Shadows

A new day.

Lu Xiu got up early, changed into a simple pair of blue jeans and a white short-sleeved T-shirt, and tied her hair in a high ponytail, looking capable and neat. Apart from a black headband on her fair wrist, she did not wear any eye-catching decorations.

soon.

The match selection window popped up again.

Lu Xiu looked at the window in front of her and hesitated for a moment.

Yesterday she chose the [Attacking Side] mainly because she guessed that the players from Prison Rock were all attacking, while the players from Nine Provinces were all defending.

In that situation, the top players in Prison Rock wouldn't be so free on the first day; they would probably be doing some defensive work.

Given her skill level, the probability of her being matched with top-tier players in an attack is not high.

And today's words----

Lu Xiu thought about it carefully.

Judging from the forum, players in Prison Rock suffered heavy losses yesterday and will definitely adjust their strategies today.

But most likely it's just a matter of adjusting the strategy for choosing dungeons—the overall direction of the attack shouldn't change. After all, most Prison Rock players suffered huge losses yesterday, and they're probably all resentful. Asking them to defend is like asking them to swallow their pride and suffer in silence, and the vast majority of Prison Rock players probably can't swallow that insult.

Players in Nine Provinces benefited from playing defensively yesterday, and due to this momentum, they will likely continue to choose defense.

This means that the situation is unlikely to change much.

At least not in the morning.

Thinking about this...

Lu Xiu extended her fair finger and clicked on [Attacker] again.

soon.

A familiar window popped up.

Lu Xiu looked at the predictable bye notification, lowered her head, and let out a helpless "ha."

As expected, it still couldn't find a match.

"It seems that if I really want to experience firsthand how a dungeon functions as an arena—there's only one way left."

Lu Xiu casually scrolled past the match failure message, then opened the situation map and looked at the several red [occupied areas].

----The only option left is to play recapture battles, which are not subject to regular matchmaking restrictions.

However, Lu Xiu did not rush to initiate the recapture.

The system rules clearly state that during a recapture operation, the occupying side can designate personnel for targeted defense.

Therefore, you'll most likely encounter top-tier players with high skill levels.

Although this is only the second day of the arena's opening, Prison Rock will most likely still focus on collective attacks—it's impossible to let the top players do nothing and just wait for Nine Provinces to reclaim it. However, Prison Rock's defenders are definitely not weak, and encountering tough opponents is almost a certainty. They can't just go in unprepared; they need to prepare properly.

Of course, she actually had another, safest option.

That means doing absolutely nothing.

He will not participate in any match.

It doesn't match anyway.

But once such a crossover activity happens once, it will definitely happen again.

She's now a core Architect of Nine Provinces —if after the arena period ends, she's completely clueless about how her own instance works as a scene in the arena, that would be too ridiculous.

At the same time.

In the Cross-Realm Arena, players who have successfully matched up have entered the preparation phase.

A pure white Waiting Space.

A window floats in mid-air, displaying the dungeons available for selection in this arena.

Several fully armed players from the Prison Rock attacking team stared at the grayed-out options above, their faces grim.

"Did they really think they could keep winning?" A player from Prison Rock gritted his teeth and cursed, "Less than a second! They made the decision! They disabled all the lowest-rated dungeons!"

At this point, only four of the seven available copies remain.

The ratings are all quite high: two are SS-level, one is S-level, and one is A-level.

Nine Provinces's strategy is exactly the same as yesterday's.

Another player from Prison Rock, his face darkening, replied, "Because most of us lost yesterday, of course they dare."

If this had happened yesterday, when the arena had just opened, they would have been overjoyed to see this scene and would have chosen those two SS-level dungeons Don't Look.

But today—the atmosphere in the pure white space felt exceptionally heavy and oppressive.

The players in the Prison Rock dungeon stared at the two SS-level dungeons, none of them considering choosing one.

Yesterday was just too terrible.

After yesterday's extremely fierce first day of battles, most players in Prison Rock now know what the SS-level unofficial dungeons in Nine Provinces are all about!

That's not a normal instance at all!

Their chief Architect, Helag, also participated in matchmaking yesterday, similarly choosing the SS-rank dungeon—but whether he's withdrawn or discouraged, he hasn't shown up yet!

"SS-rated dungeons cannot be selected."

At this moment.

Gran, who had been silent since the beginning, took a deep breath, suppressing the humiliation in his heart, and said, "I saw the Royal Court's battle report yesterday. Basically, those who chose SS dungeons lost. [Titanfall], [Sifu], and [Sekiro] are all unselectable."

If you choose these dungeons, you'll basically be toyed with by players from Nine Provinces. They know the dungeon mechanics too well; we can't beat them!

Now, looking back on yesterday's arena...

Gran still felt ashamed and indignant.

--They didn't even manage to touch the hem Nine Provinces a player's clothes! They were killed directly by the dungeon enemies!

I can't even beat the enemies in the dungeon!

However, it was precisely because of this experience that...

He finally realized just how terrifying the Nine Provinces dungeons were.

Although I'm unwilling to admit it.

But by this point he had come to agree with what Zane had said: the Architect and dungeons of Nine Provinces were all wrong!

----You must choose a dungeon where you can face off against players from Nine Provinces.

Today we'll choose S-rank and A-rank dungeons.

Gran's gaze shifted from the SS-level dungeon options, finally settling on the remaining two. "I don't believe the Architect of Nine Provinces can make all their dungeons that ridiculously overpowered. As long as Nine Provinces players don't have a dungeon advantage and fight us head-on, we won't lose!"

Upon hearing this, the other players in the Prison Rock all fell silent.

Although I felt very bad and somewhat resentful.

After all, they all chose the SS-rank instance yesterday—and then they all lost, suffering huge losses.

However, it must be admitted that Gran, a star player in the Prison Rock, made a lot of sense.

Seeing their expressions, Gran added, "I know you're unwilling to accept this—but as long as we win enough, we'll make up for the losses!"

"Then let's choose."

Upon hearing this...

No one objected anymore.

Gran took a deep breath, no longer hesitating, and chose the S-rank dungeon [Resident Evil] and the A-rank dungeon [Simple Sifu].

At the same time.

The Nine Provinces faction.

Upon seeing Prison Rock's choice, one of the Nine Provinces players' faces immediately fell. "Damn! They changed their tune today, they actually gave up on the SS dungeon, they're done for! I was planning to do another run."

"This is a bit troublesome."

Another player also looked serious. "If the system selects the Simple Sifu —after all, that's not Lu Xiu's dungeon, but a lower-level alternative dungeon. The enemies' attack desires and moves are much weaker compared to the original Sifu, and there are basically no enemies that can be fought."

Our geographical advantage will become very small, and we'll have to fight those Prison Rock players face-to-face.

Compared to the dungeon constructed by Lu Xiu.

The number of instances Construction Club is indeed large—both sides have a lot of room for direct confrontation.

"That's normal. After being ripped off so badly yesterday, unless the players in Prison Rock have lost their minds, they definitely won't choose high-rated dungeons again today."

A young man in a white training uniform stood in front of all the Nine Provinces players and cracked his knuckles. "But don't be afraid! Even in a normal fight, we might not necessarily lose!"

He had barely finished speaking.

The countdown has ended.

The match is officially started.

As expected, the system randomly generated an A-level dungeon.

[Scene locked: Rank A dungeon - [Simple Sifu]!]

A flash of Bai Guang followed.

Players from Nine Provinces collectively appeared in the slums.

"How do we fight then, Boss Du Shu?"

Looking at this scene, which was somewhat familiar...

One of the players, named Wen Tai, looked at Du Shu and continued the previous topic.

All the Nine Provinces players present recognized Du Shu and implicitly regarded him as their leader.

After all, the tutorial video he shared on the forum about the martial arts style of the Sifu's dungeon is still up there.

"First, let's confirm what skills you have."

Du Shu cracked his neck, making a crisp snapping sound, then reached out and unbuttoned a button at his collar. "This Simple Sifu's enemies aren't strong at all, especially compared to the original Sifu, but the map is still somewhat interesting."

"Skills—all the skills given in the Lu Xiu dungeon are included!"

"Me too."

The other Nine Provinces players immediately demonstrated the skills they possessed.

Du Shu looked at it and then asked, "Are there any items given as rewards for clearing the Outlast dungeon?"

Wen Tai paused for a moment, then rummaged through his backpack. "Yes, I have Exclusive Clue and the Breath of Life: Light."

The other players nodded in agreement.

"Take out your Breath of Life: Light."

Upon hearing this, Du Shu's eyes lit up, and he also took out the props from his backpack.

[Item: Breath of Life: Light]

[Effect Description: After use, the user's heartbeat, breathing, body temperature, breath, and footsteps are all suppressed below the environmental baseline for 5 seconds. The user becomes completely invisible to all enemies that rely on vital signs, heat sources, sound signatures, and scents for detection, and any locked-on status is forcibly removed.]

On the other side.

Gran, accompanied by four fully armed Prison Rock players, was traversing the dilapidated streets of the Squats.

At first, they were very cautious, and they would be on high alert whenever they encountered an enemy.

But as time went on...

Slowly.

They all relaxed.

After quickly dispatching several more dungeon enemies, one of the Prison Rock Warriors let out a long sigh of relief, a smug smile returning to his face, "Haha, Gran —this dungeon is nothing like yesterday's SS dungeon! It's incredibly easy! The enemies are all weak! And it feels a bit like Lord Helag's dungeon."

"That's right, now those Nine Provinces players can't use dungeon enemies and mechanics to affect us."

The other Prison Rock Warriors also smiled.

The formidable enemies from yesterday's dungeon are gone.

There are no messy or complicated mechanisms.

The confidence of this group of elite Prison Rock has returned.

"The terrain here is complex, with many shadowy blind spots. We're still two minutes away from the location reported by the system. Those with reconnaissance skills, don't let it stop."

As Gran walked, he reminded everyone, "Don't let your guard down, at least not until we've crushed the heads of those Nine Provinces players."

"Know."

Upon hearing this, the Prison Rock warriors became slightly more subdued.

Then, the two reconnaissance skills intertwined to form an impenetrable net, sweeping over the surrounding abandoned buildings, garbage dumps, and dark alleyways again and again.

However.

The detection skill gave no feedback whatsoever: no heat source reaction, no life fluctuations, no heartbeat, and not even the slightest trace of airflow.

----It was discovered that neither of the two players with the Detect skill on the Prison Rock reacted.

Gran's tense nerves finally relaxed completely.

The system will be announcing the location soon—those Nine Provinces players must be trembling with fear like rats, right?

Having lost their advantage in the dungeon! What will they use to fight us this time?

He strode forward, lost in thought.

The five players from Prison Rock, completely unprepared, exposed their backs to the shadow that had just been repeatedly struck by countless detection skills, and strode forward.

They had just stepped out of the shadows.

[Breath of Life: Light] The moment it's about to end!

In the dimly lit corner, the air suddenly distorted.

Wen Tai's figure appeared out of thin air like a ghost. He slowly walked out of the shadows without making a sound. He clenched his right fist, and the muscles of his entire right arm bulged high, like a fully drawn bow, pulling back to gather strength!

[Skill Name: Resentment]

[Description: Upon activation, the user's current defensive bonuses (equipment, skills) are forcibly cleared, and 50% of their maximum health is deducted. (This negative status effect is instantly removed after the attack action is completed, restoring maximum health, but the deducted current health is not refunded.)]

Locks onto a single target and launches a guaranteed hit unarmed attack. This attack deals 500% more base damage and ignores any defensive buffs on the target.

The instant the skill is activated.

Wen Tai's health points instantly dropped by half, but in return, a terrifying, violent energy surged forth, seemingly capable of tearing everything apart, and converged wildly on his charging right fist.

A light that dispels darkness.

It rose suddenly.

That was a light called power.

[Breath of Life: Light] End.

"Wait!! There's someone behind us!!"

One of the Prison Rock Warriors at the very back of the group immediately sensed something was wrong.

A sense of danger instantly enveloped him.

He immediately shouted, then turned around abruptly and activated his defensive skills.

But it was too late!

Wen Tai stomped his right foot on the ground, his whole body turning into a blurry Afterimage, and suddenly he closed in on the Prison Rock warrior!

"Take this!!!"

Wen Tai swung his right arm forward, unleashing a terrifying shriek that tore through the air, and delivered a powerful punch!

It's guaranteed to hit!

Ignore additional defense!

The player, a level 14 Prison Rock player covered in heavy armor, had no time to dodge effectively. He could only instinctively cross his thick arms in front of his chest, preparing to use his skills and arms to withstand the attack.

He didn't think the punch would be very powerful.

Not to mention he also activated his skill.

Even at the moment of engaging in battle, he thought his opponent was foolish for not using a weapon.

The thought of the Prison Rock abruptly ended.

Because Wen Tai's fist arrived.

In an instant, the fist energy exploded, condensing into a trajectory!

Wen Tai's ordinary fist drew a streak of energy in mid-air, striking the crossed arms of the Prison Rock Warrior.

Click!!!

The crisp sound of bones cracking echoed throughout the alleyway.

His defensive skills and arm armor crumbled before that punch.

The arm bone broke instantly.

The force of Wen Tai remained undiminished, piercing through the defense like a hot knife through butter, and finally landing heavily on the chest of the Prison Rock.

Boom!!

A visible, violent ring of air exploded outwards from the two of them, instantly blasting away the surrounding water and debris!

The Prison Rock's eyes suddenly bulged out, his feet left the ground, his body arched like a shrimp, and then he flew backward like a cannonball bursting from a barrel!

While still in mid-air, his health points instantly dropped to zero.

Before it even had a chance to land, the Prison Rock player's massive body transformed into a ball of Bai Guang in mid-air and vanished completely.

Instant kill!

A clean, decisive, and swift victory!

Gran and the other three players from Prison Rock witnessed this scene. Looking at Wen Tai, who was still in a punching stance, their gazes finally settled on the [Sequence 10] above his head.

?

All four of them had a sudden, blank look in their minds.

What the heck?!

What the hell is this thing?!

Sequence 10! One punch!

----Instantly killed a Sequence 14 Prison Rock Warrior!

Is this reasonable?!

What's going on with these Nine Provinces players?!