Betrayal

Everyone was suddenly stunned.

Then, instinctively, they all looked in the direction from which the roar came.

Lu Xiu also looked over curiously.

But as soon as I turned my head—a piercing sound, like a tangible blade, suddenly tore through the air along the entire block.

Two streaks of light, too fast for the naked eye to catch, rose from the other side of the street like shooting stars, hurtling Extreme Speed them with overwhelming force.

And in that instant when the flash appeared.

Everyone saw an extremely large phantom flash by.

It was a colossal creature shimmering with a cold, silvery light. Its body was long and winding, with ornate branches on its head that looked like they were formed from frost and snow, and its entire body was covered with fine scales that gleamed with an icy sheen.

It appeared in mid-air for less than half a second, yet its overwhelming aura made everyone hold their breath.

Boom!!!

Before everyone could recover from the shock of the enormous silver phantom,

The two flashes of light that had been intertwined in mid-air crashed down like meteorites onto the ground not far from Lu Xiu!

A deafening roar erupted.

The hard asphalt road surface collapsed and shattered instantly, and the violent shock wave, carrying with it dust and debris, splashed wildly in all directions like a raging torrent.

The center, shrouded in smoke and dust.

A slender figure slowly emerged from the swirling dust.

It was a girl in a dress, her long, silver hair reaching her waist swaying slightly in the raging wind, reflecting a cool, moonlit glow.

It's Jian Li.

At this moment, she was half-crouched on one knee at the bottom of the deep crater created by the impact.

That slender, pale right hand was gripping the neck of a burly Prison Rock player, forcefully shoving him into the cracked ground with extreme violence.

On her neck and cheeks, a few silver scales that had not yet completely faded were still faintly visible.

The player she was holding down, Prison Rock, had already reached the bottom of his health bar. His eyes were wide open, almost bulging out of their sockets, filled with extreme terror and helpless despair. He was making gurgling sounds of despair in his throat.

The next second.

Jian Li lowered her beautiful, emotionless eyes slightly, and her five fingers exerted force without any mercy.

Click.

A sharp, chilling sound of bone cracking rang out clearly.

The player Prison Rock was instantly snapped in two, his neck twisted into a bizarre angle.

His burly body convulsed suddenly, then went completely limp, transforming into countless white streaks of light that vanished between Jian Li's fingers.

".

Jian Li confirmed the death of the person opposite her and slowly stood up from the deep pit.

A gentle breeze blows.

As her skirt fluttered, the girl's porcelain-white, exquisitely beautiful face was completely exposed to the sunlight.

On her cool and exquisitely beautiful profile, there were still traces of warm, not-yet-dried blood belonging to her enemies.

In front of Fan Lixin.

The female player from Prison Rock, who had been struggling to hold on and even trying to direct everyone's retreat just a second ago, suddenly widened her eyes again.

Her gaze pierced through the billowing dust, fixing on the silver-haired girl who had stood up.

Then, as if belatedly realizing something extremely terrifying, Tong Kong trembled violently and turned to look around the battlefield.

Because of Lu Xiu's appearance.

She hadn't even noticed before—the number of people was wrong.

Aside from those who were previously killed, the number of Prison Rock players remaining on the battlefield at this moment doesn't add up at all!

There are six fewer Prison Rock players.

And those six players who disappeared from the Prison Rock—

She stiffly turned her neck and looked again at the silver-haired girl in the dress who looked even smaller and more delicate than the Architect.

Jian Li, whose cheek was smeared with blood, happened to raise her eyes and look at her at that moment.

The female player from Prison Rock gripped her weapon tightly, feeling a chill that seemed to rise from the depths of her soul.

Will to fight? To continue the battle? Or to buy time?

These thoughts had vanished after Lu Xiu killed Lei, and now—the thought of escaping, with Jian Li's appearance, had also completely burst like a bubble.

At that moment, she even lost the will to resist.

Because the situation has completely slid into the Abyss of despair.

If she was like this, then the rest of the Prison Rock players were even more so.

Despair spread like a plague through the hearts of the remaining players in Prison Rock.

It's one thing if the Architect can fight!

Now we have a top-tier player who can take on six opponents at once!

Even if they manage to break through, so what? If they're being hunted down—can they really hold out until the special event ends against such an opponent? These were the thoughts that crossed their minds.

The outcome is no longer in doubt.

Because Lu Xiu and Jian Li were eyeing each other covetously.

The situation on the battlefield has completely turned into a one-sided reaping!

Boom!

The crimson flames beneath Wei Yidong's feet and the blazing fire on his spear erupted instantly, piercing straight through the chest of the scarred giant before him with an unparalleled ferocity.

The violent physical kinetic energy and extremely high temperature instantly destroyed the giant's life force.

But he did not collapse immediately.

The burly Prison Rock Warrior stood like a charred iron tower, leaning on his heavy Great Axe with one hand, as solid as a rock.

Health points are rapidly depleting.

The scarred giant's bloodshot, resentful eyes peered over the smoldering sparks, first glancing at Lu Xiu, who stood unharmed in the distance, knife in hand, before finally settling his gaze on Wei Yidong before him.

"I refuse to accept this!"

He forced out his last words through gritted teeth, tinged with resentment. "We lost this special event, but we'll see each other again soon—see you in the new version!!!"

The moment the words left his mouth.

His imposing figure then transformed into a sky full of Bai Guang.

On the other side, Cheng Xiu's replica Kusabimaru simultaneously deflected his opponent's longsword and pierced his heart.

As the blade was withdrawn, the bear-like enemy clutched his chest and roared, "--We'll meet again, Lord Helag's dungeon! We absolutely cannot lose! Swords and polearms?! We'll be well prepared!"

Just wait!!!

I will get back up!!!

See you after the Iron and Blood version officially launches!

Then, he too transformed into a stream of white light.

Other members of the Strategy Group were also reaping the remaining players from Prison Rock one by one.

Those Prison Rock players who had originally come from afar with great momentum began to die one by one as their psychological defenses completely collapsed and the Strategy Group launched a coordinated counterattack.

Because Lu Xiu had just attracted too much of their attention.

Their health wasn't very good to begin with.

--A crushing defeat!

Seeing his teammates die one by one.

The female player facing Fan Lixin's Prison Rock finally realized what was happening.

She slowly shifted her gaze from Jian Li, who looked like the Grim Reaper, and instead stared intently at Lu Xiu not far away.

Lu Xiu remained standing there, but instead of glaring around menacingly, she looked at Jian Li and then revealed a thoughtful expression.

Then he suddenly chuckled softly.

Is it mockery?

The female player Prison Rock gritted her teeth upon seeing this.

If at first it was fear—now, with all escape routes cut off, with the shadow of death looming overhead, the shadow of losing all equipment and skills.

The fear in her eyes miraculously faded away.

You can't beat them, and you can't escape them.

If she dies here, the death penalty will wipe out all the equipment and skills she has painstakingly accumulated.

Although you lose those experiences, you still gain experience from clearing dungeons and can still grow stronger by quickly clearing them.

But to end up like this is undoubtedly a complete failure!

Just then...

With a roar, Fan Lixin raised his right fist, which he had been charging up to its limit, and with a terrifying white aura visible to the naked eye, he smashed it down on her like a heavy cannon fired from its barrel.

The force of the punch compressed the air, producing an extremely sharp sonic boom.

And at this unavoidable, critical moment...

The female player from Prison Rock immediately activated her skill, abruptly pulling back to create distance and dodge the punch.

Then he suddenly raised his hand, as if it had been planned all along.

"Nine Provinces System! I swear one oath!"

She stared at Lu Xiu not far away and shouted, "Abandon Prison Rock and join Nine Provinces!!!"

The words had barely left his mouth.

A window seemed to appear before her eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, the female player immediately confirmed, "Yes!"

[System Announcement: The player who crossed the line, "Queenie," has sworn allegiance to the Nine Provinces System!]

[System decision: Passed.]

[Faction switch completed.]

As soon as she finished speaking...

The announcement then began.

at the same time.

Boom!

A pillar of light, symbolizing the Nine Provinces faction, suddenly descended, enveloping the player named Queenie within it.

The dark red Title that originally represented the Prison Rock faction above her head was forcibly stripped away and erased during the beam of light.

Immediately afterwards, a second announcement was issued.

[Traitor status activated: Player "Queenie" has been removed from her original world registration and has automatically gained permanent player status in Nine Provinces.]

[For the next 24 hours, this player will receive a faction-switching shield granted by the system. During this period, no player from any of the Nine Provinces factions can inflict any damage that reduces their health.]

[Meanwhile, for 30 calendar days, this player will be unable to inflict any substantial damage on players of the Nine Provinces faction through physical means, skills, items, or any other means.]

The pillar of light that descended from the sky slowly receded.

Queenie was breathing heavily, and a faint, translucent blue shield was circulating around her body.

This moment.

Everyone present looked at her.

Fan Lixin slowly retracted his fist, looked at his opponent who was practically invincible, and after a moment of silence, asked, "What do you mean?"

"Your Architect is too good."

Queenie looked up and laughed, "This time, we had twenty top players, yet we couldn't even kill one of your Architect— "

I don't think Prison Rock has a chance of winning in the upcoming new version, so I'd like to join you guys. What do you think? Are you welcome?

I personally do not welcome this.

Fan Lixin shook his head directly. "Besides, I don't think that's what you think either, but that's not important, it's not my business."

That's all.

She looked at Cheng Xiu: "What do you mean?"

"--See if we can apply a layer of weakness to her first."

Cheng Xiu put away the replica weapon that had left him with psychological trauma, then looked at Queenie: "Continue with the report."

"What should I report!"

Wei Yidong shouted, "Just wait until 24 hours are up, then chop her up!!!"

"Ah Yi!"

Fan Lixin ignored Wei Yidong and simply shouted in the southeast direction.

Queenie listened to their conversation with a smile, but inwardly she began to consider whether or not to run away.

But all the players in Prison Rock have already died and returned to their original positions.

Now only she is left.

And all around—all around were members of the Strategy Group.

Although we can't harm her right now, we can definitely hold her off—she has no chance of escaping.

At that moment, they heard Fan Lixin calling out.

A round-faced girl in her early twenties came running quickly from the southeast, holding a handful of grayish-white powder in her hand.

--It looks like lime.

As she ran, she shouted, "What's wrong? What's wrong?"

Fan Lixin didn't waste any words, directly gesturing with his chin towards Queenie: "See if you can cast Weakness on her, the highest level possible."

"Uh--you're the one who surrendered?"

The girl called Ah Yi glanced at Queenie curiously, but without the slightest hesitation, she raised her hands.

Several illusory shackles suddenly appeared from the void.

Although the faction-switching shield prevented Queenie from taking any damage that reduced her health, this non-damaging negative status effect pierced through the pale blue barrier like a leech and entered her body.

Queenie looked down at herself, feeling her sudden weakness. Her expression changed, but she quickly returned to normal.

As she looked up, she met Lu Xiu's gaze from not far away.

The girl still held the Nameless Blade, her tall and graceful figure standing quietly on the battlefield.

Those beautiful, crimson eyes showed no contempt for her betrayal, only pure curiosity as they scrutinized her.

"Don't worry, when I said I'd join you, I meant it."

Queenie met Lu Xiu's gaze and smiled again, her tone full of sincerity. "Your Architect is really strong, and I believe the dungeons she builds are also very powerful, but even so, you don't have a sure chance of winning the new version, right?"

I have core information on all the unofficial dungeons in Prison Rock, including the talent and skill information of High Sequence players on our side. You guys should be interested in this, right?

"There's no other way to get this information except by asking me."

"And it's no exaggeration to say that this information will absolutely give you more confidence and a significantly higher chance of winning in the upcoming new version."

She had barely finished speaking.

Before the others could speak...

Another loud and cold mechanical system sound rang out without warning, echoing across the entire sky and in everyone's ears.

[System Announcement: Overstepping player "Zhang Chongshan" swears allegiance to the Prison Rock System]

[This player has relinquished their Nine Provinces player status and automatically gained permanent Prison Rock player status.]

moment.

The atmosphere, which had been relaxed after the complete annihilation of the Prison Rock players, instantly plummeted to freezing point.

The expressions on the faces of all the members of the Strategy Group turned extremely grim.

At this time...

Queenie laughed again, "Now, Prison Rock knows everything about the High Sequence players in Nine Provinces, and the situation in your civilian dungeons—do you understand now? Betrayal is part of the game. Do you still want to kill me?"