Chapter 601
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sighed, and as he was thinking, he suddenly noticed that the chattering had stopped abruptly, and groups of players had all stood up.
Taiyi has arrived.
Surrounded by his seniors and others, Yuki entered the garden, feeling countless scrutinizing gazes. There was no way around it; everyone was risking their lives to be with him, and many of them were seeing Taiyi for the first time.
This army of players is like a pyramid scheme; they recruit others after securing the top-level players. Yuki's casual attire also drew considerable disappointment.
Is this the legendary Taiyi? He looks so ordinary.
Yuki didn't care about other people's opinions, nor did he bother to use his appearance to show off. These players were gathered together because of his abilities, and if they wanted to leave the Reincarnation Game, there was no other way but to 'Total Annihilation' them.
Even if I were a hideous monster with pus oozing from my head, they'd still have to work with me. At least I'm not bad looking, right?
Yuki stopped at the garden entrance, glancing at the groups of players. There were many familiar faces among them, but he was already used to it. Whether protagonist, supporting character, or passerby, everyone was equal in the Reincarnation Game.
Aside from the Thorny Rose, the main forces include Valhalla, the Savior, the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the Hunters, the Mechanical Believers, War Orphans, the Machine Intelligence, the Anthropomorphic Front, and the Demi-Human World.
Secondly, there are wanted criminals like Odd Jobs, Esdeath, and Tohru, who only want to escape the game.
Finally, there are players with special needs, such as Sora, Homura Akemi, and the Gotei 13. Some of them want to annihilate the Judge so they can search for their friends and family without any scruples, while others simply have a grudge against a particular Judge and want to take the opportunity to retaliate.
"We have united all forces that can be united; this can be considered an achievement."
Yuki nodded in satisfaction. The time was too short. Elysia and her group had almost spread the Limit about their pyramid scheme, using up their long-standing network of connections, such as Shunsui Kyōraku and Homura Akemi, who were Yuki's own people.
He glanced at Toshiro, who was sizing him up. These Shinigami were simply there to seek revenge on Sōsuke Aizen, and there was definitely a traitor among them, but trapped in this private space, no news could get out.
With 1,131 players at monster level or above, including 28 at epic level, plus the 1,720 players of varying skill levels from Thorny Rose, this level of combat strength is barely sufficient.
This reveals the pyramid structure of the Reincarnation Game: epic-level players are one in a hundred, while thousands of Transcendental Grade- level players are of little use.
There are more players on this side, but their quality is far inferior to that of the Judge. This is not a matter of individual skill, but rather because most of the players have never even met each other, let alone cooperated.
Compared to the formidable army in "No One Survives," the players are indeed a rabble. I don't have time to forge them into an ironclad force. Forming ranks is out of the question; if casualties are too high, their morale will be hard to guarantee.
Yuki sighed. Now that he knew his enemy and himself, he already had a plan of how to fight.
Let's take advantage of the terrain and fight a chaotic battle.
A gentle breeze rustled the blossoms on the branches, and the entire space was deathly silent as everyone waited for 'Taiyi' to give his instructions. Yuki's thoughts were extremely scattered until his senior nudged him in the back, bringing him back to his senses.
Well, I have to say something eventually.
Yuki scanned the faces, suddenly finding himself at a loss for words. This kind of long-winded speech was never his style, and he didn't know what to say to a group of battle-hardened players. After a few seconds of silence, he had an idea.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have good news. The operation of Forgotten Hidden Jianghu has been successful. The two Grand Inquisitors, Eternal Torture and Undying Sin Lizard, are no longer able to participate in the final battle."
Most players were unaware of the 'Forgotten Hidden Jianghu' incident. After a few seconds of hesitation, they clenched their fists and cheered.
Good news, the Judge's strength has already decreased by 20% before the battle even started.
"The second piece of good news is that the Outpost of the Thorny Rose has absolute authority. Unless the Reincarnation Game itself opens the passage, no Judge can enter. In other words, we have plenty of time to prepare for the four return phases."
The cheers grew even louder, sweeping away the previous gloom. The advantage was already in our hands before the fight even started. As for the Knight King, a natural-born commander, he had a strange expression.
Having grown accustomed to inspiring pre-battle speeches, this was the first time I'd heard such a blunt statement that "the advantage is on our side" right off the bat.
"The third piece of good news." Yuki extended his third finger, pointed to his brow, and said arrogantly, "I am Taiyi, the strongest Reincarnator, the mortal enemy of the Reincarnation Game. Countless powerful enemies have perished under my blade. The path forward has been cut off by me, and the rule that players cannot surpass the Epic level was also established by me."
The atmosphere grew Incandescence. As the saying goes, a person's reputation is like a tree's shadow. Why do so many people dare to bet their lives and fortunes on it? It's because Yuki is 'Taiyi,' this legendary figure.
The players present were all somewhat familiar with the legends. The Reincarnators were products of the next stage, and the strongest Reincarnator was an existence beyond their comprehension. Even though He was bound by this rule, He must have had some backup plan.
"The fourth piece of good news is that I have completed the construction of the battlefield for you all. This Outpost is far beyond your imagination."
Yuki snapped his fingers, and the sky transformed into a curtain of light, allowing Ayanokoji and the others to stand tall, for within that curtain of light were individual private spaces.
Each player has their own private space, which varies depending on the size of the player team. The appearance of these private spaces is incredibly diverse, but no one has ever seen one this large.
One hundred square kilometers? Is that a player team of tens of thousands? No, that doesn't make sense; the Thorny Rose doesn't have that many people in total.
They didn't understand, but were deeply shocked. But what shocked them even more was yet to come.
The exclusive space is attached to the Outpost, and its size is insignificant; it can be destroyed from the outside. Yuki has seen many displaced players.
There is no absolutely safe place in the Reincarnation Game; both inside and outside the dungeons are hell, but the exclusive space here is ridiculously hard.
"So, we're guaranteed to win?"
"To be precise, I'm destined to win." Yuki looked over and lowered his voice. "But you have to fight for your own wishes. I have no obligation to pave the way for you, and the Judge won't give you a chance to explain. Now that you're on board, go all in and fight to the very end."
It turns out that the earlier statement about 'the advantage being mine' was all a setup for this final paragraph.
Artoria snapped out of her daze. This was an emphasis on the issue of their respective identities. 'Taiyi' was not the liberator, not the commander, and certainly not someone who needed their help. On the contrary, it was everyone who needed Taiyi.
He was all alone, and no matter what, he couldn't lose. But if he lost this battle, everyone would be doomed.
Don't think that the Return Faction's rise and fall are all the same to him. In his eyes, there is no Return Faction, and 'Taiyi' doesn't need to follow him closely or be regarded as the leader of the alliance.
"You came here for your freedom and your dreams, and I'm responsible for providing you with the best platform, uniting players with the same ideas, and ultimately giving you the opportunity to achieve your ideals." Yuki kept his voice low, letting his cold and rational words penetrate everyone's ears.
"Now, the best conditions have been created. Whether you can seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity depends on you. Don't forget, the Reincarnation Game cannot erase my existence. The worst outcome is that I will return after a few Borderlands years."
This made many people realize the truth: Taiyi is immortal, but we only have one life. Taiyi has done everything in his power to create the best conditions.
Yuki walked forward, and the crowd parted in front of him. Of course, he was just bragging; he was not 'Taiyi' at all.
But what others don't know is that any inspiring speech will vanish under the weight of absolute power. He has no obligation to bear everyone's hopes; it's too heavy a burden. Why should I be the savior?
Some things are better explained by breaking them down and explaining them in detail.
"From a bewildered newcomer to your current level, you should understand that there is no savior in the Reincarnation Game. Any powerful figure who offers help is only trying to exploit your value and covet your resources."
Yuki walked quietly, thinking of Thomas and Li Dan. The weak don't deserve to be taken care of by good people. On the contrary, the weak are trying every means to cling to the powerful. If an old player is enthusiastically taking care of a newbie, then nine times out of ten they are preparing to use you as cannon fodder.
"The so-called final battle is actually no different from a dungeon quest. It's just that you choose to stand on the opposite side of the Reincarnation Game. He will do everything in his power to annihilate you. What you need to do is break his claws one last time and obtain true redemption from then on. So--"
Yuki walked to the end of the garden, turned around, and faced the silent players.
"Don't think about fighting for me, fight for yourselves."
He finished speaking; it wasn't particularly exciting, but it simply stated a Truth:
There's no sense of mission, no fatalism; everyone's fighting for survival and freedom, so don't even think about clinging to 'Taiyi's' coattails.
Everyone participated voluntarily. Yuki doesn't need anyone to idolize her, nor is she obligated to live up to their expectations.
Fighting for survival, fighting for themselves, Taiyi has a way out, they are immortal. It's like entering an extremely difficult dungeon, where you either return or die.
Silence, coldness, rationality, but with an even more resolute gaze—this was not a battle between two armies, but a simple yet brutal transaction.
Using his life as fuel, he illuminates the path to freedom. Taiyi's responsibility lies solely in delivering the final blow. If he cannot even light the way, he should not be expected to burn himself Taiyi.
These words clarified the question of who was seeking help, changing the nature of the entire war. The players were now worried that they hadn't done enough, and that Taiyi might just run away. Would the Reincarnation Game let them off the hook then?
"Yuki, you're just like a non-stick pan," Elysia muttered quietly, but her expression was quite serious.
She could tell that Yuki wouldn't run away, but if the players present were truly hopeless, no one could find fault with them running away.
"We're partners, fighting for ourselves, our comrades, and our ideals. If we don't give it our all, what right do we have to expect others to sacrifice themselves?" Yuki held high. This was another reason he chose Thorny Rose.
All communication mediums have been sealed off; this place is a cage waiting for a tiger to enter. You either get eaten or you kill the tiger; there is no third option.
"Put yourself in a do-or-die situation and you'll survive." Shiki Ryougi sighed softly. She was mentally prepared, but most players weren't so clear-headed.
They thought that by uniting around Taiyi and following Taiyi into battle, they could gain benefits, but Yuki's words just now brought everyone to their senses.
I'm going to fucking piss you off! Don't even think about hiding in the back and getting away with it. If you piss me off, I'll just run away, and you're all doomed.
"Once you're on board, don't even think about getting off. What kind of redemption is it to seek salvation while placing your hopes on others?" Yuki sneered, not caring if the other players heard. He snapped his fingers, Truth's Eye transmitted an image from afar.
The Forgotten Hidden Jianghu has been turned into a molten lava field, with almost no intact mountain peaks in sight, and corpses from both sides littering the ground.
The fluttering Nether Butterfly were like atomic bombs, capable of melting everything within a kilometer after they exploded; the Undying Sin Lizard grew five heads and swallowed and chewed up nearby players.
The crowd was chilled to the bone. Dozens of players were dying every second, yet they rushed forward like moths to a flame.
Are these people crazy?
The images clearly show that there are many players, but their quality is very poor. They are literally using their flesh and blood to block the enemy's advance, yet they don't seem to be being controlled by anyone.
The sky has cracked open, and the connection point is gradually appearing. This strange phenomenon fills everyone with hope, as if they can escape the nightmare if they fight for just a few more minutes.
Yuki wasn't just trying to motivate these people; he saw a black vortex emerging, and new Judge were joining the battlefield.
Their numbers were small, and they were clearly unwilling to commit more forces to this secondary battlefield, while the wounded Judge did not take the opportunity to rotate.
Is it a one-way channel?
Yuki obtained crucial information: the Outpost the Faction Judgment isolation was a one-way passage, even though the Reincarnation Game itself had opened it. This was understandable; He was afraid that the Judge wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure and would escape.
The best solution is to close the cage and let the two beasts fight to the very end.
The one-way channel increased reaction speed by 20%. The Judge were unwilling to invest more power and would not kill my main body, so they had no way to deal with the reincarnation items for the time being.
A series of messages flashed through Yuki's mind. The last one wasn't exactly an advantage, because without using 'Total Annihilation', Yuki would never be able to advance to the 'detachment' stage.
But why break away?
Smack
With a snap of his fingers, the image disappeared. Compared to talk-no-jutsu, Yuki prefers to use a powerful 'PowerPoint presentation'.
"See? There are countless players trying to escape the Reincarnation Game, but they don't have your luck. They have to risk their lives for a ticket."
No one accused Yuki of using players as cannon fodder. Even the 'Demon God Statue' only amplified desires. It was the desire to escape the cycle of Reincarnation Game that drove them like moths to a flame, like ants, leaving the Grand Inquisitor covered in wounds.
Without comparison, there is no sense of inadequacy. Suddenly, everyone felt incredibly lucky. They had the advantage of location, the right timing, and even 'Taiyi' personally overseeing them. What reason did they have to be afraid of death?
No, judging from the indiscriminate attacks of the Judge, they are already dead. Whether they live or die depends entirely on 'Taiyi's' final strike.
"See, it's that simple. Whether you stick your neck out or not, you're going to get stabbed anyway. You might as well risk your life against the Judge. Those weaker players can disregard their own lives, and so can they."
Yuki has achieved his goal. A seemingly insignificant move is actually closely related to the final battle. You may think I'm just diverting my forces, but in reality, I'm ensuring that the players participating in the final battle have no worries about their rear.
His fighting spirit was soaring, and the harsh reality outweighed all words. In just a few minutes, he had completed his battle mobilization, and there was nothing more to say.
"This is a death trap. Only one side can leave alive. Players of Epic Tier 3 and above, follow me. The rest of you, enter your positions according to the battle plan." Yuki raised his hand, looking at the silent players as if inspecting weapons of war.
He clenched his fists and gave each person a hard shove from behind.
"Let's smash our way through the cycle of reincarnation!"
"How did you do that?"
As the silent weapons of war dispersed, the Grand Inquisitors were left bewildered.
They saw through Taiyi's feint, realizing that Forgotten Hidden Jianghu was just a distraction. Their joy was short-lived, and they soon fell into confusion.
It was indeed bait. Forget about the key targets, there were hardly any epic-level powerhouses among them. The group consisted entirely of players who had been 'lured' from the Borderlands. This rabble had no courage to fight the Judge.
At a single command, the mob will disperse, and the two Grand Judges will be able to crush Taiyi's clone. Even if they manage to obtain a single fragment, it will allow Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge to pinpoint its location. At the very least, they can control the reincarnation artifacts and have ample time to study how to abort the ritual.
The Faction Judgment lasts for two hours. If Taiyi launches a decisive battle during this period, the two nearly unscathed Grand Inquisitors will serve as reserves, joining the battlefield as reinforcements.
Even such a simple script could go wrong. There was indeed no ambush on the battlefield, but that rabble became the main characters, desperately trying to stop the Judge like madmen.
It's really a difficult choice.
Aizen rested his chin on his hand, his palm rising and falling gently, as if he were hesitant.
It was indeed bait, but it wasn't just the Judge that were being lured in; it also targeted millions of ordinary players. While they were caught off guard and analyzing the situation, a large number of players entered the Outpost. If the Faction Judgment hadn't been carried out, who knows how many more would have flooded in.
He thought that 'Taiyi' was forcing the Judge to take action, and he also thought that 'Taiyi' was testing the reaction of the Reincarnation Game. But he never expected that this rabble would actually become the protagonist.
Light cannons and magic rained down like raindrops. The Grand Inquisitor could withstand a hundred attacks without taking damage, but what about a thousand or ten thousand? It was like a pile of Living Corpse; sooner or later, it would wear him down.
"That Reincarnation Item is problematic." Aizen to the Demon God Statue. The latest investigation report is out. By devouring souls and searching memories, they discovered that these players really have nothing to do with Taiyi.
"They just want to hitch a ride. They have no reason to sacrifice themselves for Taiyi. That artifact amplified their desire to return. Anyone who dares to stop them will face their wrath."
"It's precisely because it's not a genjutsu that it's troublesome. My men tried seventeen different ways to dispel it, but none of them worked." Uchiha Madara helplessly. This kind of voluntary suicide is completely different from being passively controlled.
"Also, they are temporarily unable to gain control of the reincarnation artifacts."
Hades and the Undying Sin Lizard finally managed to reach the vicinity of the Demon God Statue, and their move to cut off everyone's retreat drove the players even more frantic.
"To stop the ritual, at least the activator must be eliminated, and then 'Taiyi' went into hiding." Aizen wanted to curse him for being despicable and shameless. How could a legendary figure hide behind a bunch of cannon fodder? He had no shame whatsoever.
But he knew complaining was useless, so he rubbed his throbbing temples.
"There are three options. First, halt the ceremony and wake these fools from their delusions."
"Second, once the Faction Judgment is over, let them get away as soon as possible, and don't waste too much energy on these cannon fodder."
"Third, we must commit our full strength to exterminate these ants."