Chapter 599

Thousands upon thousands of dismembered corpses and remains littered the earth; Taiyi looked every bit like a man-eating demon.

It doesn't matter, it's good that you're here.

Yuki had no intention of interacting with these players; the two sides had no connection whatsoever, and he wasn't some kind of liberator.

A mob, but large enough, and growing ever larger.

Puff.

Yuki slashed Garou in the back, crushing Seto Kaiba's head. His black clothes were stained with blood, but the wound was healing rapidly.

Yuki didn't leave the area; he merely glanced at the atomic clock and sat on the back of the headless corpse.

Before them lay Corpse Mountain, Blood Sea. The Stand brought two completely different perspectives, Truth's Eye also delivered messages beyond their immediate view.

Two?

The two points of light have already left the Judgment Domain and will soon disappear into this place. Making plans is a science, not metaphysics. Without this X-ray vision cheat, many operations would be impossible to complete.

Aside from confirming the identities of the two Grand Judges, their exact identities and the number of their henchmen remain unknown. This would require absorbing far more Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge, which is clearly not an opportunity.

We've succeeded halfway.

Yuki took a deep breath, comparing it to the overall plan. He hadn't expected, nor did he need, all the Judge to come, but attracting a mere 20% of their power was still too little.

The original plan was to attract at least four Grand Inquisitors.

"Were you seen through? You were certain that the Thorny Rose were the final battleground, which is why you precisely calculated your forces."

Without anyone else's help, even if the main body stayed here, it would be difficult to devour the two Grand Inquisitors in a short time. Moreover, given Aizen's shrewdness, there's no way he would deliver himself to Aizen's doorstep.

These two are probably the most difficult to kill: 'The Undying Sin Lizard' SCP-682 and 'Eternal Torture' Hades.

They are known in intelligence as being immortal and indestructible, making them the best human scouts. They are enough to last until the Faction Judgment is over, and Yuki is unlikely to change his plans and transfer his main force over.

Ultimately, he was also gambling on the timing of the awakening of the Reincarnation Game, believing that the two mere Grand Inquisitors were not worthy of delaying the final battle.

Plan revised.

Within a second Yuki made some minor adjustments, slowly rose, and, using his Stand's perspective, saw the slowly opening spatial passage.

Using two Grand Inquisitors, renowned for their immortality, to test the waters? Do they think they can't handle the two of them if it's a hoax?

This is a simple math problem, but it contains one unknown variable.

A third clone appeared, the Night Furnace being divided from the main body and given to it. Yuki's main body Planar Anchor, watching it emit a dazzling azure light, and a passage connected to the Thorny Rose.

Two battlefields were simultaneously deployed, and the operation was completed.

Yuki raised his head and 'saw' hundreds of Judge stepping out of the spatial passage. As he expected, the leaders were the Undying Sin Lizard and Hades. The two sides met face to face and were both surprised and delighted to see that 'Taiyi' had not put away the reincarnation artifact and fled.

The calculations are correct. Regardless of whether they are true or false, once the resonance begins, it is impossible to stop it in a short time. Even if people run away, things must be left behind.

Looking around again, apart from the horrified players, they didn't see the key figures.

This was a deceptive lure; as expected, the debate yielded no results. Whether it was true or false, trying it yourself would expose the deception.

"Congratulations, you've finally exposed my conspiracy."

"But the problem is, this is only the first layer of the conspiracy."

Inside the Furnace, Yuki smiled and gently snapped his fingers.

Overclock Mode activated.

As the two Grand Inquisitors issued their declarations and began the Faction Judgment, Yuki transformed into blue light and disappeared into the Planar Anchor.

Phase Two begins.

Chapter Twelve: They've Gone Mad

It wasn't a trap, but bait.

Hades stepped into the Outpost, where fluttering purple Nether Butterfly brought initial reconnaissance results.

There are many players at this Outpost, but the vast majority are harmless ants. They can't find important targets like Shiki Ryougi and Elysia. Without them, even if Taiyi's true form were here, it would be impossible to eliminate them.

No, to be precise, it's enough that the main body is here. Just keep the enemy occupied and let the reinforcements flood in. The war will be over in a few hours.

"One clone and one reincarnation artifact are far from enough to destroy us. Sōsuke Aizen, this is not the place for the final battle." Hades, who was usually taciturn and never participated in arguments, was in a good mood now.

He finally uncovered a conspiracy. Even if there were indeed hidden troops, he could hold out until reinforcements arrived.

"Then... do we go back?" the giant lizard asked with difficulty, then fell even more silent. It always slept during meetings and always agreed in votes.

"It's not too late to go back after you've eaten the bait. Don't forget, we still have the mission of suspending the return ceremony."

Hades looked at the strange sculpture, his sense of mission and curiosity growing stronger. The reincarnation artifacts were bound to their users, and the Judge wanted to know how to stop the ritual without dealing with Taiyi's true form.

As for those tens of thousands of players, they're practically invisible. If anyone dared to obstruct them, they'd crumble in a single charge.

"Initiate Faction Judgment, crush the 'Taiyi' clone, find a way to seize that reincarnation artifact, and then do everything in our power to stop the ritual."

Their mission was that simple. They carried a large number of sealing and analysis items, and without delay, they raised their hands and issued a prayer.

[The great Reincarnation Game, please transform this place into a place of judgment, and we will wield the Judgment Sword on your behalf.]

Is this Faction Judgment?

This was Yuuki's first time experiencing Faction Judgment Yuki. There was no Earth Collapse, and he couldn't even feel any obvious energy waves. There were just some golden lights appearing in the sky, binding the space like chains.

The space is locked; no more players can enter or escape. Upon closer inspection, it evokes a sense of familiarity.

It's somewhat like when space is falling, making it incredibly difficult to reach other coordinates.

This is an authority above all else; the will of the Reincarnation Game is to isolate this place and then send out professionals to carry out disinfection.

There is nowhere to escape unless one uses a Spatial Severance item like the Night Furnace to seek refuge and try to prolong the duration of the privilege. However, at this level of combat, infiltrating the stripped space is not difficult.

He stood quietly beside the 'Demon God Statue', seemingly oblivious to the sky full of purple Nether Butterfly and the mountain-sized lizards. There was no way to fight them; even if his true form were here, it would be difficult to annihilate the two immortal and indestructible Grand Inquisitors in a short time. To truly overpower them, he would need to mobilize all his main forces.

If that's the case, what about the other eight Grand Inquisitors? Yuki was able to escape so quickly, but others couldn't.

"But why must the main force be the players?"

He neither avoids, nor flees, nor fights—what is he trying to do?

Hades arrived with hundreds of Judge, and wherever he went, even the microorganisms in the air died, and countless Nether Butterfly fluttered about. But the 'Taiyi' in the distance seemed to be dumbfounded, not moving an inch.

Is it just bluffing?

This is the only explanation: the Nether Butterfly has penetrated deep into the earth and still hasn't found any ambushes. Unless the enemy can bypass the Faction Judgment and send reinforcements in, theoretically no one will fight alongside him. But if that's possible, the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons wouldn't have had to be so dangerous.

No, someone still helped.

Several players blocked their way, trembling all over, but they did not run away, for a simple reason.

They finally managed to board Taiyi's ship, hoping to escape this damned Reincarnation Game, but the Judge wanted to destroy Taiyi, leaving everyone to continue suffering.

Hades understood their thoughts perfectly, but it was merely a fleeting thought.

Countless Nether Butterfly enveloped the players, and after they dispersed, all traces of their existence were erased, and their souls were absorbed into the butterflies to endure Eternal Torture.

"Those who obstruct will be killed without mercy!"

Hades delivered the Oracle: the desire for freedom could never overcome the instinct for survival. These rabble were not core members at all; where did they get the courage to face the Judge?

Under the Oracle, Hades saw players fleeing in disarray, but Hades frowned.

Most of the players actually stayed, and even players from afar kept gathering. They were nervous and scared, yet like gamblers who had lost everything, they were greedily prepared to risk everything.

"Gentlemen, the path to freedom is right before you. Defeat these lackeys of the Reincarnation Game, and you can escape this eternal torment!"

Taiyi also issued Oracle, but it sounded quite absurd.

How could players be swayed by empty talk? Every player who has survived this long has rationally calculated every bit of gain. Even if there is a huge benefit, losing one's life is meaningless.

The only way to control others is through various Transcendental Grade powers.

But as soon as the words were spoken, the players actually came rushing forward. They were very nervous, their hands trembling as they gripped their weapons, but they gritted their teeth and faced the swarm of Netherworld Nether Butterfly and the powerful Judge.

Something's not right.

This is completely unrealistic; courage is like firewood—it cannot last forever.

The crocodile-like Sin Lizard opened its mouth wide, its maw swelling to a hundred meters in size, like an open door spewing out an invisible storm.

The illusion is dispelled.

It's not stupid. This illogical phenomenon can only mean that the players are being manipulated. The invisible wind specifically devours all kinds of illusions and mental manipulation, but the storm sweeps through these thousands of players without any effect.

No, to be precise, many players, as if preparing for a mental struggle, pulled out their items and faced the terrifying Judge, their desire for return surpassing everything, making them too lazy to consider the consequences.

This...

Hades turned around and stared at the Undying Sin Lizard. Before him were two completely different outcomes: some players had completely collapsed and fled at top speed, while others seemed to have eaten the gall of a bear and dared to ignore the Judge's orders.

It wasn't an illusion, nor was it mind control. Each player made their own judgment, which only proves that...

They've gone mad!

"Of course they haven't gone mad, it's just that the reincarnation items have higher power, and epic-level players can't remove them."

By using overclocking control, Yuki, now back in the starry sky, could see distant scenery. This was indeed bait, but it was expected that he would see through it. Yuki had simply planted some poison in the bait.

This poison is called 'Demon God Statue'. It's not a Transcendental Grade skill in the traditional sense at all; it's more like a more sophisticated form of bewitching. Even knowing its description, Yuki couldn't help but fall for it.

It indiscriminately and without regard to scope amplifies what players desire most, which is why it produces drastically different results.

Players who came to watch the spectacle will flee on the spot, while those eager to return will go crazy, doing anything to fulfill their dreams.

"While you were searching for the ambush, dozens of guides worked together. Guess how many players eager to return flooded in during those ten minutes. What's even better is that you conducted Faction Judgment, cutting off their return journey and leaving them with only one path: home."

Yuki smiled slightly; everything was within his calculations, even if it resulted in widespread devastation and the deaths of countless "tools."

Putting aside whether it's honorable or not, these players want to return; why should they be allowed to do so without putting in a huge effort?

The substitute's vision delivered a massacre, with thousands of players rushing towards the Judge like moths to a flame, only to be killed by the Nether Butterfly and devoured by the Giant Lizards. But they were no pushovers either; their dense barrage of attacks covered more than three hundred Judge, making it impossible for them to move an inch.

Even ants can kill an elephant if they are numerous. Even if Yuki wanted to mow down enemies in a chaotic manner, he would have to find a way to defeat them by killing generals and capturing flags. Otherwise, it would be exhausting to have thousands of players standing there for you to hack away at.

Take it slow; the more the path to their return becomes clearer, the more frantic these players will become.

The stand-ins stationed beside the reincarnation item did not participate in the battle, nor was there any need for them to. The sky was constantly being torn apart, and the increasingly clear path home was continuously replenishing hope. Players whose will to return was not so firm would continue to be affected.

The more enemies they fight, the more they seem to grow. But don't forget that the Judge themselves are also affected by the reincarnation items. Their sense of mission to complete the task won't allow them to hold out for reinforcements, just as the Stand sees.

The Nether Butterfly gathered, transforming into a dazzling spear that obliterated hundreds of players, its bursting soul light resembling hundreds of suns.

The Judge launched an attack, charging towards the Demon God Statue. The surrounding 'ant swarm' couldn't stop them at all, and the stand-in didn't try to stop them either.

The authority of civilization. Fictitious Historiography.

Another segment of authority is activated, similar to Mai Sakurajima's characteristics; the Stand's presence is being erased, allowing her to escape from this war.

Yuki was the instigator of the war, yet he became a bystander. The binding mechanism of the reincarnation item meant that without killing the original body, there was no way to obtain it.

Of course, without the original body, it's impossible to sever the link using 'Total Annihilation'.

The problem is, the Judge didn't know.

"This piece, which you've already figured out, might just become the turning point in the future."

The value of Forgotten Hidden Jianghu has not been fully exploited, Yuki's smile became even more sinister. The Demon God Statue are not just amplification of desires.

[Activated State: As the liberation time and the number of people affected increase, the mental illusion will transform into a physical entity, launching attacks from the soul and spirit levels. Note that neither state can distinguish between friend and foe.]

He didn't know what this mental illusion was, nor how long it would take to fully activate, but once activated, it was sure to bring him bad luck.

Let's keep them healthy for now and adjust our strategy based on how things develop.

Yuki refocused his attention. Several atomic clocks were ticking away, calculating the duration of the Planar Anchor, overclocking control, and the Furnace domain. He spent a minute continuing the script of 'Forgotten Hidden Jianghu', and then a second taking the final half-step.

"Invest three epic-level materials to unlock the last two items of the Six Gods' Authority."

The bodies of Garou, Seto Kaiba, and Hisoka were still warm; their souls had been burned by Yuki as he took his final half-step.

[Avatar of Strife: As the embodiment of conflict, you will possess all the skills of war; slaughter is your power.]

[Earth Lord: The earth is your foundation, gravity and attraction are your followers, and Giant are your relatives]

[You have fully unlocked the powers of the six main gods. All powers now have increased functionality, content, and efficiency.]

[Player Yuki, your overall rating has reached: Epic (Extreme), you can no longer acquire any Transcendental Grade power.]