Could This Get Any Less Human? (Thanks to Lingxiao.Mo for the generous support)

I saw GG on the projection.

They both fell silent.

Queenie stared at the guy for about three seconds, her gaze moving from the Architect's name to the type column, and then noticing the unarmed combat listed next to the type column.

She suddenly turned her head to look at Yan Fushou.

Then—they discovered that Yan Fushou's eyes had also widened, his face filled with shock.

She was even more shocked than he was.

Queenie was stunned, but still asked, "You gave Lu Xiu the framework for Prison Rock's dungeon?! You actually let Architect like that imitate Prison Rock's dungeon?!"

"It has been given."

Yan Fushou subconsciously replied, "I did send her a copy a few days ago."

"You can imitate that in just a few days?!"

Queenie murmured, her eyes filled with disbelief, "Your chief Architect —is this efficient?!"

This moment.

She felt a burning pain on her face.

She had just said that even Lu Xiu couldn't have made it that quickly—and the next second, Lu Xiu's alternate version of the story appeared.

"----It's highly likely unrelated to your Prison Rock dungeon."

Yan Fushou snapped out of his reverie, glanced at Queenie's expression, guessed what she was thinking, and gently shook his head. "If you understood Lu Xiu, you would understand this."

That's all.

He showed an expression that Queenie had never seen before.

It was a mixture of joy and helplessness, like gritting your teeth, yet also hiding a vague sense of relief.

It's like not knowing whether to cry or laugh.

Seeing his expression, Queenie figured he was probably making excuses for Lu Xiu.

What a coincidence!

But she didn't say anything more, only continued to stare at the projection in mid-air—a vague unease welled up in her heart.

Wow, that was fast.

Wow, they finished it so quickly!

If it were Lu Xiu, the best Architect in Nine Provinces, personally imitating the Prison Rock dungeon, to what extent could she achieve?

It won't be any worse than the original Prison Rock dungeon, will it?

But on the other hand, Queenie felt an irrepressible surge of secret joy.

This genius Architect, who was unparalleled in Nine Provinces, ultimately had to imitate the dungeon design of Prison Rock!

Although Zane and Ray were indeed beaten so badly by Lu Xiu that they had to run away in terror.

But at least for this moment— Lu Xiu's new instance proves that in a proper combat instance, Prison Rock is still superior!

As for Sekiro ----

Sekiro isn't a combat instance!

Clang, clang, clang.

Strange monsters were everywhere.

I have no idea what they're doing!

Thinking about this...

Queenie, who hasn't finished Sekiro yet, is a bit resentful.

On the other side.

Yan Fushou glanced at Queenie, taking in the complex emotions of unease and secret delight in her eyes, but said nothing.

My time in Nine Provinces was still too short.

At the same time.

It wasn't just the interrogation room of the Coordination Bureau.

In the bustling streets of Chen Capital, at the dock square of the Old Sea, and in the Four Continents subway station—on all the system projections throughout the entire Nine Provinces Region, this GG appeared simultaneously.

The system deliberately blocked Lu Xiu.

It was clearly not really to disgust her.

And very soon.

--

The projected image flickered.

The promotional text for the copy disappeared, Take Their Place by a new line of text.

[Fan-made copy: Sifu.]

[The Architect's real-time verification of completing the level is about to play!]

When that familiar guy appeared.

Then I saw that familiar message again. "The Architect's real-time verification screen for completing the game is about to play."

forum.

The players who were enthusiastically discussing the Prison Rock dungeon suddenly changed their minds.

[Holy crap! What am I seeing?! Is this a live tutorial?!]

[No way? Lu Xiu is also participating? Doesn't that kill the competition?]

[Wait! No! Lu Xiu is also joining this hand-to-hand combat style?! That's terrible! Can an ordinary person withstand what she's doing?]

[I knew it! I knew that releasing the Prison Rock dungeon framework was never a good thing! Now look what's happened, it's brought out that tormentor!]

[The Prison Rock instance is a back-and-forth battle, with Lu Xiu personally taking action—I can already imagine the despair of not even knowing how you died.]

[No! I don't want Lu Xiu!]

[Speaking of which, this should be the second time Lu Xiu's verification of passing the level has been released, right?]

[Indeed, and it was footage from a combat instance. Titanfall was primarily a gun-based game, so we've never really seen Lu Xiu clear a combat instance before. I'm still wondering—how did she even beat Sekiro?]

[Damn, the Wolf Played by the Constructor, is still chasing me—but I have to admit, it's really intriguing.]

[Indeed, I didn't see any Outlast either—I'd like to see how Lu Xiu clears this combat instance!]

[----]

The timing was probably just too coincidental.

At this moment, most players still believe that Lu Xiu is a new dungeon based on the framework of Prison Rock.

So the forum was filled with shock and lamentation.

After all, when they discussed the Prison Rock instance, they used Lu Xiu's instance as a reference throughout.

Now the main party is directly involved.

alright.

With a snap.

Everyone thought it was all over.

certainly.

That's only one aspect; another is probably curiosity.

Lu Xiu's first real public display of force was during a special event in front of Lei and Zane, but very few people witnessed it at the time.

As the most mysterious Architect to date, her only real combat instance is Sekiro.

But Sekiro is enough to make someone unforgettable for a lifetime—especially that special enemy added at the end, which is now the nightmare of all players who have completed Sekiro.

How exactly did she clear the combat dungeon?

Everyone wants to know.

However, things are not so good for some people compared to the average player.

That's right.

Those Architect who had just thought they had found a new way out and were ready to make their mark in the new dungeon arena, suddenly felt their vision go black the moment they saw the system projection GG!

The Spirit Pivot Construction Group.

Jin Yi, who was just discussing with his Architect how to use the Pursuer to create a sense of oppression, stumbled upon seeing GG, feeling as if struck by lightning, and almost fell to the ground.

Lu Xiu!

It's Lu Xiu again!

The name was like an insurmountable mountain, casting a suffocating shadow and pressing down on him.

He even felt like he couldn't breathe properly.

Even if we know nothing about the instance at this moment.

But the moment I saw Lu Xiu's new dungeon type...

Jin Yi felt that everything was over.

No matter what I do, it's all over.

Because if Lu Xiu also follows the framework of the Prison Rock's Rock dungeon...

That means they won't even have a chance to drink the soup!

Because they were on the same track, as long as Lu Xiu made a move, no matter how exquisite their creations were, they would be instantly overshadowed and become a complete joke.

At the same time.

Not only Jin Yi, but all the other Architect who looked up at the projection also experienced a sudden blackout.

At that moment, I felt only despair.

Many Architect even resented the system—why did it even need advertising?!

Why can't we immerse ourselves in this moment a little longer?

Why can't we wait until we've created the copy before you tell us this?

In this almost suffocating atmosphere.

Time passed by, second by second.

Countless Architect at this moment resembled death row inmates awaiting trial.

Meanwhile, the ordinary players stared at the projection with a complex mix of fear and excitement.

In the interrogation room, Queenie and Yan Fushou remained silent.

Everyone is waiting.

The Architect awaits [Sifu] to verify the completion screen.

finally.

After a wait that felt like an eternity...

The text on all system projections suddenly disappeared.

Then, the screen lit up.

But what first assaults everyone's senses is not the visuals, but the sound.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The frenetic and deafening bass-heavy electronic dance music seemed to strike directly at the audience's hearts.

The image gradually becomes clearer from pure black.

Then an underground nightclub appeared on the system projection.

Psychedelic neon spotlights flashed wildly in the dimly lit space.

Even through the screen, you can almost smell the alcohol and the chaotic atmosphere in the air.

Bang.

As the door was pushed open.

Lu Xiu, playing the main character of the story, strode into the nightclub, dressed in an extremely smart black short-sleeved training outfit, her hair simply tied back.

In this chaotic nightclub.

Her simple, old-fashioned attire seemed out of place.

As the nightclub doors, which had been pushed open, closed again, several burly men, as big as iron towers, noticed the protagonist played by Lu Xiu and then emerged from the shadows, cursing and swearing.

And as they moved.

All the players in front of the projection clearly saw that blazing flames suddenly erupted from the arm of one of the burly men, even scorching and distorting the surrounding air.

The other burly man's skin crackled with violent, eerie blue arcs of electricity, which struck the ground, leaving charred craters with every step he took.

Obviously.

These are no ordinary thugs.

Upon seeing this, the forum posts exploded once again.

[A superpowered enemy?! Holy crap! I'm not going to have to fight this thing with my bare hands, am I?----]

[It's okay, as long as it's the same dungeon framework as Prison Rock, you can fight it. How can you get good rewards if the enemies aren't strong?]

[No, buddy, this is Roleplay Instance!!! Didn't you guys check the genre?]

[----ha?]

Even if it's just Roleplay Instance, the protagonist should have some skills, right? They wouldn't fight superpowered enemies bare-handed, would they? That's impossible for a human to overcome.

[Yes, yes, there must be some kind of mechanism involved.]

[Wait a minute! What kind of mechanics can be added with bare hands?! No, is this Roleplay Instance?! Are you sure?!]

[I think the question you should be asking is, did this really reference the Prison Rock's Rock dungeon framework? Will Lu Xiu really use the Prison Rock's Rock dungeon framework? After all, that's a normal dungeon! Roleplay Instance, unarmed... I already have a bad feeling about this----]

And seeing this scene...

Queenie in the Coordination Bureau was also taken aback.

Why are the enemies in the dungeon a bit ridiculous?

Also, why are there so many enemies?! Are they besieging us?!

This is Roleplay Instance.

Wait a minute—this doesn't seem like the Prison Rock instance.

Queenie stared at the screen, a vague feeling that something was amiss.

Regardless of what others think.

In the picture.

The six or seven enemies had already surrounded them.

They all seemed to possess extraordinary skills.

And then they were surrounded by such a large group of superpowered individuals.

Lu Xiu simply raised her hand and clenched her fist.

However, there was no trace of any skill being activated on his body.

This happened in an instant.

Everyone realized something was wrong.

The enemy subtly formed an encirclement, trapping the protagonist, played by Lu Xiu, in the center.

Next.

One of the burly men, his body wreathed in flames, roared and charged forward.

At the same time, he raised his fiery fist, which seemed capable of smashing through steel plates, and with a shrill whistling sound, it smashed straight towards Lu Xiu's head like a cannonball!

Lu Xiu stood still, making no move to dodge.

Just as that fiery fist was about to touch her face!

She suddenly moved, but didn't unleash any skills, nor did anything on her body light up that indicated extraordinary power.

She simply turned her body slightly, twisted her head, and her left hand reached out like a dragon, the back of her hand landing with incredible precision on the burly man's raging, fiery wrist at an unbelievable angle.

Then, with an extremely smooth and silky touch, a pull.

Snap!

Accompanied by a crisp sound of limbs crossing.

The overwhelming fiery fist was instantly deflected from its original trajectory by Lu Xiu's nonchalant dodge, grazing her face and slamming into empty air!

The burly man, having missed his target with all his might, lost his balance and stumbled forward.

Lu Xiu, following the immense force she had perfectly Neutralize, suddenly twisted her waist, like a fully drawn bow!

Then! He lunged forward!

Elbows, knees, and short punches rained down on the big man's joints, throat, and ribs in less than a second!

Each strike was accompanied by a sickeningly loud cracking sound of bones shattering!

Under Lu Xiu's fluid and effortless combo attacks, the enemy didn't even have time to scream before collapsing to the ground like a lump of mud.

now.

All players standing in front of the projection: "6"

Barehanded!!!

no.

Do you really have to fight it with your bare hands?

Wrong!

----It seems she's not just stubbornly enduring it!

But is that right??? Are we really going to have to rely solely on skill and a mortal body to fight superhuman enemies???

On the projection.

Lu Xiu was given absolutely no time to catch her breath.

The burly man who unleashed the Flaming Fist hadn't even completely crashed to the ground yet.

Behind Lu Xiu, an enemy whose body was crackling with eerie blue arcs of electricity rushed towards her with a deafening roar of thunder!

A frenzied, thunderous punch tore through the air, heading straight for Lu Xiu's head!

In the blink of an eye.

Lu Xiu's feet shifted slightly, and her upper body suddenly turned to the side with an extremely extreme range.

The heavy fist, crackling with terrifying arcs of electricity, barely grazed her nose!

A violent blue arc of electricity danced and flickered wildly before her eyes, illuminating them with a deep blue light.

Even through the screen, every player could feel the deadly pressure as that punch grazed their face!

If you're even a fraction of a second slower, your head will be instantly shattered by the raging thunder!

But Lu Xiu's eyes showed no sign of panic; instead, they were full of eager anticipation.

Just as she dodged the thunderous punch to the side!

The burly man reacted extremely quickly. His attack missed, and he immediately turned to the side, delivering a lightning-fast knee strike directly into Lu Xiu's delicate abdomen!

In the blink of an eye, he faced a thunderous knee strike powerful enough to shatter internal organs.

Lu Xiu adjusted her posture.

He pressed both hands down sharply.

Perfect timing, extremely precise angle.

With an extremely light touch, it flicked and guided outwards!

Snap!

The brutal knee strike grazed Lu Xiu's side.

The burly man, however, lost his balance instantly due to this slight shift in force, his massive body tilting uncontrollably to one side, revealing a fatal opening.

The next second.

Lu Xiu spun around, her shoes screeching against the floor. Then, her right leg shot out like a steel whip, whistling through the air with a sharp sound, delivering a perfectly executed side kick!

Bang!

The burly man was immediately flung away like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into a booth some distance away, his fate unknown.

Others in front of the projector:

97

And this is just the beginning.

The fact that their companion was kicked away did not deter the remaining superpowered thugs; instead, it seemed to fuel their ferocity.

The remaining enemies roared and charged in from all directions at the same time!

Flames, thunder, water ripples, and limbs hardened like steel.

A variety of chaotic superpower attacks completely enveloped Lu Xiu's figure.

But under the watchful eyes of all viewers throughout Nine Provinces.

Lu Xiu showed everyone what it means to Neutralize.

There was no dazzling skill, no extraordinary aura, only pure technique.

Facing the fiery punch aimed at her temple, she merely tilted her head slightly, and with her right hand, she casually grabbed the enemy's wrist, pressing down and pulling it.

The enemy's attack ridiculously slid to the ground, and she took the opportunity to deliver a short punch to the opponent's chin.

Facing a whip kick aimed straight for her heart, she inexplicably twisted her waist, and with the back of her left hand against the outside of her opponent's calf, she pushed him away, using his momentum against him, causing him to split in two. The scream of his ligaments tearing immediately echoed throughout the nightclub.

Facing the wind blade grappling attack from behind, she didn't even turn her head. As if she had eyes in the back of her head, she crouched down at the extreme limit, followed by a step forward and an elbow strike that directly shattered the sternum of the enemy behind her!

The enemy uses various superpowers to attack.

But Lu Xiu was like a leaf dancing calmly in a storm, handling it with ease!

Mikiri Counter, deflect, Neutralize, intercept!

There was no indication that any of her skills were activated throughout the entire process.

Yes, it's all about Neutralize and neutralizing force time and time again, and using techniques that make your scalp crawl!

Flowing like clouds and water, pleasing to the eye.

----That is, none of the players know how it was done.

Less than five minutes.

While the nightclub's frenetic electronic bass continued to roar, there wasn't a single enemy left standing at the dance floor entrance.

The ground was littered with superpowered thugs groaning in pain.

"I want to take on ten of them, ten of them!"

Lu Xiu lowered her hand and seemed to say something.

But the image has already begun to shrink rapidly.

The nightclub's psychedelic spotlights froze, and Lu Xiu's figure also stopped moving.

Immediately afterwards.

The frozen image transformed into countless golden particles, which floated in mid-air for a moment before recombining and coalescing.

Ultimately, it transformed into two large, dark gold characters, sharp and powerful, exuding a chilling aura.

[Sifu]

Stay tuned.

This moment.

Both the players and the Architect standing in front of the projection fell silent.

No one cared what Lu Xiu's last words actually meant.

The scene of the battle that had just taken place was still vivid in everyone's minds!

forum.

[Grass!]

[This isn't how you play the Prison Rock's Rock dungeon at all!!! Are you kidding me? Is it really possible to win that way with bare hands? Without even a weapon?]

[Lu Xiu, are you kidding me?! Bare-handed! Fighting a superpowered enemy with your bare hands as the protagonist? And you don't even seem to have any skills, are you serious?]

[Lu Xiu, don't tell me!! Dungeons rely entirely on skill!! You just defeated the enemy entirely through skill!!!]

[It should be -- Lu Xiu's movements clearly lack any assistance or enhancement, and her strength attribute doesn't seem to be high either.]

[Wow, the Architect is that good? No wonder the Wolf Played by the Constructor was so ridiculous.]

There must be a mechanism involved! There absolutely must be one!

[Is there a mechanism for you to go there?]

[No way, I don't even know how players are supposed to clear the dungeon—it's not like Outlast where you just have to endure it.]

[I don't know either.]

All I know is that I don't want to go in.

[----]

On the other side.

The Architect who had been in despair just moments before were now completely dumbfounded, as if they had seen a ghost.

Jin Yi stared blankly at the now calm projection screen.

About a minute later.

He slowly lowered his head and glanced at the design document for the hand-to-hand combat dungeon on the window, looking at the ideas he considered brilliant and the mechanics he thought would definitely give players a run for their money.

Looking at it now.

Compared to the scene Lu Xiu just showed...

It looks just like a child's doodle.

no.

How can they be so inhumane?

Is it even possible to go this far?

It's truly a possibility I never imagined----

At the same time.

Interrogation room.

After watching the Architect's verification video, Queenie's mouth gaped open, as if she had seen a ghost.

After holding this position for about two seconds...

She whirled around to look at Yan Fushou: "What the hell is this?! This isn't how our dungeons are supposed to be!!! Roleplay Instance! We have to rely entirely on skill to fight superpowered enemies with our bare hands?! Are you kidding me?!"

"I told you so."

Yan Fushou rubbed his temples. "It has nothing to do with the Prison Rock instance."

She said her time in Nine Provinces was too short.