Chapter 556
The Yuki would show mercy to were a handful. If he made it too obvious, the Judge would see through the deception and realize that this was just a hunt that didn't distinguish between friend and foe.
Fumerra wouldn't join forces with the Monster Front to fight him; Yuki's instructions were only to prevent her from being accidentally harmed, so Frieren, who relayed the message, was very important.
If she wanted to harm Yuki, she would secretly pass on a message, instructing all three parties to dig a trap together. But with Frieren as the link, she wouldn't do that.
Fumerra would only trust this disciple with whom she had rekindled her relationship, and with the wisdom of the Tower Sage, she understood that this was the only way out.
Yuki doesn't intervene, the 'Sage's Tower' will definitely be destroyed. If she intervenes too obviously, the Judge will cause her trouble. Only by indiscriminately killing indiscriminately can the matter be confined to the 'hunt'. The advantage that the Sage's Tower gained can only be considered accidental.
With the sword in Yuki's hands, whoever he wanted to wound but not kill could live, and whoever he wanted to kill would certainly die.
Whoever does it must die.
Chapter Six: Fine, you'll all die together.
The hunt continued. Frieren used spatial magic to return to the base camp, while Yuki continued the hunt according to the list.
This made the Monster Front and the Great Tomb breathe a sigh of relief. From their perspective, this was a powerful figure from a certain faction taking advantage of the chaos. After all, a chaotic and high-end hunting ground like 'Aether Particles' was hard to find.
The soul materials of every epic player are priceless. If it weren't for the fear of attracting more enemies, they would all want to 'clean up' them. However, local players cannot hide their identities, making the process extremely awkward.
If you kill someone, you'll immediately be hated by an entire faction, and you'll never have peace and quiet when running dungeons or doing quests again. If someone is really shameless, you can kill them, but most will be politely sent away.
The golden-armored warriors were a great help in a way. Their concealment items were so advanced that it was impossible to detect which faction they belonged to, thus preventing them from seeking revenge. The dogfighting among players taking advantage of the chaos was none of their business. As for the subordinates they lost, consider them a greeting gift.
This is a good thing. The war will end quickly after the Outpost are unified, and the golden-armored warrior will have to leave. No matter how strong he is, he cannot contend with an entire 'Aether Particles'.
To quell external threats, one must first secure internal stability. In any case, players are constantly arriving, and another hundred years of Borderlands can replenish them. Moreover, players who survive the war will become even stronger.
No one wanted to disturb Yuki, so they only arranged to keep a watchful eye on him from a distance. After discovering that he did not want to interfere in the civil war of the 'Aether Particles', the two forces mobilized their armies to besiege the tower.
The valley was teeming with players. A gray-white tower stood in the center of the valley, like Tenshukaku where Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. This private space was incredibly sturdy and difficult to destroy from the outside.
Hundreds of players lined up to enter the tower, transmitting back information about what was happening inside. Neltharion and the King of the Undead sat in the center, gazing absently at this Chaos Item originating from the technological world.
The appearance of the golden-armored warriors brought the two sides back to a honeymoon period, forcing them to end the war quickly. Otherwise, if more and stronger players invaded, it might turn the tide of the war. It is not uncommon for factions in the Borderlands to be wiped out by outsiders.
"A very impressive space-folding technology. The inside of the tower is like another world, and the strength of the exclusive space is also very high, fully capable of withstanding attacks below the epic level."
The King of the Undead stared at the screen. The faction war was nothing fancy; there were no prompts, so there was no need to investigate. It was simply a contest of combat strength.
Hundreds of players poured in and then clashed with the players inside the tower. From the outside, the tower looked to be no more than two hundred meters in diameter, but it was actually a collection of countless private spaces stacked on top of each other.
The first level is a vast forest where elf players ambush from among the trees. Taiyi in a fantasy world, the elves who become players do more than just shoot arrows.
Heavy ion cannons, missile arrays, and even giant robots—nothing beats the rapid leveling up of piloting a Gundam. The Monster Front is no slouch either; troll players clad in alloy power armor are wrestling with Gundams, while undead knights charge on mechanical warhorses.
A bizarre and chaotic scene unfolds, with no two items alike. Teams clash in the forest, lava jets mingling with fire magic, and Sword and Sorcery circles.
"It is indeed their stronghold, and they have reinforced it quite a bit since the start of the war." Neltharion was already used to this bizarre situation. Every player had a different adventure, but the faction talent 'Aether Affinity' was the same for everyone.
But ether can manifest in various ways. It can be studied in the path of magic, or it can be integrated with cultivation or technological items, just like a Dwarves running out of the cockpit when a giant robot is blasted apart by super-level magic.
"How many factions has the energy radar detected?" Neltharion held out his hand, and an adjutant immediately brought him a report. This kind of data analysis was something he learned after becoming a player; thinking back, he felt like a caveman before.
"Seventeen factions, and they're even willing to pay the price to die with them." The King of the Undead peeked out, his skeletal hand lightly tracing a line across the surface. "'Divine-Demon Domain' is the most troublesome; no wonder they're staunch allies."
This is also a powerful faction that incorporates elements of 'Sword and Sorcery,' and is a staunch ally of the Tower. As they were talking, the radar detected a high-energy reaction and zoomed in on the image.
A thick beam of energy Falling Sky, covering tens of square kilometers like a nuclear explosion. In the center of the screen, the red-haired female mage sensed something and made a shooting gesture towards the screen.
"Dragon Slave, and the Fire Dragon Maiden is here too. Are they really determined to help us to the end?" Neltharion raised an eyebrow, waved his hand lightly, and let the second group of players enter the tower. "Epic Tier I strength can't sway the battlefield."
"But her sister is a real troublemaker."
"Joining one side in the faction war means you deserve to die. Are you expecting us to show mercy and wait for her to kill you?" Neltharion snorted, not bothering with any of that. "The Judge gave 'Red Dragon Knight' a clear warning: if she participates, she'll be slapping Lord Ban in the face."
Participating in war and being a hunter like Yuki are two different concepts. The former are mercenaries, with clear friend and foe identities. Of course, some players with extremely powerful backgrounds still need to be treated with mercy.
"Albedo, you and your men hold her off. Don't kill her rashly." The skeleton turned its head slightly and said to the beautiful white-clad demon, "After your training, you've reached Epic Rank I. Holding her off shouldn't be a problem."
"Your request is my mission, Your Excellency."
The girl curtsied and strode into the tower with a murderous aura, followed by more than a dozen players of Monster III or higher.
The King of the Undead nodded in satisfaction. Faction wars bring destruction, but they also temper and refine. The surviving players are becoming stronger and stronger, and so are their opponents.
"We need to end the battle quickly and break into the higher levels as soon as possible. Once the medium is threatened, these factions will retreat on their own."
The King of the Undead got straight to the point: the medium is the bridge between the Outpost and the Borderlands. There is only one exclusive medium inside the tower, and once they control it, players from other factions will have no way to escape.
No amount of benefits should be enough to make them risk their lives here.
"The shapeshifter has infiltrated the wounded and will soon be located. Then, the two of us can break through from the outer layer and secure victory in one fell swoop." Neltharion looked up. Hundreds of players were flying around the gray-white tower, scanning it with various detection items.
The outer walls of the private space were very sturdy, but they were not invincible against two Epic Tier III players; he was more concerned about something else.
"Orochimaru, are you sure He won't get involved?"
"I can't be sure. That person doesn't want to reveal their identity, nor do they want to be restrained." Orochimaru smiled sinisterly and said in a hoarse voice, "Without the Grand Inquisitor, no one can intimidate Him. If I talk too much, I'll be the one who ends up here."
"This is outrageous! The authority of the Judge has been challenged! Is Lord Madara really going to ignore it?"
Haha, I wonder which mission space he's using his Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge to stake out key targets.
Orochimaru smiled without saying a word, only casually remarking, "Once we've eliminated 'Taiyi,' we'll have plenty of ability to regain our authority."
But you can't find them at all, or rather, the Borderlands is full of 'Taiyi', and you need to identify them one by one.
Neltharion suddenly felt that it would be best if the Judge and Taiyi perished together, then the Borderlands would truly become the Dark Forest, a place without order, where the strong reign supreme.
"I understand. Since this is the attitude of the Judge, we will not participate in the future war against 'Taiyi'."
He immediately and ruthlessly ended the relationship, catching Orochimaru off guard. Orochimaru thought to himself, "These bastards change their minds so quickly," and his expression darkened slightly.
Are you sure?
"Hmph, in order to find 'Taiyi,' we didn't hesitate to turn the Outpost into scorched earth, and we were extremely dedicated throughout the entire mission. That's a heavy price to pay, isn't it? Participating in that war was never part of the deal." Neltharion spoke with conviction. He was Deathwing after all, and he was never short of schemes and tricks.
"That sounds nice, but it's just fear."
"We have every reason to be afraid. The feud between 'Taiyi' and the Reincarnation Game is not something we can get involved in. The Aether Particles have suffered heavy losses and have no right to participate until they recover their strength." The Undying King continued, stroking his ring, the skull on it seeming to smile.
"Of course, we won't be enemies with the Judge either. If the reward is sufficient, we'll retain the option to participate."
This makes it clear: it's not that you can't participate, but you'll have to pay extra.
Even the Grand Inquisitor has fallen, so who do they think they are? Why should they risk their lives to join a war? Besides, the Aether Particles have indeed suffered heavy losses; they're lucky if they can even hold their own Outpost.
Orochimaru glanced at the two players with an uncertain expression. His authority was not sufficient to discuss this matter. Before the Reincarnation Game issued any subjugation missions, the Judge were still debating whether to mobilize the players.
No one Hakuda. Getting epic-level players to join the war is extremely expensive. Reincarnation Game doesn't intervene, why should the Judge bear the costs?
"Do you think cooperation is no longer worthwhile?"
Neltharion and the Undead King exchanged a glance; wasn't this obvious?
With the power of the Judge, they are only one step away from unifying the Aether Particles. Then comes the opportunity for development. A powerful and united force, like the Valhalla, will be born sooner or later. What do they care about the storms outside?
Ideally, 'Taiyi' and the Judge would perish together, causing the order to collapse completely, so that they would have a chance to become chess players. This is also the common idea of many faction leaders. Seeing that the second Great Cataclysm is bound to happen sooner or later, why not seize more benefits?
"His value is immeasurable. We will continue to carry out the Judge's commission. If He is in the Aether Particles, He will surely be found."
"Nonsense, almost all the remaining players are here. If He were here, He would have come out long ago." Orochimaru snorted, raising his hand to stop Neltharion from explaining, "Stop talking. That player was just an excuse. You think the Judge is too busy to bother you with something so trivial."
Having said all that, Neltharion dropped the pretense and revealed a sly smile, "No, no, no, we have always held the Judge and Lord Ban in the highest esteem, and have never broken our agreement."
"Speaking of which, it is you who broke the deal. The contract stated that the Judge should assist us in winning the faction war. Now, there is a clear threat right next to us, and you are turning a blind eye to it." The King of the Undead silently added insult to injury, leaving Orochimaru speechless.
How can he get involved? The golden-armored warrior is some unknown leader, Lord Aizen has given strict orders not to expand the enemy's influence. He can't risk his life to help these two cunning old foxes.
Furthermore, the Judge already regretted their decision regarding the 'Aether Particles' issue. Back then, they had finally found a real clue but didn't think too much about it, and who knew things would develop so quickly.
In just a few Borderlands, the threat posed by 'Taiyi' has expanded hundreds of times, even reaching the point where it possesses reincarnation artifacts, enough to cause a world to escape the game's control.
You can't place bets here, and there's no time to do so. Of course, in this Reincarnation Game, there's no such thing as who's right or who has the loudest voice, but right now, aren't the Grand Judges too busy? They have too many things to do; they don't have time to deal with these two small fry.
"After destroying the Sage's Tower, check all the remaining 'Aether Particles' players, including those who returned from the Borderlands, and submit a report to me." Orochimaru gave the order, managing to salvage some of his reputation.
"Understood. Your experimental subjects will also be sent there, and we will recommend to the Grand Inquisitors that you remain under the guidance of the Aether Particles." Neltharion bowed slightly, appearing very diplomatic.
Orochimaru's expression finally improved. Mission is mission, and personal gain is personal gain. His Epic Metamorphosis requires a large number of players as material. As long as enough benefits are provided, one can be flexible about one's stance.
"Okay, I will explain it clearly in my report."
Orochimaru drew an arc in front of him with his hand, and a dark portal appeared. Amidst the respectful gazes of the crowd, he led the Judge away.
As the door closed, Nesserio, who had just been all respect, straightened his back and let out a heavy snort.
"Finally gone. An Epic Tier II player was lording it over us. If he weren't Judge, I would have torn him to shreds long ago."
There was no other way; the power of the group was also part of the individual's strength. With ten Epic IV-rank Grand Inquisitors suppressing everything, everyone had to swallow their anger.
The Judge is also a player, and because of the trial, he is the most wicked and ruthless player, so his appearance is anything but pleasant.
"Just a bunch of vicious dogs handpicked by the game. Aside from their special privileges, they're no different from us. I even think some of them aren't satisfied with their current status," the King of the Undead said disdainfully, scratching his skull.
"With such immense power, why not become the king who suppresses all the heavens, instead of being a dog led around by the Reincarnation Game, constantly being annihilated?"
That makes sense. Regular players can get by by completing quests, but Judge who can't complete their quests are simply eliminated.
Neltharion was somewhat gloating, but he didn't think too much about it. He was also quite the king who suppressed the heavens. If only he could gather a huge trump card that was no less powerful than the Judge, he would be happy. He only had one thing to worry about.
Are you sure they won't cause trouble?
"The chances are slim. We're not the only ones who'll turn on you; the 'Deep Sea Devotees' and 'Bloodline Dream' factions are the same. Since the storm is inevitable, don't place your bets before the situation becomes clear." The King of the Undead's voice rose. Epic-level players aren't fools; everyone wants to be the one to suffer the consequences, at least to be on the side of the victors.
That's true. The Borderlands is in complete chaos right now, with many people developing behind closed doors, taking advantage of the situation, or fighting amongst themselves. Unless the Reincarnation Game really issues a war order and offers enough benefits, why would anyone want to be cannon fodder?
Aren't the Judge the cornerstone of order in Borderlands? You're powerful and quick to react, so hurry up and take action.
The continuous wars turned Outpost into ruins, but they also forged players. Countless corpses and blood were piled up, allowing more people to step into the realm of epic battles.
"Including the two of us, we already have five epics. Once things stabilize, I'll adjust the quest frequency, and it won't be long before we double that number." Neltharion took a step forward, transforming into a jet-black steel dragon whose wings blotted out the sky.
A massive magic circle appeared outside the tower, and dozens of monster-level players were already gathering energy.
"Yes, the first step is to unify the Aether Particles." The King of the Undead, along with his retinue, flew into the sky, standing shoulder to shoulder with the dragon. "The stronger we are, the more we can seize in future wars."
"There's nothing more to say. Annihilate these foolish brethren with their blood—"
The dragon's roar echoed through the air, shaking the gray sky. Witnessed by dozens of vortexes, Deathwing unleashed a terrifying dragon's breath towards the tower.
"Forging the Path to Kingship!!"
Damn, that's really loud.
A dazzling flash appeared in the distance, and Yuki, standing atop a desolate mountain peak, opened his eyes.
This is the start of a full-scale offensive to uproot the Sage's Tower. From then on, the Aether Particles will be unified, and as long as the Monster Front and the Great Tomb don't fight amongst themselves, they will be the absolute kings.
"In a way, it's a good thing. This camp is no longer fighting amongst itself and can have a common goal."
Yuki stayed at the Outpost for ten days, and the situation was completely different from when he last came. The tiny groups that were as small as sesame seeds had long been integrated. There was no room for small forces to survive in war. Apart from a few players who hid in the Borderlands, the rest all had to choose one side to join.
Slaughter forges order, death brings peace; the same thing happens in countless Outpost. Thinking about it this way, the Thorny Rose really is like a flower in a greenhouse.
Tens of thousands of players, hundreds of groups—how many people would have to die to unify them? And those who survived would be the elite. In a few Borderlands years, the 'Aether Particles' would be even more powerful than before.
"Great thing, but unfortunately you're not the ones who'll benefit."
Yuki closed his eyes. Hundreds of kilometers away, another golden-armored warrior stopped his pursuit. Ahead of him, an epic-level player was fleeing in disarray, touching the public medium and disappearing.
The biggest drawback of Stand User is that they lack independent consciousness and must be remotely controlled like a drone.
"But I wouldn't dare use a clone with its own consciousness. It's more than enough to deal with players below Epic Rank I."
The golden-armored warrior turned his head and looked at the demon wearing round glasses in the distance. This was Demiurge. The King of the Undead fool; of course, he would send his capable subordinates to keep a close eye on this uncertain factor.
Stared at by a murderous gaze, the demon's expression tightened, then he gracefully placed his hand on his chest and bowed.
"Your Excellency, I mean no disrespect. My lord sent me here to make a deal with you."
Knock knock knock.
The answer came with heavy footsteps; a golden-armored warrior, spear in hand, strode forward, bringing with him the purest will.
"Your interference allowed the prey to escape; I will take your life."
"Wait, I have no intention of fighting you. My lord is here to make a deal with you."
"Oh, so you have someone backing you. Then you'll die along with your master."
Demiurge was dumbfounded. He was a man of great wisdom and eloquence, but this bastard wouldn't listen to him at all!