, he had still attracted a lot of attention.
There are many wandering knights, but very few are prefixed with "epic." This must be the return of a powerful figure, freely unleashing their 'Justice'.
"That's right, the 'Civilian Superman' has returned."
In a dark space, a strange sound rang out. A few small fry were nothing, but the every move of an epic hero was under surveillance.
"Are you kidding me? Doesn't he know he's being watched by the Judge? Instead of hiding, he's going around acting like a vigilante?"
"How could there be a mistake? Epic-level, constitution-based, there are very few heroes who fit both criteria. Who else could it be but Him?"
A rhetorical question silenced the skeptics. Yes, countless people had tested it; that person was indeed a player from 'Hero Kingdom'. After narrowing down the search, there were only a few targets. Epic-level players aren't like radishes that just grow out of nowhere.
"But... that doesn't make sense."
"How many of those heroes are logical? To put it bluntly, they're all hypocrites, just trying to build up their 'Resolve'." An aged voice rang out, and the old man wearing a black helmet looked disdainful.
"I've looked at the information on the Civilian Superman. Don't you guys think his growth trajectory looks familiar?"
Within the black fog, shadows swirled, and the attendees seemed to be flipping through documents; after careful examination, the documents did indeed look very familiar.
A Monster IV player lost all his companions, his heart closed off in despair, and now he returns with epic power—it all seems like a prince's revenge story.
The dark side is a significant factor, and it's commonplace in Reincarnation Game; it can even indirectly explain why someone goes on a killing spree.
"Oh, so his companion was killed by you guys, Mr. Garou? He's back to seek revenge, isn't he?" A lazy male voice chuckled, sounding quite concerned.
No survivors—the fire of revenge Incandescence fiercely. No wonder that in City A, despite the apparent chaos, there is actually a clear objective, because City A happens to be the territory of the Garou.
"I guessed it, Mr. Isaac." The young man named Garou nodded. He was wondering why a wandering knight had suddenly appeared and caused trouble.
Both sides have unspoken rules: epic-level players cannot act recklessly. Otherwise, if you kill my underlings, can't I retaliate by killing your subordinates?
No one would acknowledge this unspoken rule, but no one would wage a full-scale war either; only a reckless wanderer would break the rules.
"This happened two years ago. 'Civilian Superman' Rod was the only Survivors. This small group roamed several cities, and Magneto and I had to eliminate them."
"But you didn't do things well enough."
"Countless heroes have drowned in their ideals, and I don't know what makes him worthy of being elevated to epic status." Garou slowly shook his head. He had little recollection of his defeated opponent, but was somewhat frustrated. "I still feel something's off. Even if he wanted revenge, would he choose this time?"
"Because we are players of the Hero Kingdom, we must follow the path of Destiny. Rationally speaking, we are more like normal people."
Magneto's words drew a burst of laughter. Villains are always ruthless egoists who are more flexible in their actions, so they often mock heroes for being stupid.
The talent 'Resolve' is both an advantage and an obstacle for players in the Hero Kingdom; once a path is chosen, one must walk it steadfastly.
The trajectory of Destiny, the core of value, the higher the level, the greater the influence. Just like some players who adhere to the principle of "slaying evil," sometimes they ignore the specific situation of the dungeon and still want to eliminate evil and promote good, resulting in the whole group dying in the dungeon.
This incredibly stupid thing is being promoted as a positive event; it's disgusting just thinking about it.
"Identity is meaningless. In the Reincarnation Game, among the thousands of factions, we are among the top three in terms of stubbornness." Isaac, with his white hair, also laughed. Just as he could never sacrifice himself for others, the hero was not intimidated by the Judge, but rather saw it as a test.
Something's still not right. I know they're stupid, but this stupidity is too deliberate.
Garou frowned, unable to find any other explanation. He had initially thought it was an outsider in disguise, but the survivors from the Dark Tree spoke with certainty that they were players from his own faction.
With these three keywords—"Epic," "Constitution-based," and "Focus-based"—can you possibly find another player like them?
We have to deal with him.
"The Hero Association is watching, and they've probably guessed who he is. They won't just stand by and watch him die." Magneto shook his head. The unspoken rules can't be brought up openly. An epic-level hero is no small matter. If he were to fall in City A, would the association still be able to survive?
"Lure them out of City A and then kill them?"
"Aren't you afraid the Hero Association will use him as bait to uproot you completely?"
This...
Rivals can coexist peacefully because of their strength. How could Garou dare to gamble? He stroked his brow and gradually understood Magneto's meaning.
"You're not thinking of bringing in the Judge, are you? That could unite all the heroes against a common enemy, and we wouldn't stand a chance."
It's ironic that bad people cooperate while good people only care about their own little corner of the world.
Magneto offered no explanation. Black mist coalesced, forming a giant hand that pointed at another powerful figure. All the villains looked over, only to discover it was the League of Villains ' "Mr. Unique".
"Who says the forces of 'Justice' are stronger? We 'bad guys' have been hiding like rats all these years, controlling only one city. Without introducing outside forces, we'll never win. Isn't this the perfect opportunity?"
The only voice was deep and husky, carrying a strong sense of sin and conspiracy. This was a characteristic of the Hero Kingdom players, as each character had a very distinct personality.
"Opportunity? I don't think the outcome of the 'Aether Particles' is good." Isaac shook his head, drawing a chorus of agreement.
Bad guys may cooperate, but they prefer to betray their teammates, and you can easily be led astray if you're not careful.
"No, no, no, you didn't understand what I meant. What's our faction called?"
"Hero Kingdom"
"That's right, so the heroes of Justice are the ones in charge. Even if the Judge are interested, they still have to go to them. We just need to deliver the information to the Judge."
The hall fell silent for a moment. Those who held a seat here were either heads of criminal organizations, ruthless serial killers, or masterful schemers skilled in disguise, each with a heart darker than the Abyss Grade. They suddenly realized what was going on.
"Would you like to see what choice those hypocrites make?" Isaac smiled with pleasure. The Judge had come knocking, so should they hand over the person or not? If they did, their Dao Heart would be shattered; if they didn't, there would be even more to see.
It's important to understand that each hero organization has different moral standards, and they might even argue about the issue of Civilian Superman.
"Yes, I'm very curious about what will happen to these players bursting with Justice." Wei Yi placed his gloved hands on his lower abdomen, slowing his tone:
"Even if we were to take action and arrest them, we would not only benefit from the Judge, but most heroes would probably also choose to acquiesce. Although those people are stubborn, they are not stupid. This hot potato is difficult to handle."
"Once the cracks that break the 'Resolve' are planted, they may prove invaluable. The line between hero and villain, light and evil, is very thin."
As soon as the words were spoken, various kinds of laughter—some hoarse, some joyful, and some low—rose and fell, shaking the black mist and causing it to churn, wantonly venting their evil intentions.
The only thing that satisfied him was this pure malice; he turned to look to the side.
"Garou, aren't you still in contact with Lord Boros?"
"Yes, there is, but it's a big deal. I need to provide evidence. The matter of the Aether Particles is giving them a real headache." Garou stood up, his joints cracking as he slammed his fist into the ground.
"I've never really remembered my defeated opponents, so I hope he can bring back my memories."
Those villains must be plotting how to deal with me.
With a gentle flick of his blade, he evaporated the purple blood. Gazing at the corpses scattered across the ruins, Yuki didn't think much of it.
For him, simply killing people was too easy to stir up trouble. Even the villains' responses were predictable. The only flaw was that if Rod had any intelligence, he shouldn't have acted so blatantly.
"After all, this is Hero Kingdom. Heroes should be full of confidence and do what they know is impossible."
Yuki was somewhat unaccustomed to this reckless behavior, but he knew it was in line with local customs. For example, the wanted criminal 'Unlicensed Rider' would actually attack the Judge for the sake of Justice and to protect a group of players from other factions.
Such foolish behavior makes even a joke about it seem forced.
The most ingenious thing is that, given this value system, the local bigwigs know I'll cause trouble, but they can't stop me.
Yuki ascended the ruins, basking in the cheers of countless players. Punishing evil and promoting good was an undeniable act of Justice, while Atomic Samurai had arrived late once again, looked utterly helpless.
He had already warned Yuki, but the guy wouldn't listen, and there was nothing he could do to stop him, otherwise how could he explain it to the cheering players?
These ordinary people might be hiding the next superhero, the main source of manpower for the faction. The idea that "my neighbor is a hidden hero" is even more welcome. You know, the strongest players in the Hero Kingdom will pretend to be ordinary people even in dungeons, and then suddenly jump out to save the world.
"Mr. Rod, I warned you not to make a move." The swordsman strode onto the ruins, seemingly understanding Yuki's actions yet unable to comprehend them.
They've gone too far; the Hero Association can't hide it no matter what they try.
"Do you think I stole the Hero Association's 'faith'?" Yuki his head to look at him, his expression full of bitterness and resentment.
He had no intention of touching upon the philosophical questions of what constitutes a hero and what constitutes Justice, and it's likely that even the players of the Hero Kingdom wouldn't understand them.
They are more fixated on the outward appearance of a hero; after all, anyone who fights against evil and protects the weak is a hero.
"It's not that bad. We also fight against evil in the dungeons, so we always get help from the sidelines." Atomic Samurai shook his head, and what he said was true.
Players in the Hero Kingdom have clear stances. For example, in dungeons like 'Nighttime Murder', they will unhesitatingly side with the Night Watchers. They have a natural ability to rally support, and at least in the eyes of the dungeon factions, they are positive figures.
"But you're different. To tell you the truth, the Judge is tracking you."
Of course they would have tracked me down; why would I be here as a tourist?
Yuki's eyes sharpened, and he stretched out his hands. "So, is the Hero Association going to betray me?"
Atomic Samurai's expression grew cold as he watched Yuki, who looked like he was waiting to be arrested. Even though he was a hero with a flexible moral compass, he still found this joke not funny at all.
"You are insulting me. Anyone who aspires to be a 'hero' would never do such a despicable thing. Even rationally, no one can bear the backlash of such a 'Resolve'."
Yuki smiled and withdrew his hand. This was the underlying logic of the Hero Kingdom; if he hadn't understood this, he wouldn't have dared to step forward.
'Resolve' is an idealistic talent related to faith. Whether one does good, evil, or is an ordinary person, there is no fourth way to go, just as clearly defined as the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
No, this kind of persistence goes even further than the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. After all, humans and ghosts are on different paths, and they don't even have the chance to turn against each other. But a hero can become the most vicious villain, and a villain can also have an epiphany and be bathed in the light.
Therefore, they are more stubborn and more extreme. If they want to change course, they must first bear the backlash of their 'Resolve'. The stronger the player, the stronger the backlash.
'Under the spotlight, he can even unleash abilities beyond his level; this talent is practically a bug, yet it also has many limitations.'
In that instant, Yuki gained a deeper understanding of the 'fairness' of the Reincarnation Game, so he lowered his hands, said nothing, and turned to leave.
Once he realized the heroes couldn't do anything to him, he continued to play the role of a wandering knight until the Judge himself arrived.
"Etc."
"Is there anything else?"
"I've heard about you. You were willing to die alongside Garou for revenge. Was it worth it?"
Garou? Epic Tier II Villain Player?
Yuki, with his back to Atomic Samurai, paused for a moment, then immediately understood what the other meant.
No matter how detailed the information in Valhalla is, it doesn't explain why Rod is so dejected, since he has been missing for a long time. But according to Atomic Samurai, it seems that the Civilian Superman and Garou have a deep-seated hatred for each other.
"You want to persuade me to let go of my hatred?" Yuki immediately after a moment.
"That's not quite it. Most heroes have a grudge against those bastards. Water and fire can't coexist, and taking revenge on darkness is the highest honor. It's just that your situation is a bit special, involving external forces, which makes it very troublesome to deal with."
"So what you mean is?"
"Let's lay low for now. Garou is also the Association's nemesis. We'll take our revenge together then." Atomic Samurai pleaded earnestly; Yuki were putting a lot of pressure on them.
The Judge will find out sooner or later and will definitely come to demand the person, but no heroic faction can comply. This would cause chaos in the values of the entire faction, and 'values' are the cornerstone that has maintained the Hero Kingdom since the pioneering era.
How are they any different from those evil rats who kill each other for their own gain? There are heroes Atomic Samurai who have a relatively flexible moral compass, and there are also heroes who are extremely stubborn and cannot tolerate even a speck of dust in their eyes.
Even without the backlash from his talent, he would probably have started fighting.
Yuki didn't turn around, remaining deep in thought. He had already read these materials a hundred times. It was precisely because the Hero Kingdom was so bizarre that it attracted so much interest. The Valhalla Heroes had also conducted a sociological analysis. Oh, and the researcher's name was Emiya Kiritsugu.
"I accept the association's offer, but I regret to inform you that I cannot agree."