Chapter 564
"Sure, but there's not much to talk about. It's just that you've been targeted, presumably by one of the Grand Inquisitors."
What? We've already met the Grand Inquisitor?
Everyone was completely dumbfounded, feeling like they had just escaped death. Mai Sakurajima lost all interest in lecturing and simply walked over.
"When? Hopefully nothing bad will happen?"
"The 'Aberration Calamity' instance seals away all content related to this instance. Don't pay attention to the mission summary later; skip directly to the rewards." Yuki was even more cautious, but still reassured him:
"It's alright, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Your snowball has already started rolling, and leveling up too quickly will definitely attract attention. Besides, Thorny Rose was already on the Judge's radar anyway."
The strongest player in the entire Outpost right now is only Monster III, and the senior student and others clearly don't seem to be faction leaders, their rate of advancement is even more abnormal.
But when? And who is this friend that Aozaki Shun is talking about?
Yuki it strange. He must have met his senior and the others before, and only then could he make a comparison. Just as he started to think in that direction, he slapped himself.
Smack
He went all out, denting his skull, which startled everyone. Yuki, awakened by the pain, raised his hand to stop the others.
"I'm fine. Damn it, I almost fell for it. That old fox laid a triple trap!"
Yuki activated the Regenerative Tail, having fully realized that this was a series of baits. Following his previous line of thought, he would eventually figure out who this person was. Even if the connection was severed, his seniors would still be exposed.
It's hard to think about, but the more you try to control it, the more uncomfortable it becomes; this skill is impossible to guard against.
"Hayasaka."
"Hmm?" The maid had already drawn the Death Knell, ready to fire a shot at any sudden enemy.
"Let's leave it at that. Let's go cook with my senior." Yuki controlled her curiosity; the best way was to skip this whole mess.
It was a leap of thought in the physical sense, but everyone present stood with Yuki, without any hesitation or curiosity, and nodded in agreement.
"Good."
Daily life was forcibly restored, as if the strange occurrence had never happened. People went about their business: cooking, taking baths, and reading.
Natural airheads are the nemesis of cunning schemers; as long as I'm lazy enough, you can't outsmart me.
Before long, familiar dishes filled the table. The home-cooked meals prepared by my senior were certainly not as luxurious as the banquet at the City of Gods, but they tasted especially comforting and had a taste of 'home'.
Yuki picked up a piece of tender sweet and sour pork, put it in his mouth and chewed. The sweet and sour taste made him squint his eyes. After discovering that he especially liked 'Chinese cuisine', his senior had specially improved her skills in this area.
Leaning back slightly, a sea of eyes immediately turned to him.
"Let's eat and chat, just like casual conversation."
Everyone laughed. They were used to Yuki's style; he could always treat major events that affected countless players as casual topics like, "Have you eaten today?"
Yuki propped his head up with one hand, poking at the lifeless eyes of the steamed sea bass with his chopsticks, and casually said, "To be honest, it's been unexpected that we were caught by the tail so late."
"The Judge want to use us to trace back to you?" Hiyori answered without hesitation, sipping her soup. Mona, standing beside her, stood up and raised her right hand like a schoolchild eager to answer a question.
"Question! Brother, are you going to silence us?"
"Don't joke around like that." Yuki glared at her, and just as he raised his hand, she immediately crawled under the table, so he had no choice but to lower his hand sheepishly.
"It was bound to happen sooner or later. I've put a lot of thought into it. Others aren't stupid either. 'Everywhere you go, you leave a trace.' I didn't disappear from the Reincarnation Game. No matter how powerful the cheat is, it has its limits. Fortunately, I've already anticipated this situation."
He recounted everything that had happened in the past two weeks, including the trip to Valhalla and the hunt for the Aether Particles, and then observed the reactions of the crowd with great interest.
Senior and Hiyori were deep in thought, Mona was complaining, "Why didn't you mention me when you saw your mother?", Hayasaka and Kaguya were lost in thought, and Frieren was engrossed in eating pineapple rice, his face getting even rounder.
"Wow, Mr. Yuki's 'cheat code' is even safer in the Borderlands. If something happens, we can escape in an emergency. Besides, the Borderlands is very chaotic right now, which is a great hunting ground!" Hiyori was a little excited, and all her anxiety and insecurity disappeared.
Entering the dungeon now is extremely dangerous, but the Reincarnation Game is like rowing against the current; if you don't get stronger, you'll just be waiting to be killed by others. Fortunately, we've found another way to level up.
"Don't be so happy yet. This route is only for me; you can't use it."
"Not necessarily. The hunting of Aether Particles has yielded many results. Don't you want to take care of us?"
Being kept as a sugar daddy/sugar baby? That sounds weird.
Yuki paused for a moment, then realized that what he said made sense. Players were like monsters in the wild; they would drop items. This small group didn't have many members, so improving their strength didn't necessarily depend entirely on dungeons.
"But this is nothing to be proud of. What are your thoughts after reviewing the 'Faction Judgment' data?"
"This is definitely the Judge's trump card, but whether it can counter your cheat is hard to say." Hiyori became serious. The biggest lesson she learned from Yuki was never to underestimate anyone, and never to have unrealistic expectations.
"If given the chance, I suggest giving it a try, including whether this trump card works on the Judge himself, as this will determine the outcome of the final battle."
Yuki nodded slightly. This had to be tried. If it didn't work on him, he would be invincible; if it didn't work on the Judge, then the Judge would be invincible too.
"I'll find an opportunity to try and force them to initiate 'Faction Judgment'." Yuki this in mind, then asked, "What about your epic achievements? Right now, only Mona, Hayasaka, and Kaguya have broken through the limits."
"There are more than just us players in Thorny Rose, I also have friends like Little Bird."
Dismantle the team?
That's one line of thinking, but a very dangerous one. Not to mention that all the team members are focused on extreme enhancements in one direction, the danger would be ten times greater without well-coordinated teammates. And how can we ensure that the Judge doesn't follow them in?
If you don't put all your eggs in one basket, even if you get caught, will it only be one person?
Yuki understood Hiyori's intentions. This girl had already been planning this when she obtained the 'Golden Book,' using this item to erase all traces.
"Don't worry, we've prepared for these three instances. And there's an advantage to doing this: it will help you recruit more players from Thorny Rose," Mai Sakurajima said softly, as if it were just a small matter.
"I don't care about that. When the final battle comes, they'll have no choice but to fight."
"It's always good to increase our level of understanding. You've been a hands-off manager, not managing the faction at all. And the more trouble you cause in the Borderlands, the less energy the Judge have to deal with us." Mai Sakurajima looked confident, but in an instant, her fingers clenched tightly, and her voice trembled.
"These are all minor matters, but do you really want to start the final battle ahead of schedule?"
All eyes turned to them, including those of Frieren and Hayasaka, who were silently eating their meal. Their gazes were complex, containing tension, anticipation, and even a hint of fantasy.
"To catch the Judge —no, the Reincarnation Game is the only chance of victory," Yuki answered firmly. He had pondered this question a thousand times over, holding up three fingers:
"Battles are all about timing, location, and people. In terms of location, we are at a complete disadvantage. The Reincarnation Game is the master of the Borderlands, and the players are simply not qualified to compete with it in terms of size and stamina."
"It's hard to say about the people involved. Those Abomination games and those who love games are both in the minority. Most players just follow the crowd. They side with whoever offers the most benefits and the least risk. I have to consider the worst-case scenario, which is that the underlying defense mechanism of the Reincarnation Game still exists. If 'Taiyi' is locked, cross-faction raiding missions can be issued."
The explanation is devoid of any personal emotion; this is a battle fought with the utmost rationality, Yuki will only consider how to win.
"You mean it's going from a decisive battle to a skirmish?" Hayasaka Ai followed the train of thought and firmly believed Yuki's judgment.
"Yes, a fair and square decisive battle has never been my style. In skirmishes, I only need to consider the Judge and a portion of the auxiliary troops. I absolutely cannot let the Reincarnation Game be mobilized." Yuki simply stood up and paced back and forth as everyone followed his gaze.
"Miss Ryougi Shiki and I have already discussed this, and there are only two paths. First, disperse the Judge's forces; those ten Epic IV-rank Grand Judge absolutely cannot be deployed all at once. Second, find suitable allies to narrow the gap between the two sides. Third, understand the specific content of 'Faction Judgment,' which is a prerequisite. Do you know what the biggest advantage of this plan is?"
"Turning the Reincarnation Game of unknown power into a known mathematical problem allows for quantification, no matter how difficult it may be," Hiyori replied immediately.
"Brilliant! I narrowed down the size of the enemy we need to face, otherwise the plan would never have been able to be executed." Yuki was excited; this was what they called knowing yourself and your enemy.
Nobody knows how many factions or players are in the Borderlands. What's the point of making a plan when facing an infinitely large target? Even if you're trying to escape, you need to know where the walls are.
But you're gambling; you might send us away while you remain trapped in the Reincarnation Game.
Mai Sakurajima frowned slightly, but said nothing. There was a time when she wanted to return to her hometown no matter the cost, but now she wanted to say:
Without you, I'd rather stay in the Reincarnation Game.
Dawn had broken, and the once unattainable dream was within reach. With an end in sight, this man would weave a path to freedom. But the living room was silent, devoid of the expected cheers.
We have been erased. What will it be like when we return?
I'm a little reluctant to go back to my hometown. Can I go with him to that 'Earth'?
Let's see him off first; what if he doesn't come along?
Yuki turned his head and saw a series of faces with complicated expressions, then gave an awkward smile.
This is a case of becoming more timid the closer one gets to home.
He had considered these questions as well, and his thirst for power made him think even more deeply: how many people had he killed, how many cities had he destroyed—could he really still integrate into that Earth, which was devoid of any Transcendental Grade power?
But when his senior classmates and others returned, bringing the room back to life, he became even more certain of his thoughts, and even felt a deep weariness in his soul.
Taiyi had had enough. He had reached the summit countless times, but when he looked up, the sky was still unreachable. So he put down his sword and wanted to leave the mountain.
"Power is addictive." Yuki clenched his fist, time and years overlapping on his body. "But I despise being a tool in someone else's hand, I hate having my Destiny controlled by others. Do you know what the strongest is?"
The sudden question made everyone look up, and they saw the man's fists clenched tightly, even sharper than when Khorne's Blessing.
"It's not about the power to destroy stars and shatter the sky, nor about the countless corpses beneath our feet, nor even about the power to decide the lives and deaths of tens of thousands, but rather—"
"I will take control of my Destiny with my own will. No one can stop me from doing what I want to do!"
Chapter Twelve: Clear Mind
The strong are bound to be willful, and the strong have every right to be willful.
It's not about what you think should be done, but what I think should be done, and I'm certain it can be done.
If you want to slaughter tens of thousands and climb to the top, then you must kill any god who stands in your way.
If you want to pursue freedom and lay down your weapons, then you'll be ready to kill anyone who stands in your way.
It's all that simple. With a will as firm as steel, once a decision is made, it will not be changed; once on the journey home, there will be no lingering attachment.
"A clear and open mind."
Yuki sat at the rearranged table, listening to the cicadas chirping and the waves crashing outside the window. He instantly relaxed, and all the questions that had troubled him for so long were answered.
Returning to his original intentions, the feeling he had when he stepped into the Bloodthirsty Red Moon surged back like a tide, or rather, from the moment he saw the 'Future Diary,' he had been thinking about how to escape.
Logically speaking, it's impossible to reach the peak, because there is no peak here; this is the conclusion reached by 'Taiyi'.
Following the old path, even if he spent 100 years at the Borderlands, he still wouldn't reach the strength of 'Taiyi'. It would just be repeating the same mistakes. Even with all the protection, his seniors would never reach that level. More likely, they would all fall into the Abyss Grade together.
Besides, this path is completely blocked. A pack of mad dogs is chasing him. Should he commit suicide, or go to the Judge to confess, and then find the cycle of mentally challenged Reincarnation Game to say:
Hey, is it possible to reconcile?
"As for emotionally, who the hell likes this kind of hellish place where you could die at any moment? Are you a masochist?"
Who are you calling a masochist?
The door was gently pushed open, Yuki turned his head to see his senior standing in the doorway.
She changed into the outfit she wore when they first met—yes, the bunny girl outfit—except the bunny hair clip on her head had been replaced with the one she bought at the Borderlands a long time ago.
A gentle summer breeze blew, caressing her cascading black hair. The girl smoothed her hair from her forehead, her face calm and unchanged.
"I'm a masochist, please whip me hard with black stockings, senior." Yuki paused for a moment, then laughed.
"Hmph, all that frivolous talk, but it does bring back fond memories. I'll let you off the hook today." Mai Sakurajima walked into the room, sat down on the table, crossed her long legs, and, seeing the densely packed notes, didn't bother to look at them. She simply propped herself up on the table, lifting her head with a hazy gaze.
"I really miss those days. I met you looking so embarrassing back then, and that's how so many stories started."
One dungeon after another, one battle after another, Mai Sakurajima didn't even know how many people she had killed. Logically speaking, she should have been twisted by now, but looking back, everything seemed so distant, as if it were just yesterday.
"Yeah, I was shocked too. How could the legendary Mai Sakurajima be so indecent? Ouch, be gentle, be gentle."
"Who are you calling indecent! I've explained it so many times, I just saw this kind of outfit in the closet and got curious, so I put it on. I was just about to go out and look in the mirror when I went to that godforsaken place!" Mai Sakurajima blushed and kneaded Yuki's face like dough, then stopped.
"That's strange. I still don't know how this bunny girl outfit appeared. It's like it was erased."
The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed. As she approached the epic level, she was no longer an ordinary person. She could even recall the feeling of being in her mother's womb, yet she had absolutely no recollection of this bunny girl outfit.
It's a bit strange, but it doesn't matter anymore.
Yuki isn't stupid. A beautiful woman came to his room and started playing a mystery game with him. Suddenly, he raised his hand and brushed against her delicate black stockings.
"What are you doing!" Mai Sakurajima trembled and reached out to hit him, but her hand was instead grabbed.
"Is my senior dressed like this to play a mystery game or reminisce about the past?"
"Hmph, is it wrong to reminisce about past hardships to appreciate present happiness?"
"No." Yuki decisively picked her up. After a long separation, they were like newlyweds. The girl in his arms snuggled against him and pressed his hands down.
"No, no, no, Hayasaka definitely isn't asleep. Aren't you afraid she'll see you later?"
Uh, that is a problem, but I can expand the Night Furnace Domain.
"No need, I'm already here."
The door was pushed open a second time, Hayasaka Ai was standing in the doorway. Yuki immediately at a loss, but after taking one look, he was filled with joy.
The maid was wearing the school uniform of Shuchiin and bubble socks—yes, the same outfit she wore when we first met in the Ancient Castle's main hall, even her nails were painted the same color.
"Hehe, aren't you surprised? I have the same memories too." She made a fierce gesture, then pouted when she saw Yuki craning her neck to look behind her. "Nobody's here. Why are you so greedy? And don't even think about Mona. I've tied that little girl up and handed her over to Miss Kaguya to keep a close watch on."