Chapter 593
Anyone who dares to approach him will be classified as a minotaur, and for a minotaur, a pig's head is simply a matter of killing.
Under the soundproof barrier, the room was deathly silent. The two looked at each other, not knowing what to say, and just stared at the ticking clock.
"By the way, what level of physique was that Mona?"
"She's an item-based player, probably around level 7."
"Level 7? Can they handle that?"
The two exchanged another glance. The reason they weren't afraid of Yuki creating a harem was simple: it was literally like being pierced through steel plates by the sun, something a normal person simply couldn't withstand.
As they watched, the two subconsciously took a step forward, then stopped at the same time.
"Senior, are you thinking of getting involved?"
"No, no, no, I just want to open the door a crack and see what happens to that brat." Mai Sakurajima shook her head, paused, and then said, "But I reckon her fate won't be good. With a major battle imminent, I have to rescue her. Hayasaka, you guard the door. I'll be right back."
As she spoke, she started to walk forward, but her hand was immediately grabbed, causing her to shudder and turn her head away.
"If you go, you might not come back." Hayasaka Ai wasn't easily fooled. She glanced behind her. "Don't worry, the ladies won't dare come."
"Aren't they all awake?"
"Thinking and doing are very different. Not everyone is as shameless as Mena Ryougi. Oh, and now we have to add Senpai too." Hayasaka Ai chuckled, watching Mai Sakurajima's face instantly turn red, too lazy to explain.
Pursuing ultimate pleasure with the one you love makes your soul tremble with excitement, unlike your senior who is so hesitant.
"Let's go together. Don't look at me like that. I forgot to tell you." The maid licked her lips, a hint of pink light seeming to rise in her azure eyes.
"Today I am Slaanesh."
Chapter Eight: The Ultimate Player!
"The seeds have sprouted; it turns out the 'Thorny Rose' really is Taiyi's nest."
At the same time, in the Judgment Domain, all ten Grand Inquisitors were in place; searching for them inside the instance at this point would be a waste of time.
The Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge regained its vitality, projecting a starlight screen that displayed information about the 'Thorny Rose'.
They were all familiar with this faction, having long been classified as suspicious. However, due to the inability to find any 'collaborators' and the inability to enter the Outpost for investigation, coupled with the fact that the players were few and weak, they were shelved after extensive investigation using skills such as Causal Reversal and Destiny Link.
Unfortunately, the Judge don't have unlimited resources. Since they can't find a breakthrough, they have to reallocate resources. But the hidden seeds are planted at the same time, and once they are associated with 'Taiyi', they will immediately receive feedback.
"Our initial investigation was misguided. Based on the premise of Taiyi's 'fragmentation,' such circumstantial evidence was indeed not worth investing in."
"We've investigated but haven't found any clues. This faction must be special. I suspect there are no authorized individuals involved."
"Perhaps they themselves were unaware of the existence of 'Taiyi,' otherwise how could they have concealed the causal regression?"
"So this time, Taiyi should be showing his hand. Judging from the calculations, His strength is far inferior to ours, so the players of Thorny Rose have some value to us."
The judges, one after another, quickly pieced together the facts. Among them were the most powerful warriors, the most domineering kings, and the most astute sages; even guessing was enough for them to uncover the truth.
"With the decisive battle imminent, if He cannot surpass His Limit and achieve a qualitative crushing victory, then He can only compensate with quantity, expanding the number of allies, which naturally makes it impossible to preserve the secret." Solomon pondered, He had always firmly believed that only the dead could keep secrets, but then he changed the subject:
"Logically, that's correct, but I can't guarantee there aren't any traps involved. After all, he likes to play tricks."
No one responded. The two sides only had 1.5 direct confrontations, which was too few samples to figure out Taiyi's methods. However, they understood the framework of "insidious and cunning" and "deception and trickery" and were also rendered helpless by it.
You think he's on the first floor, but he's actually on the fifth floor; you think he's on the fifth floor, but he's actually on the first floor.
"I hate these damned conspiracies, a rat hiding in the gutter, which has betrayed my expectations of the legend."
The red star roared in fury. It had been tracking the enemy in the dungeon recently, but had found nothing because Yuki was AFK. Its rage was consuming all living beings and players.
The World-Destroying Sword Demon, one of the most powerful Grand Inquisitors, is just not very bright.
Aizen glanced at the red star and suddenly realized that sending it away was a mistake. If this madman had been there last time, Taiyi hard time escaping.
This is the most stubborn and reckless man, ignoring all strategies and tactics, tearing at his enemies like a mad dog until he grinds them to dust.
Many high-ranking judges also realized this. What did it matter to them if the World-Destroying Sword Demon fell into a trap? This was the perfect scout. Before, they were afraid of alerting the enemy, but now they didn't need to think about it anymore.
"Rest assured, once the existence of 'Taiyi' is confirmed, you will be invited to participate."
"Don't try to get rid of me this time. I'm not stupid. Remember, it's about confirming His presence," Aatrox emphasized repeatedly. He already knew the story of these fools trapping themselves in their own self-imposed prison.
If He were trapped somewhere and had to watch His target escape, He would go mad.
"No problem. I've probably gotten used to Taiyi's methods. This person likes to hide his true intentions, and no matter what choice he makes, he can benefit from it." Aizen has been reviewing the past events recently and feels that he has fallen into Taiyi's rhythm.
"He didn't treat us like fools; from the beginning, He tried to achieve a win-win outcome."
In that previous battle, the Judge figured out Yuki's secrets, Yuki completed the most important experiment. Wouldn't you say it was a win-win situation?
"You won, but you also lost?" Uchiha Madara's expression was strange.
"Yes, He didn't intend for us to fail, He only aimed to win by a few more points than us." Aizen paused slightly, repeatedly reflecting on his current state, finding nothing amiss, before continuing:
"Taiyi's actions are unpredictable and his thinking is deep, which is not wrong, but we need to make some changes this time."
"Let's just unleash our fury and annihilate him completely!" the Sword Demon the Roar, but the others completely ignored the madman.
It has been said that Taiyi acts unpredictably. If you rush in headfirst, you will only bite the bait, and you will not even achieve a 'win-win' situation.
"Since there's nothing wrong, why correct it? We just need to shorten the time we spend considering things and make a more decisive choice. We've been observing for too long before, and we've missed opportunities." Aizen pressed his hands down to calm his companions.
This has little to do with strategy; it's more about aligning with players' instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm. Yuki didn't have a particularly brilliant script; he simply grasped human nature.
Why did everyone leave when two Grand Inquisitors could have gone back to help? Wasn't it because they were afraid of falling into a trap and no one wanted to stay and continue the battle of the 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons'?
To put it in terms of high emotional intelligence, it's about prioritizing stability; to put it in terms of low emotional intelligence, it's simply about being afraid of death.
I don't know Taiyi there are. The six Grand Judges can be safe as long as they stick together, so why leave one behind to risk being defeated one by one?
"But now that we know His secrets, we don't need to be afraid of the unknown."
Everyone nodded. They already knew that 'Taiyi' was not a fragment, and its strength Limit was the same as theirs. It could not escape the suppression of the Faction Judgment, nor did it have any similar binding skills. With a little calculation, they could draw the conclusion.
Two Grand Judges might not be enough, but three would certainly be enough to defeat the opponent.
"When the unknown becomes the known, the room for cunning to compensate is very small, and time is on our side." Aizen snapped his fingers and raised the eyeball in his hand. "The Reincarnation Game is reviving, and it won't be long before He loses even the strength to resist."
Three days have passed since the Battle of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. For Reincarnation Game in 'years', the reaction speed is already extremely fast.
The game has lost consciousness, but the defense mechanism is constantly being optimized, with more permissions, faster reaction speed, and even the ability to directly issue a kill order against 'Taiyi'. The Judge's task is to weather this window of opportunity.
But the cost is also quite simple.
[You must not lose a large number of players, or you will be judged.]
I'm in a hurry.
This was the first order issued after the Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge recovered, completely cutting off any possibility of standing idly by. Of course, they had no intention of standing by indifferently, but it sounded very harsh.
"This is the will of the Reincarnation Game, and along with that will comes power." Aizen raised the Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge, and all eyes turned toward him, tinged with a hint of jealousy.
The Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge occupied a position as a Grand Judge, originally responsible for monitoring all things. However, everyone knew who it represented. After the 'Taiyi' liberation instance, the Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge revealed its identity as a reincarnation tool.
Now it seems that it is not an ordinary reincarnation tool.
"The defense mechanism of the Reincarnation Game is being optimized; His will is being transmitted to us by the Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge."
"Could it allow us to break through the limits of epic difficulty?" Boros's eyes gleamed, too lazy to hide his greed.
"It's impossible, or rather, it's impossible right now. Rules are rules, unless the Reincarnation Game regains consciousness and actively transcends the rules." Aizen paused for a moment, a gentle smile appearing on his face, "It's not a specific power, but a kind of authority, a supreme authority, and it keeps strengthening with awakening."
It's hard to describe, yet it's perfectly natural. If we compare the Reincarnation Game to a human being, the player is simply a cell within that body, and Taiyi is no exception.
"He stole a portion of the Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge; this secret cannot be kept hidden," Truth said calmly. Given that both sides could guess this, it hardly constituted an advantage.
"Yes, He will use all His wisdom and all His power to achieve His goal before the Reincarnation Game 'awakens.' Based on the known information, it won't be difficult to devise a plan." Aizen maintained his smile and expectation, his words clear and logical.
"Don't let excessive thinking interfere with our thinking. Improve efficiency and use firsthand witnessing to see through falsehoods. No matter what methods He uses, falsehood is falsehood. Just peel back the layers and you will always find the truth. Gentlemen, don't forget that our real advantage lies in—"
He paused for a moment, as if he saw a black-haired youth, like a chess player, high above, controlling Destiny. He was frowning, his expression cold, holding countless lives as chess pieces in his hand.
A sense of destiny arises spontaneously; only by shattering the legend can He transcend it, and that empty throne requires the corpse of a strongman to sit upon.
"No matter how many players are on His side, we only need to kill 'Taiyi'!"
Ugh, I'm a little tired.
As Aizen saw the illusion of the chess player and prepared to face 'Taiyi' again with the mindset of a challenger, Yuki was gently rubbing his lower back.
With my combat strength, dealing with three powerful individuals at the same time is still a little difficult.
It was a fierce battle, a clash of Transcendental Grade powers, but fortunately he won in the end. After resting for a while, he immediately made his escape.
"Hmph, that brat Mona actually dared to use a recovery item, but she still lost. They won't wake up for at least five hours. I don't want to be the center of attention."
The upperclassmen and the others hadn't woken up, but Kaguya and the others definitely had. The disdainful look that Mushroom, as if he were trash, was too devastating, and he didn't have the energy to fight for another day.
Business is important, business is important. We can't afford to get caught up in romance now. Once we've successfully returned, what's wrong with fighting for another ten days?
Slaanesh was like a raging flood, but fortunately, Yuki had extremely high resistance. He could distinguish between a full meal and a regular meal, and he understood the urgency of time.
Who knows when the Reincarnation Game will 'awaken'? The balance must be broken before then. Once the Grand Judges are slaughtered, who will carry out His orders? Even if a kill order is issued, as long as no one takes the lead, countless players will not dare to oppose Him.
And then there's this feeling.
Yuki looked up, a strange feeling welling up inside him, like the slight trembling of a vegetable's fingers, making his heart race. As for the source of this feeling—
Do Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge?
A reincarnation tool that monitors all things; Yuki seized some of its power, thus gaining the ability to observe in reverse and establishing a strange kind of perception.
It's indescribable, and cannot be deduced logically, but my intuition tells me it's right.
"Choosing to act prematurely will inevitably awaken the Reincarnation Game. Just as I predicted, sooner or later there will be nowhere to hide. The most important thing now is to eliminate the game's direct intervention capabilities before there is nowhere to hide. Thus—"
Even if you can find me, there's nothing you can do about it.
Yuki stopped thinking about it and looked around, seeing a scene of apocalypse.
The air was filled with dense energy particles, which gathered into raindrops and fell continuously. After touching the ground, they evaporated. The once beautiful mountains collapsed, and the rivers dried up, revealing carbonized riverbeds.
"Forgotten Hidden Jianghu" is a rather poetic faction name, but all that's in front of you is a devastated land, like entering a post-apocalyptic instance.
This faction was completely destroyed by the players and was known as the "toilet" in the Borderlands. Countless players came and went, treating this place as a battlefield outside of the dungeon. The local players also gave up and all became guides.
There's no other way. When authority is shattered into dust and order completely collapses, no hero steps up to clean up the mess. At least leading the way can bring some benefits and allow you to survive a few more dungeons.
This is the norm. Not every player can level up like Yuki by completing a few dungeons. They are used to sticking together and relying on the strong.
"In comparison, 'Aether Particles' are much luckier. At least they have big shots leading the way, forming several super-large player organizations. When the veteran players are all wiped out, they don't even have any powerful backers to rely on."
Originally, even epic-level powerhouses had to respect the rules, but now the Judge are focused entirely on preparing for the final battle, and have become even more arrogant and lawless.
Yuki looked around and saw several players wearing straw hats and raincoats on the opposite bank of the river. They stood in the rain, expressionless, silently watching this side.
"It's not a matter of being sieve-like through holes, it's that there's absolutely no defense?" Yuki to himself, his expression shifting slightly as he saw a player in the distance take out a detection item.
Swish--
The rain curtain reversed, and the man instantly crossed the river, appearing a kilometer away. The supersonic shockwave then exploded behind him with a muffled 'bang'.
The leader was already being held by one hand. His companions turned around in shock. It was too fast, faster than their reflexes could react. They all drew their knives, only to find that before the blades could even touch the attacker, they were reduced to a pile of rotting iron filings.
Withering of All Things; this level 3 item couldn't even withstand it for a second. Only a single blade pierced through the aura, and before it could even touch his neck, it was caught by him with one hand.
Bite.
With the strength of a level 10 physique, he pulled the knife directly from his opponent's hand. His raised whip kick stopped in mid-air, and the halo transformed into the Sword of Death, pressing against his forehead.
Yuuki tilted his head slightly and looked at the person in his hand. His face was sharply cut and his black hair was slightly curly. He definitely had a taste of Jianghu. His eyes were fierce, as if he was thinking frantically about how to escape.
Monster III, it has a slightly stronger presence than air.
"I'm paying you to show me the way, so don't do anything unnecessary."
Yuki didn't kill this person for a simple reason: this time he hired a middleman, and these players could be considered guides.
'None' can go to any Outpost, but entering alone requires looting privileges, which this faction doesn't need to waste time on.
The man in her arms nodded with difficulty, then her vision blurred and she fell heavily to the ground, her straw hat rolling to the side, revealing her unshaven face.
He turned his head abruptly, only to find the client already ten meters away; his dynamic vision couldn't even catch a glimpse of him.
Reaching out to stop a companion who looked like a child, the man brushed off the mud, picked up his straw hat, and gave a respectful bow.
"I didn't know you were an epic-level player, but according to the rules, we have to investigate the background of every player before we can complete the escort mission."
Yuki turned his head, looked at the unshaven face, and raised his eyebrows. "You used to be a bodyguard?"