Chapter 508
Feeling the desperate and powerless gazes, Yuki lightly kicked his horse's belly, raised his lance, and became one with the horse, like a shooting star falling to earth.
Boom!!
The earth was pierced through like tofu, Yuki fell into a hole. Suddenly, his warhorse spread its wings and darted to the side as if teleporting. Then, a bone-chilling cold swept past him.
A thick, dark blue ice crystal appeared, completely blocking the entrance to the cave. Yuki looked down and saw that it was a large hall with hundreds of snowmen of all sizes, running away into the passageway on the other side.
Refuge?
He couldn't tell the yeti's gender or age either. The warhorse continued galloping, and suddenly an ice crystal tree appeared, its dense branches growing out in this direction.
"Hide."
Yuki gripped the reins tightly, dodging the barrage of bullets while looking towards the center of the hall, where a Giant four or five meters tall stood. Unlike the round, abstract figures of the Snow Demon, this one looked quite humanoid, with icy armor and a pure white greatsword in its hand.
Is this the Great Demon of the Snow Clan?
Yuki saw the golden light above its head, which resembled the lightning of the Sky Pantheon, and immediately frowned.
Isn't Mithius Earth Pantheon? Wasn't he the one who cast this tracking spell?
No one answered, for the great demon swung his greatsword, splitting the hall in two with an ice wall, accompanied by a mournful the Roar.
"Why! We have been separated from the world for thousands of years, always following the rules and regulations, and even when we go out, it is to seek the path to godhood!"
"What crime have we committed that requires your army to encircle and annihilate us!"
Its voice was filled with confusion and regret, as if it should have listened to others and hidden away, or as if the Divine Race had betrayed its trust.
Even after Yuki appeared before it, it still couldn't understand what had gone wrong with the Snow Demon, that it deserved to be besieged by a large army.
Click--
The thick ice wall was pierced directly by the spear, and Yuki, riding out on horseback, filled his ice-blue, button-like eyes with despair.
Once it made a move, it realized the gap between the two sides was too great.
"But I won't let you wipe out your entire race!!"
With the object of his protection in his heart, the white greatsword expanded a hundredfold, even cleaving through the dome, and slashed down towards Yuki. Then, something even more desperate happened.
The horse and rider separated, Yuki vanished in the silvery moonlight, crossing space to appear directly beside him.
Moonlit Ghost Step.
Yuki dodged the powerful attack with just one skill, and then saw the Snow Clan Great Demon the Roar like it was about to explode, unleashing layer upon layer of ice rings.
It's useless.
This great demon was merely at the threshold of epic level. Yuki didn't even bother with Epic Metamorphosis; wielding his gun with one hand, he was unstoppable with sheer physical strength.
Click, click, click.
Layer after layer of ice rings were shattered, Yuki strode forward. The Great Demon revealed a mouthful of sharp teeth, already foreseeing its own end.
"Run! Close the passage again! I'll hold him off!"
It the Roar at its people, raised its greatsword to meet them, and with all its might, cleaved down with both hands.
Clang!!!
The entire underground was trembling, and the incredibly hard, ancient ice around them was cracking layer by layer. Yuki held the spear above his head with both hands, and the Reinforcement Magecraft made the spear indestructible. He saw the Snow Demon open its mouth wide, and a whirlpool of blizzard gathered inside.
Eternal Ice Seal!
Like a storm sweeping in, the absolute zero froze the air into ice. The Snow Demon showed no joy whatsoever, turning his head directly to the back of his head to see the golden-armored warrior standing in mid-air, as the black Eternal Night spread.
"Die! Die!!"
His waist spun like a top as the greatsword swiftly slashed behind him, but Yuki had already vanished into the Eternal Night, and this terrifying strike could not cut through the Eternal Night.
We can't win, we absolutely can't win.
The difference in strength between the two sides was too great; the mere spatial teleportation could have easily destroyed it. However, the Snow Demon did not give up and was preparing to freeze the entire underground area when it felt a slight heaviness on its shoulder and froze in place.
The enemy was already on his shoulder; it wouldn't take more than two shots to take its life. The fact that he spoke so softly seemed absurd.
"Aren't you going to run away? Do you want me to kill you?"
Banners fluttered, and soldiers in the sky formed a ring around the mountains; the battle on the ground was drawing to a close.
The Snow Demon had no chance to resist. A few experts who did try to fight back were killed by the accompanying heroes. Mithius did not make a move from beginning to end, but watched Yuki's battle with his arms crossed.
The players are all untrustworthy; he's specifically in charge of monitoring them, and the results are strange.
This man is very strong, extremely strong, and his combat experience is exceptionally rich. He truly deserves to be called the "swift blade" by His Majesty Sorion.
But why hasn't someone this powerful brought back the head of the Snow Clan's Great Demon?
The 'Beacon' appeared and disappeared intermittently, stretching into the distance. I've never heard of the Snow Demon having spatial abilities, or is he caught in a fierce battle?
If the trial hadn't required him to complete it alone, he would have already gone to provide support. He was growing increasingly impatient as he waited, but thankfully, Yuki finally returned.
It took four hours! Was that torture?
War drums resounded and horns blared. Yuki, carrying a long spear and holding a huge snowman's head in his hand, rode back, passing through a forest of spears formed by hundreds of soldiers, and came straight to Mithius.
"Does this count as passing?" He tossed out his head, completely unharmed, his imposing manner striking.
"Why did it take so long?"
"I have high standards for killing; I like to thoroughly research each target."
Yuki squinted, revealing a chilling smile, looking every bit the perverted killer.
This was instinctively repulsive, but Mithius didn't care. He summoned a giant hand to take the enormous head, and the remaining energy on it quickly condensed the air into a layer of ice.
Once the demon's head is removed, it becomes a kind of material, constantly emitting the Snow Demon's instinct, which is ice. The Divine Race can use it to forge divine artifacts; it is considered a byproduct of the trial.
Mithius examined it closely and casually asked, "How strong is this Snow Clan Great Demon?"
"So-so, mainly uses freezing abilities, and also has some unique talents."
"Yes, the Snow Clan can freeze time when they evolve to their peak, but that was only possible during the Great War." Mithius felt the bone-chilling cold. Its appearance could be created using alchemy or something similar, but the energy it emitted could not be faked. Neither ice magic nor divine power could work because the energy frequencies were different.
"It's not time, it's space," Yuki corrected.
"Impossible, the Snow Clan has no talent in spatial matters." The god looked up in surprise. The Snow Clan was not some strange race that suddenly appeared. They had fought against each other during the Great War.
He suddenly remembered the hunting coordinates that had been appearing and disappearing earlier, and his eyes became doubtful.
"Could it be that they are colluding with other demons who have similar abilities?" Yuki suggested, seizing the opportunity.
"The Demon-Hunting Army have surrounded this place like an iron barrel, and they haven't found any trace of it. They wouldn't dare to either."
"Then..." Yuki pondered for a moment, then tapped his forehead. "Is it possible that 'we' left something behind?"
We are referring to players, of course. The gods know everything about the demons, but they are completely unfamiliar with the players. However, they do know that some players have been assigned to the demon race, but that doesn't really matter.
Except for a few idiots, as long as the Reincarnation Game doesn't use the word 'annihilation,' the assigned race is wiped out, which reduces the burden. The more ruthless ones simply do it themselves.
That's quite possible.
Mithius's expression changed. He knew these outsiders had strange equipment and abilities. He took the head, which was over a meter in diameter, and power runes appeared in his eyes.
"Damn it, this is fake! A brilliant counterfeit, it can even simulate the Snow Demon's instincts!?"
His sharp gaze immediately fell on Yuki, but quickly shifted away, because the latter had no motive to deceive him. If he pitied the Snow Clan, he could simply refuse the trial, just like submitting a blank paper or skipping an exam.
Since we're already here, there's no reason to just write something random.
"On command, the entire army disperses to search for any survivors. Remember, capture them alive."
With players involved, this hunt is getting complicated, and it's best to figure out who's behind it all.
"But Lord Mithius, we must hurry to the next trial site," a deity reminded him, glancing at Yuki with hostility. "This is his trial; he should bear the responsibility for his failure."
That's for sure. It's common for targets to escape. Those who aspire to godhood will spend their entire lives digging them out, otherwise the trial progress will be stalled, which is unacceptable to anyone.
Furthermore, according to the law, even if the target is found, Yuki, unless he is killed by the target and a different examinee takes his place.
An ominous atmosphere permeated the air, especially among the other eagerly awaiting ascendants, who were practically seething with hatred for Yuki. "Your mistake has made us take the blame?"
Each Demon-Hunting Army has its own mission, and their plans are as precise as clockwork. Especially now, with the situation so turbulent, if the next trial target receives the news and runs away, who will take the blame?
"Leave two hundred-man squads for him, Jade, you will lead them." He pointed to a woman with long, deep blue hair and luxurious clothes, then looked at Yuki with hostility. "The Hunting Beacon will remain in place for three days. If you don't bring me your real head within three days, you are not worthy of becoming a god."
"I obey." Yuki pounded his chest with one hand, his face full of apology, but he was actually secretly laughing.
This little trick was obviously a case of the pot calling the kettle black. His head was created using Void Alchemy, and the energy on it was simple enough. His Soul Mimicry could even simulate the lightning needed for the Dragon-Hunting Sword Spear and Spear, let alone a little illusion.
At its core, the trick is nothing more than a simple psychology principle:
In this world, becoming a god is the ultimate goal, and having the qualification for the trial is something that people envy and are jealous of. It's like a student receiving an exam notice for the internal recruitment of Tsinghua and Peking Universities. They might fail the exam, but no one would deliberately fail it.
"Remember, time is limited. Even if you cannot become a god, every step of the trial will be of great benefit, even for you." Mithius emphasized "you", clearly indicating that the fifth reminder is a common law regardless of the stage.
[Tip 5: Players can participate in trials to become gods and receive rewards. The deeper you go in the trials, the greater the rewards.]
This is clearly stated in black and white, so it's no wonder that most players have switched sides to the Divine Race. They don't care about immortality, but they definitely want the side quest rewards.
With a cold snort, Mithius led the remaining Demon-Hunting Army into the sky, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.
Incompetent, useless, ruined my plans...
These emotions couldn't be concealed at all. Don't forget that the Demon-Hunting Army can also be promoted to Gods if they perform well; they were simply held back by the group.
But that was Yuki the kind of disgust Yuuki wanted. He looked at Jade, an extremely beautiful and gorgeous fourth-rank deity. Her magnificent red dress was nothing like that of someone on a battlefield, yet she was the one who, with a mocking smile, turned hundreds of unarmed Snow Demon into sparkling gems.
"Your Jade, the tunnels beneath this mountain range are interconnected, and many have still escaped. I suggest we follow the tunnels to pursue them."
"You mean, you want to turn this magnificent god into a groundhog?" The woman laughed, not bothering to hide her contempt. "Every hunt has its escapees, but eliminating the leader of the great demons is no longer a threat. Then we'll play a cat-and-mouse game with you?"
She was already a deity; what did the trouble these ascended gods caused have to do with her? In fact, she might even be happy to have fewer competitors.
The named gods control the rules, but the rules are finite.
"Now is not the time to assign blame," Yuki frowned, also somewhat annoyed.
"No, no, no, I already said this is your trial. We are only responsible for supervision and assistance." Jade shook her fair fingers, the dense, luxurious headdress on her hair trembling slightly. "But I must remind you, the Snow Demon still has the strength to fight. In such a cramped and filthy environment as the tunnel, the Demon-Hunting Army is also in danger."
Okay, so this guy's a master of stirring things up; the surrounding gazes instantly shifted from unfriendly to hateful.
Because of this person's mistake, we lose our chance to shine, and then we have to risk our lives to clean up his mess. Isn't that ridiculous?
Does he spout Justice while his heart is filled with business acumen?
Yuki guessed it. When he was observing the massacre, he noticed that everyone had a strong desire to show off. Rather than saying they were killing demons to uphold Justice, they were more like peacocks, shouting to Mithius who was watching the battle, "Look at me, leader! Look at me!"
That's right.
Yuki has a deep understanding of human nature, and the essence of human nature lies in self-interest. By controlling self-interest, one controls human nature.
"Jade Excellency, if I really can't find one, may I change my target, perhaps a stronger demon would be fine?"
The goddess paused, surprised by Yuki's abrupt change of thought. After a moment, she replied uncertainly, "It probably won't work, unless Niyin and Tiberius an exception for you and arrange another trial. But why would they help you?"
Isn't that obvious? If the God of the Sea were in power now, and War General Dias were involved, he might be given special treatment. What makes you, an outsider, think you can get in through connections?
Yuki noted down another point, then said helplessly, "How about this, you guys stay on the perimeter to block and monitor the battlefield, I'll go back underground to pursue them. If it really is one of our own kind causing trouble, I'll be more familiar with it."
"Well, if any powerful individuals other than the trial targets interfere, then notify us." Jade yawned; actually, for her, staying behind to clean up the mess wasn't so bad.
Yuki turned his horse around and realized that these people didn't care about his life or death, which was normal. His success in the trial, or even becoming a god, would not benefit these people in the slightest. Besides, the players would eventually leave, so there was no need to make a name for themselves.
When it comes to gambling with human nature, I've never lost.
Yuki listened to the whispers behind him as he returned underground through the blasted hole.
The place was a mess, littered with fist-shaped craters and shattered ice. The once huge underground cavity was almost completely filled, leaving only partially destroyed caverns on the rock walls.
The high-energy particles left behind from the battle drifted in the air, blocking all detection like the chaotic environment. If there were an ambush force, it could provide some resistance, which explains why the Demon-Hunting Army refused to come in.
Yuki rode on his horse and looked around. There was no need to probe. He followed the aura of the Eternal Night and floated up and down in the frozen soil. He could see the darkness lingering in a cave that had collapsed most of the way.
Stand User.
Yuki activated his Stand, removed his golden armor and spear, slapped the Fool's Mask onto its face, left his warhorse, touched Eternal Night, and vanished without a trace, while Crown on his warhorse searched frantically for help.
The Eternal Night was his eyes. In this hazy night, a snowman looked around in confusion until a detached voice rang in his ears.
"Snow Demon, we should have a talk."
Chapter Eight: Demon Godslaying, It's Only Natural!