Chapter 497
The allies Valhalla found, along with those wanted criminals, are strong, but far from enough. Just like the Aether Particles, others can also find allies.
In the envisioned scenario, it would be a massive war spanning countless factions, drawing in countless players, making even the Earth Collapse seem pale and powerless.
"It's alright. Don't forget that idiot never does anything he's not confident about. He's cunning. If it really comes to that, he'll definitely have a chance of winning." Mai Sakurajima remained calm and composed, too lazy to think about such Earth Collapse events, and said lightly:
"Let him solve the brain-taxing problems. Let's focus on our own tasks, taking it one step at a time and climbing steadily. At least, tasks of normal difficulty won't hold us back."
Aside from lacking a tank, the squad has Reconnaissance and damage output, and without Yuki, there are no extra enemies; they've long been used to it.
"This time, we need to balance efficiency and gains. We aim to complete two dungeon missions within a month and then achieve the Epic achievement. If we don't have enough reward points, we can concentrate our resources on one or two people and let them advance to Epic first."
Hiyori Yuki absent, Mai Sakurajima became the team leader. Hiyori wrote down all of her requests, and as the brain of the team, Shiina Hiyori was responsible for achieving the goals.
The group nodded slightly. This core team was small, but very united—united enough to share the rewards.
"Mona."
"Senior, please speak." The girl knelt down, always obedient in front of Mai Sakurajima.
"Don't rush things this time, you and Frieren. Let her accumulate more completion points. You're already an epic-level player, so you need to be a good carry."
"Alright, I've got this covered." Mona patted his chest and assured him. In a dungeon that was a mix of epic and monster-level challenges, the core strategy was self-evident.
Frieren gave a magician's bow, his round face filled with gratitude.
Having an epic-level player carry you through quests, especially if you're not even in the same faction, is practically a fantasy.
This time, she joined Mona's instance. The name 'Devil's Disaster' sounded perfect for a mage like her, and after learning how to achieve the epic achievement, she had a direction to strive for.
To save the world and ensure its Destiny, and to strive for the fate of the majority of people in the plane, will bring feedback from the plane. I heard that this setting was added by 'Taiyi', but I don't know why.
"Oh, it's time, senior, let's go now." Mona waved and disappeared with Frieren, who bowed deeply.
Time and again, players embark on journeys into the unknown—this is their Destiny, a path that is both tedious and frustrating, which is why so many choose to escape.
A feeling of disgust welled up inside her, but for some reason, Mai Sakurajima suddenly felt a surge of confidence.
This aversion exists among the vast majority of players. Ambitious individuals who crave power, authority, and slaughter are ultimately a minority. Unless someone is psychologically disturbed, who enjoys a life of bloodshed and uncertainty?
"What are you thinking about, Mai Sakurajima- senpai?" Hayasaka Ai was organizing her equipment. They had also started the countdown to the 'Golden City'. There was no way to predict what would happen in this dungeon, so they had to be fully prepared.
"I think friends don't necessarily have to be sought out in person. What we're doing aligns with the interests of the majority of players, even if they remain silent and follow the crowd—the silent majority."
"Are you trying to say we're the heroes who rebel against the cycle of Reincarnation Game?" The maid paused.
"Isn't that right? Find a way out, give confused players a choice, tell them that there is another way to survive besides fighting each other in dungeons." Mai Sakurajima stood up, her brows furrowed, her face full of heroic spirit.
"We are the pioneers, following behind Yuki, paving the way for them."
The senior students' dungeon has begun.
Yuki received the message, unaware that Mai Sakurajima had suddenly developed a sense of mission. For him, this sense of mission was a burden. Yuki was quite self-aware; he knew exactly what he could do, and saving others was just a side effect.
He wasn't worried about the safety of the two teams. The sword had been honed to its extreme sharpness, and according to the normal rules of the Reincarnation Game, not many players of the same level could stop them.
The man is in charge of external affairs, and the woman is in charge of internal affairs; their roles are clearly defined.
Yuki looked up at the stars and saw fireballs rising from Earth. He knew he was the only one who could make deals with these dangerous individuals; at least he wasn't afraid of them suddenly turning on him.
There's definitely something wrong with the storyline of Honkai Impact 3rd.
Before passing the first assessment at the Ascension Outpost, players must return to reality after completing each dungeon run. According to Frieren and Mona, this Taiyi when they returned to Earth.
The Reincarnation Game is not to be revealed; violators will be eliminated. But perhaps a 'monster' from a previous civilization could see through it?
Furthermore, regardless of their initial strength, players will regain their power at the Transcendental Grade level upon entering the game. For example, Kalpas's original power was at least at the Monster III level, which creates a very strange phenomenon:
In the Reincarnation Game, one is weaker than in reality.
"That's interesting. The other factions are fine, but for the Saviors and the End World factions, becoming a player is actually a way out."
This is not limited to individuals; the Reincarnation Game is another power system, and some things within it might be able to save the homeland from destruction.
"What are you muttering about?" Mebius returned, stepping on starlight, and glanced disdainfully at the shattered planet. "This Kalpas Calamities is still not behaving himself even as we set off; he's almost ruined the Simulated Universe."
The Simulated Universe is a special item, similar to a small world in a cultivation world, but it cannot kill or trap players, so it has little practical value in combat.
"You think Kalpas can hear you talking badly about people? Aren't you afraid he'll come up and beat you up?"
"Ha, you think I'd be afraid of a brute? I have a million ways to torment him." The woman sneered, but kept her voice low. Seeing Yuki's teasing gaze, she suddenly glared at him. "Aren't you quite curious about us?"
"You showed some interest, and even knowing there might be problems with the next instance, you still dared to come. Your determination to return is very strong."
"Who said I was coming back? I was just doing that fat woman a favor. I really enjoy the Reincarnation Game; so many unknowns await exploration, so many paths to immortality await discovery."
Mebius opened his arms as if to give a speech, until he was interrupted by Jie Cheng's soft words.
"But Dr. Mei is still waiting for you to go back."
Her mouth froze, her snake-like pupils contracted, and the woman looked down in horror, blurting out, "You have a fragment left in my hometown?"
"I've said it before, to destroy all things, one must first understand all things." Yuki thought this reason was too useful; even Mebius was exposed after being tested by him.
Dr. Mei didn't die, which means they haven't reached the final battle yet. Does that mean they haven't reached the post-civilization stage in their timeline?
Yuki searched his memory, then smiled mysteriously, "You want to take the power of the Reincarnation Game back and destroy the End?"
"Ha, it seems you don't understand everything enough, you guessed wrong." Mebius really liked Yuki's surprised expression. As an invincible genius, he had been suppressed quite badly for the past half day.
"No need, because He has become a player too."
What? The Herrscher of Finality has become a player too? Then why go back?
Yuki found it incomprehensible that Yingjie and Zhongyan would fight to the death while staying in the same Outpost. He glanced at the fiery planet around him and blurted out.
"Did he eventually become the Grand Inquisitor?"
"Heh, pretty clever, but the Herrscher of Finality isn't the main problem. There's something above Him waiting for us to defeat."
Yuki nodded blankly, now he understood. The Herrscher of Finality would only appear at the last moment. This group of people used some method to turn Him into a player, using the rules of the Reincarnation Game to suppress the rules of the End.
But the trial was only a pause; something far more terrifying lay ahead.
"What a grand plan! I'm amazed you came up with it. No, in terms of methods, it's far more reliable than other plans. Once you're included in the cycle of reincarnation, you can't defy the rules of the game."
Yuki muttered to himself, making Mebius's gaze even more suspicious.
"You... you really lived in our world?"
If that's true, Taiyi is terrifying. Is he spreading his seed all over the world? If we go back and defeat Cocoon, will we have to face this monster again?
"This is just the ramblings of a 'collapse scholar.' Even a butterfly can cause a hurricane, let alone Reincarnation Game." Yuki deliberately changed the subject, intending only to pique Mebius's curiosity. The more curious this woman was, the more obedient she became.
As for how the previous civilization was modified, that wasn't his concern, but this way, the Savior's position could be guaranteed.
These heroes were even more anxious than him, for all they could see of their homeland were Thorny Rose. Other factions didn't even know if returning was on the same timeline, and the heroes, at least, hadn't seen any descendants from their homeland for a long time.
Why is the End World filled with despair? It's simple: the last player to ascend will bring news of their homeland's destruction.
Paradoxes of time and space, paradoxes of cause and effect—unless one returns in person, who knows what their homeland is like?
"Hmm, time's almost up. Call Kalpas up, and we'll activate the Ring of Contract now." Yuki pulled out a purple light belt, an item he had borrowed from the Valhalla, the cross-faction team-up item he used before 'Nighttime Murder'.
It was priceless, Mebius glanced at it and was somewhat disappointed. "Even the mighty 'Taiyi' has to abide by the rules? This thing will cause the evaluation score to explode."
A team of one Epic III and two Epic II players is bound to get an amazing score. With the same score, 30 Monster IV players could enter as a team.
"The Limit at this stage is Epic IV. How much higher can it go? Apart from the Judge, there aren't many players who can reach Epic IV."
"That's true. Increasing the difficulty of the dungeon hurts other players. I've used this tactic before." Mebius had no sense of public morality, nor would he mourn for his fellow players.
Players cannot refuse to enter the dungeon and will not know that they are in a team of three epic-level players; they can only receive compensation through dungeon notifications.
Luck is also a part of skill. It's perfectly normal for other players to trick you. Just like how Yuki got tricked by Thomas and Li Dan in the first dungeon. Who can he complain to?
When the Kalpas returned, drenched in sweat, the purple light band dispersed, linking the three together. Mebius looked somewhat nervous, because this was a strong causal relationship; if this Crown was caught, he would also be found.
Once the murmuring began, her nervousness was useless.
[A player invites you to participate in the Destruction Mission 'No One Survives']
[After accepting, you will participate in the dungeon as a team, and player ratings will be added together.]
[Do you accept?]
There are no player names?
Mebius raised an eyebrow, sensing something was amiss, but what followed dispelled his doubts.
It's Destruction Mission; the name 'No One Survives' sounds terrifying.
She and Kalpas exchanged a glance. They had long suspected that Yuki's motives were impure, and they hadn't expected that they would actually guess right. These Destruction Mission were rare, and their content was usually related to the destruction of the world.
"Accept." Kalpas was quite straightforward, seemingly having already prepared himself for the worst. He snorted coldly, "You think you can get on Taiyi's ship so easily? Don't waste your time. I want to see what this guy is capable of."
You idiot, you're being sold out and you're still counting the money!
Mebius gritted his teeth, but finally chose to accept it; at this point, there was no turning back.
'Great, with these two helpers, things will be a bit easier for me.'
Yuki breathed a sigh of relief. He was right. This kind of extremely difficult dungeon was not something his seniors could participate in. Even for Mona, there was a high probability of her dying.
As for the evaluation score, he wasn't worried. It was nearing its limit, and anyway, the Reincarnation Game couldn't produce any legendary powerhouses. He had never been afraid of anyone at the same level.
"The one-hour countdown has begun. Is there anything else we need to prepare?"
No one spoke; at their level, they had already left enough last words. Only Kalpas lightly pounded his fists.
"How about we practice a bit while we have this time?"
His fighting spirit surged. Unlike Mebius, Yuuki wanted Kalpas to cooperate with him, so he had to show his strength. Yuki just silently looked at the woman beside him.
"I'm fine, how about you?"
"Of course not! You'd only be happy if you blew up my Simulated Universe, wouldn't you? Do you know how much effort I put into taking it from that 'Lost Ones'?"
"I can pay this price to fight him." Kalpas clenched his fists.
"You're comfortable now, but I'll pay the price. And what if this Simulated Universe explodes? Where will you hide then? Won't the Judge chase you like mad dogs?"
Amidst the sarcastic voice, Kalpas paused, a purple light flashed across his body, and the surging flames actually retreated.
Oh, a passive skill similar to Quiet Dew, which forces you to stay rational, must be at least legendary level.
Yuki finally understood. His companions had put a lot of effort into him. Kalpas was already in a rage, and with the added Frenzied Flame, he would kill anyone he saw, making communication impossible.
Overall, Elysia is reliable; at least she won't send two people to sabotage me.
He rested his chin on his hand, sat down on the ground under the starry sky, and watched two old acquaintances who were similar to him in his memory but completely different from him bicker. After a while, he propped himself up on his knees.
The dungeon is about to begin.
"Are there any specific requirements?" This time it was Kalpas who asked.
"Simple. Eliminate all distractions so I can focus on activating the Divine Torch without any worries. Apart from that—" Yuki spread his palm and waved it gently.
"Those who stand in my way, kill!"
Volume 1: No One Survives
Chapter 1: The Destruction Mission
The dome of the main hall is so high it's dizzying, with forty Doric columns supporting the sky like the fingers of Giant. Sunlight pours down from the circular skylight in the center of the dome, refracting into flowing spots of light on the gold-leaf-inlaid walls.
Yuki stood alone in the middle of the palace, feeling the soft touch of the purple wool carpet, which dispelled the blurring sensation of the spatial transition.
Another instance, another journey begins.
This is the ninth instance. Yuki has become quite calm. Perhaps it's because he's been too busy this time and hasn't been able to enjoy the usual comforts, which has made him feel a little depressed.
Click.
As his fingertips moved and his knuckles cracked, he refocused his attention on the copy, scanning it at a glance, taking in every detail of the massive hall spanning tens of thousands of square meters.
At the top of the steps stands a statue, with a bird's head and a human body. Its bulging muscles give it a fierce appearance. Holding a trident, it strides forward in a bow stance, as if hunting.
"It's good that it's not just a preparation space."
Players can enter the dungeon in two ways. If it's through the preparation space, something unexpected will definitely happen.
"So, there are no Judge this time. That makes sense; the heat hasn't died down yet, and they're still wary of being hunted down, so they're unlikely to come out easily."