Chapter 567
If you ignore it and jump into a dungeon to do quests, will the real killer move follow?
Thorny Rose has already given itself away, and he's sure he'll be targeted. Going alone isn't necessarily safe either, because there are only so many dungeons that can accommodate Epic IV-level players. At the top of the pyramid, every participant is a powerful figure, and there's a high probability of running into them.
The idea that the Reincarnation Game uses the resonance of reincarnation items to track back is just a hypothesis, but if it comes true, it would be a fatal blow.
"I will absolutely not give you a chance to turn the tables, not even a one percent chance, but I will also not let you gain the slightest benefit."
Yuki muttered to himself, and as he thought about it, he actually found a starting point.
Setting up a trap must take a lot of effort; it would require multiple high-ranking judges lying in wait. And the normal investigation can't be stopped.
Since it's a multi-pronged plan, it's impossible to gamble everything. So why should I follow your script? No, to be precise, you should follow my script.
"Let the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, whatever."
"Didn't you just say that this would have a chain reaction, allowing the Judge to turn the tables?" Mona didn't understand, but that was for the best; how pleasant it would be to be a couch potato every day!
"No way, this is just a show of making an example of someone." Yuki slammed his hand on the table, immediately stood up, and exuded an aura of Tzeentch.
"Who will be the prostitute is still uncertain."
Darkness descends, and the stars return to their places.
Just as Yuki had thought, the Judge were driven to the brink of madness by torture. Among them were demons with blood on their hands, villains who killed their wives and friends to prove their path, and madmen obsessed with battle.
To achieve one's goals, resorting to any means necessary is basic practice; one can destroy a world without batting an eye. But the more vicious one is, the more intense the discomfort of missing one's target.
Even the Reincarnation Game's personal intervention was useless; 'Taiyi' used the simplest and most straightforward move to break through it all.
Leave the game running in the background.
Yes, I chose to leave the game running and not do any tasks. So what if there's a net of traps? This tactic is too blatant, especially against the Grand Inquisitor.
In the past, they would sit in the center and let their subordinates work overtime, but now they have to take the lead themselves, and every journey is not easy.
The three stars are not lit, signifying that the three Grand Inquisitors have not returned. Yuki's cheat is useless in the dungeon, and the same applies to the Judge. To forcibly intervene in a 'Judgment Mission,' a target must first be designated. And since this is all high-level gameplay, it's not going to be easy for you to succeed.
"We can't go on like this. We have plenty of reasons to judge, but this level of dungeon is full of epic-level players, which could easily trigger a chain reaction. The Sword Demon and the Sin Lizard are constantly causing us trouble."
The ancient voice carried a sense of melancholy; most of the epic-level players were faction leaders, and for whatever reason, they were increasing their own hatred.
"Could Taiyi have foreseen the future and guessed that we would use the Reincarnation Item's Reverse Resonance to ambush him?"
"What can we do? Even the Reincarnation Game itself couldn't do anything. Is it just a coward?"
"I've said it before, he's incredibly cunning. It must be tough for Aizen to fight against such an enemy."
Aizen sat on the throne, lost in thought, seemingly oblivious to the commotion in the darkness. He was also frustrated; an elusive opponent was dangerous, especially since the hidden leads he had discovered were proving ineffective.
Was I seen through? I had hoped to use the 'mirror' to reflect my true form and meet him, but was I wrong, and those women had nothing to do with 'Taiyi'?
The seeds have been planted, but they have yet to blossom and bear fruit. This could be because the other party discovered and stopped the 'reflection' in time, or it has nothing to do with 'Taiyi'. After all, he has planted many similar seeds, encompassing factions such as Thorny Rose, War Orphans, and Valhalla.
Whenever he comes into contact with 'Taiyi', he doesn't even need to mention it. He only needs to think that something is wrong with a certain instance, and the seed will immediately sprout, Aizen will sense it instantly.
"Aizen, what are you thinking about?"
Just then, the ancient voice called out his name, and Aizen, who had come to his senses, naturally did not explain.
"Your Excellency, I'm considering the pros and cons of doing this. Admittedly, it will provoke many factions, but it will also allow us to make contact with some factions. For example, didn't Lord Cinder of the 'End World' agree to help?"
"That's because 'The End World' has a grudge against Taiyi. Every time we enter the dungeon, we have to be extremely careful. When have we ever felt so frustrated?" A cold voice interjected. The hostility of a group of epic-level players and their powerful storyline influence were enough to make them put away their arrogance.
"Yes, waiting passively is pointless, and dragging it out doesn't know which side will benefit more." Aizen. The trial has a time limit, and they can't afford to slack off.
"Then why don't you launch Faction Judgment against Valhalla? They're trying to cover it up, but they must be doing something."
"Your Excellency, the losses are too great, and the impact is too bad. The Valhalla is one of the top factions among the heavens. If 'Taiyi' is involved, it will be fine, but if He stands idly by, are we really going to get involved?"
Aizen's question silenced everyone. The greatest advantage of the Judge lies in their detachment from worldly affairs. The Valhalla has many allies. Even if they can withstand the 'Faction Judgment', they still need to find a reason, right?
"So I found a similar target." Aizen snapped his fingers, and a new plan unfolded before everyone's eyes: the attack and defense battle of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
This was a crucial target that had been constantly monitored, and every Judge was familiar with it. Unlike Valhalla, the war here was conducted within the rules, and the scenario of 'the prince restoring his kingdom' was a common occurrence.
For a behemoth like Valhalla, other factions wouldn't follow without the Judge leading the charge, but the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons is different.
"You still want to play the 'wait and see' game?"
"It should be said that we took the initiative. Lord Ban and I did some preliminary preparations. Currently, among all the heavens, the Taiyi is this 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons'."
That's true.
The Valhalla is just speculation without evidence. The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons caused quite a stir back then. 'Taiyi' directly participated in the war under the name of Li Dan. It can even be said that half the credit for the victory of the Demon Extermination Squad should be attributed to Taiyi.
"If He comes, we'll initiate the Faction Judgment to keep Him here. If He doesn't dare to come, at least the Borderlands region will be a bit quieter?" 'Fallen Angel' Sephiroth pondered. This is a warning to others Sōsuke Aizen is indeed cunning; he had already laid the groundwork.
A closer look at the intelligence reveals a clue: such a faction war should logically attract a large number of players who want to take advantage of the chaos, but it is surprisingly quiet.
They dared not come, fearing they would be drawn into the battle between the Judge and Taiyi, and be shattered by the aftermath.
"These players are all watching, hoping to use this as an opportunity to see what the legendary 'Taiyi' is capable of," Zhongyan mused. Mystery is the essence of 'Taiyi'.
Even the Judge couldn't figure out whether Yuki was an avatar or a fragment, let alone countless players. They only knew that he was an untouchable legend, and that the powerful Judge was powerless against him.
That makes things easier. Anyone can use someone else's power to intimidate others. 'Taiyi' is so powerful, so go ahead and fight. What are the few rules we broke? We can continue the fight or become law-abiding citizens once the outcome is decided.
"With a powerful demon blocking our way, the players below are naturally unrestrained until he is defeated. These unrestrained players, in turn, protect 'Taiyi,' consuming a great deal of our energy." Aizen stood up and descended the stairs. After discovering that 'Taiyi' had broken through his methods, he finally decided to increase the intensity.
"They don't need to interact, yet they cover for each other. This is an unsolvable, overt strategy that takes advantage of the prevailing trend. I'm sure you all understand this deeply."
The judges nodded. Taiyi did indeed have a cheat code, but with such a massive organization tracking him down, unless he remained AFK, he would eventually be found. The problem was that Yuki had taken advantage of the Borderlands's power and exploited the players' greed.
The Borderlands has been turned into a mess, with players claiming to have found Taiyi's secret treasure every moment. Some even dare to say that they are Taiyi's teammates or lovers, in order to make other players hesitate to act against them.
It's like filtering a list. You can find something quickly with just one keyword, but with millions of keywords, you have to check them one by one.
Intentional, unintentional, well-intentioned, malicious—the world is never afraid of a lack of clues, but rather of having too many to search for. There are countless players, and countless people courting death. The Judge cannot issue a warning such as "[Anyone related to Taiyi, whether true or false, must die]." Simply leading a team to kill people would be too much to handle, not to mention that some players have powerful backers. You can't judge them for "crimes of bragging."
"We must tear off 'Taiyi's' mysterious veil and let the players in the Borderlands understand that he cannot shake the order through sheer strength. The so-called Taiyi is nothing more than a coward who uses certain traits to hide and stir up trouble."
"Yes, this will restore the awe of countless players, prevent them from harboring illusions, and even shake the resolve of those who stand on His side. Perhaps some will cut their losses in time." Aizen nodded with a smile; he was truly serious this time.
"Hahaha, too much clarity leaves no fish. Without interference, it'll lower the difficulty for us. I even hope He doesn't come." Uchiha Madara, echoing the three heroes' habit of maniacal laughter, suddenly changed the subject:
"But He has another way to break the deadlock."
"Yes, He can make a deal. Regardless of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, He can eliminate one of us to prove that He can still stand against the Reincarnation Game and bring Destiny back to its original course." Aizen had already considered this, and gently shook his head.
"It's difficult, but not impossible. I've made the necessary arrangements. If 'Taiyi' really chooses this extremely risky but also extremely rewarding path, the story might just end here."
Anticipating the opponent's predictions is incredibly complex and mind-bending, but such assumptions are largely meaningless because 'Taiyi' seems to transcend the game's rules; who knows what moves he might make?
"I'll trust you one more time." Boros, not wanting to waste any more words, was the first to raise his hand. "Then, everyone, let's vote."
Unlike usual, this time it passed unanimously. Every Grand Judge could find no fault with it. Whether 'Taiyi' came or not, they would win and pave the way for the next step.
It's truly delightful to outwit Taiyi. I'd like to see how you'll break this deadlock this time.
Aizen, filled with anticipation, clapped his hands lightly, and a pillar of light rose from the darkness, revealing a burly man with a face covered in tattoos.
Sukuna looked around curiously and saw that it was pitch black all around. In the darkness, there were ten stars of different colors, each of which emanated a deadly sense of oppression.
The evil spirit, yearning for bloodshed, had no will to fight. It was merely an Epic Tier II being; each person here could be crushed with a single hand.
But it still held its head high, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "Sukuna greets all the Grand Judges."
"The proposal has been passed, and the Judge will fully support you in reclaiming the throne." Aizen suddenly appeared beside the pillar of light, drifting about like a ghost.
"Thank you, so what's the price?" Sukuna stared at him, understanding perfectly well that there's no such thing as a free lunch.
"You need to lure out Taiyi and fight him. Note that this is not the fragment of 'Li Dan,' but the real Taiyi."
Sukuna was taken aback. He was constantly thinking about revenge and venting the humiliation of that day, but he was not stupid.
I'm fighting Taiyi, really?
Is this some kind of joke? Even the Grand Inquisitor is wary of this being, how am I supposed to deal with him? Countless players speculate that Taiyi may have surpassed the 'Epic' level, after all, it was He who severed the passage in legend.
Looking at the ten cold, desolate stars, Sukuna realized he had no right to refuse, and his expression turned frantic.
"No problem."
Chapter Fourteen: Elysia?
The Judge's plan is unfolding rapidly, while on the other side, Yuki has already headed to the Borderlands.
It's been a while since I've been here, and this colossal structure connecting all the heavens seems somewhat different. Fewer players are strolling around the streets, the prices of various items have doubled, the entertainment area is deserted, but long queues have formed in the training area.
Players are very sensitive to chaos and feel that a second 'Great Cataclysm' is bound to happen sooner or later. Don't worry about anything else; improving your own strength is the most important thing.
A storm is brewing.
Seeing the intense preparations, Yuki became even more convinced of his idea. Countless players were trying to gain benefits or simply protect themselves during the Great Cataclysm, and he had no right to compete with the Reincarnation Game for resources.
Maintaining secrecy makes speed impossible. Even if you frantically recruit soldiers, can you outrun Reincarnation Game? You can't expect players to turn to your side out of their aversion to Reincarnation Game.
Resolve, good and evil, the future—these are insignificant compared to immediate benefits and survival.
"Look, they're all itching to get a piece of the pie."
Yuki looked around and declined more than a dozen brokers along the way; the voices in the entire Borderlands were more unified than ever before.
Taiyi, all of it is Taiyi.
Kaguya Shinomiya pursed her lips, feeling her heart pounding. Fortunately, the Fool's Mask concealed her guilt.
At LV6, the Fool's Mask projection ability has been greatly improved. Just like Yuki's portrayal back then, she has become a blonde, blue-eyed European beauty, wearing a white gauze dress with a Greek flair.
This is a projection of a character's appearance in a certain instance, so observational items will naturally not yield any results. Moreover, because this is a 'characteristic,' even special items like the Witch God's Soul Crystal will not reveal it.
"Why did you bring us here?" Kaguya asked, puzzled, trying her best not to look to the side.
It was an old man with a white beard, wearing tattered armor and a long sword at his waist; even knowing it was Frieren, he was hard to recognize.
"Because my senior needs to carry out a mission, Hayasaka needs to familiarize herself with the Bloodline Object I gave her," Yuki replied without turning her head. The mission still had to be done, so she decided to let her senior test the waters first.
That characteristic of hers is the safest; once the 'Adolescence Syndrome' kicks in, no one can find her.
"What does this have to do with me?" Kaguya asked, arms crossed, looking wary.
"Tsk, didn't I sell those spoils of war? I was going to get you a better bow. What, you don't want it?"
"Yes, yes, yes! I'm so close to reaching the epic level!"
Yuki rolled his eyes at her. What happened to being wary? Women really have no resistance to 'gifts'. He glanced at the silent 'old man' again. Frieren had been very well-behaved lately, not even complaining about being projected onto her like this.
"Frieren, the storm has mostly passed. I'm going to take you to meet someone."
The girl, who was still in a daze, suddenly widened her eyes, gripped the long sword at her waist, and her heart pounded uncontrollably.
I was finally able to see Frieren; it felt like centuries had passed.
Frieren is tough, I'm so lucky.
Kaguya stole a glance and suddenly realized that she was actually quite fortunate; at least she had never been struggling to survive alone in the Reincarnation Game.
I have Hayasaka, I have Hiyori, I have Mai Sakurajima- senpai, and most importantly...
She looked at the figure ahead, Yuki was projected as a black-armored warrior, like a wall sheltering her from the wind and rain.
With this man around, I feel very safe.
They walked in silence Yuki led the two girls to the training area, which was packed with people, as lively as a New Year's celebration. Many factions had even dismantled their equipment and placed it in their Outpost for use.
Points are valuable, but who knows if the people training here might be future enemies? It's better to play it safe.
"There are so many people! If we took one, we'd make a killing!"
"The land deeds for the Borderlands require special copies, and these devices aren't easy to obtain either." Yuki turned sideways, squeezing forward through the crowd, and casually replied, "These items can't be used in combat, and they're difficult to use. Don't you remember there was a set in 'Global Insect Calamity'?"
They did have a way to obtain it, but the 'Combat Simulator' is equivalent to 'Psychic Warrior Surgery,' requiring extremely high merit points, and even if you got it, you couldn't use it freely.
Simple consciousness simulation is too rudimentary; it can only withstand the aftershocks of battles below the level of 'monsters.' To open for business, you'd need to invest at least a hundred enhancement points.
The strange buildings around, some resembling Rubik's Cubes and others like spheres, are each worth thousands of enhancement points. They are assembled and pieced together in sets, and even the most powerful props can only accommodate one person. Who would be willing to wait in line at the entrance for days?
"We know too little about the Reincarnation Game," Frieren muttered to himself, noting that every little detail required dozens of dungeons to build up.
"I just want to run away. Why do I need to know so much? Besides, we're not suited to be in the public eye."
Yuki walked up to a round tower-like building covered in chains. There were far fewer players queuing up here. The reason was simple: because that woman Mebius had raised prices so quickly, those who could grit their teeth and come for training were not the little Karamis.
There must be spies or bounty hunters all around, but with so many people in line, they have no chance of finding anything wrong.