So Rude

Hearing Lu Xiu's words.

Jian Li immediately shook her head. "No, none of the Strategy Group members encountered this dungeon either, and we find it strange too."

"As expected, I didn't encounter any of them----"

Lu Xiu had a premonition during the fifth recapture battle, but now that it was confirmed that the SS+ Witch hadn't entered the arena scene library, her expression still became somewhat strange.

According to the rules, verified and cleared civilian dungeons should be automatically entered into the Cross-Realm Arena scene library.

However, while other SS-rank dungeons had players matched with each other, the Witch did not.

There's definitely something wrong with this.

Is it because the Witch Instance has two versions?

Lu Xiu recalled the system notification from before: because all the main characters in the dungeon verified by the Architect himself had gone off track and refused to cooperate, in order to ensure fairness, the dungeon version verified by the Architect himself would not be included in the official version's simulation, but would instead be simulated separately.

Witch Instance that players are currently clearing essentially in an abnormal state? Is that why this dungeon hasn't been added to the arena scene library?

Or is it due to the rating?

Is it difficult to determine SS+?

It seems like either is possible.

Lu Xiu lowered her head slightly and murmured to herself, "This will probably only be verifiable after the Architect reaches level ten, unlocks the Placement Function, and the two versions of the dungeon are merged—"

"What's wrong?"

Jian Li's voice pulled Lu Xiu back to reality. "Is there something wrong with that instance?"

"Hmm... but it's too early to say."

Lu Xiu nodded. "We'll probably have to wait until the next new dungeon comes out and my Architect level increases by one before we can verify the details. It should be soon."

"----Is your new dungeon build complete?"

"Um.

Lu Xiu responded and then explained, "But this dungeon is different from previous ones, so don't worry about not having enough time to clear it in one go during the arena period. I've left a backdoor for players—"

Jian Li fell silent.

After the recapture battle was completed.

Then a new dungeon will be released----

Is this a question of whether players have time to complete the game in one go?

So look forward to it!

Lu Xiu was unaware of Jian Li's speechless expression.

She leaned back on the sofa, stretched, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, said, "It's a pity Shen Nian isn't here."

Upon hearing the name Shen Nian, Jian Li instantly snapped out of her reverie and came back to her senses.

"Otherwise, I'd suggest she cosplay as the Fire Keeper —I think she quite likes wearing random, unconventional clothes, which would be perfect."

"---- Fire Keeper?"

Lu Xiu smiled and explained, "A character from the new instance."

Although the undead version of the Fire Keeper doesn't have any special features, it would allow Shen Nian to wear the clothes of the third-generation Fire Keeper.

Speaking of which...

I really want to see it.

On the other side.

Jian Li looked at Lu Xiu's fair profile and realized that she seemed genuinely looking forward to Shen Nian wearing some random clothes.

She recalled Shen Nian's outburst of "Master" in the arena, and couldn't help but gently squeeze the mineral water bottle in her hand.

"Speaking of which, she even promised me she'd wear a short maid outfit and white stockings."

Lu Xiu asked expectantly, "I wonder when she'll wear it."

"----I can wear it too." Jian Li's voice suddenly rang out.

"Cough----"

Lu Xiu nearly choked on her own saliva, and abruptly turned her head to look at the silver-haired girl beside her. "Huh?"

She never expected Jian Li to respond to such a comment so seriously.

Jian Li replied earnestly, "I can wear that too. A maid outfit isn't allowed, but I can wear stockings."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiu's gaze instinctively shifted downwards.

Finally, his gaze settled on Jian Li's Jian Li skirt, looking at her nearly perfectly proportioned legs—snow-white, reflecting a faint glow under the light, as lustrous and radiant as the finest jade.

It has to be said.

It's so beautiful!

but----

Lu Xiu asked with some curiosity, "Why?"

Jian Li looked away: "There's no reason—"

Seeing Jian Li's reaction.

Lu Xiu was taken aback.

Is this a comparison with Shen Nian?

Indeed, no matter how strong she appears on the outside, she's still just a young girl on the inside.

It's perfectly normal for young girls to compare looks, figures, and clothing.

Jian Li was clearly no exception.

However, Lu Xiu didn't dislike it.

Rather, this version of Jian Li is more vibrant and more likable.

Seeing Jian Li avert her gaze, she suddenly felt like teasing her and asked mischievously, "Really?"

Jian Li nodded very slightly.

Lu Xiu tilted her head. "But what if I still prefer you with bare legs?"

"----Then I won't wear it."

Jian Li's long eyelashes trembled slightly. She paused for a moment, then looked down at Lu Xiu's beautiful, slender legs crossed and blurted out, "You're wearing that?"

Lu Xiu's face darkened, and she impatiently reached out and pinched Jian Li's delicate cheeks, gently pulling them apart. "How rude of you."

The second day of the competition has ended.

Without a doubt.

--

The Nine Provinces achieved a resounding victory.

What surprised many players was...

----Until the truce period arrives.

Lu Xiu did not launch the tenth recapture battle.

On the other side...

The top players of Prison Rock, especially Gallagher and the others who hurriedly withdrew from the arena to take over the position of the guardian, were also caught off guard.

They were eager and ready to fight.

But in the end, nothing happened.

Lu Xiu stopped abruptly.

This left them feeling incredibly frustrated—like putting all their strength into a punch only to land on a piece of cotton.

Weren't we just taking on challenges?!

Everything was ready! Suddenly it stopped?!

Well then, come on over there!!!

Lu Xiu's actions had far more impact than just that one day.

Day three of the tournament.

Those Prison Rock Chosen Player who should have been facing off against top players from Nine Provinces on the regular arena were directly tied up in the rear by Lu Xiu. Some of them didn't even go to the regular arena, and even those who did were restless and uneasy.

They were unsure whether Lu Xiu would suddenly launch another recapture operation.

In this situation...

Prison Rock suffered another defeat, at least in the top arena where Chosen Player clashed.

In fact, after two days of probing, both the Nine Provinces Coordination Bureau and the Prison Rock Royal Court were quite clear that the number and overall quality of their top and core Chosen Player were roughly the same.

This is why, at the beginning of the arena season, although both sides fought fiercely in the regular arena, they tacitly refrained from engaging in a recapture battle for the time being.

Because if one side sends its own Chosen Player to fight the recapture battle, then there will immediately be a vacancy in the high-end combat power on the regular arena.

Moreover, in the recapture battle, not everyone can instantly kill their opponent.

A protracted war is the main theme.

Launching a recapture operation rashly—you might end up recapturing an entire area.

Two areas over there are about to be occupied.

But who could have imagined that such a freak as Lu Xiu would appear?

She wasn't one of the Chosen Player in Nine Provinces at all, yet she managed to slaughter nine of the guardians of Prison Rock like pigs.

And they were all sold out in seconds.

This not only gave all players in Nine Provinces a 9% boost to all attributes, but also forced Prison Rock to have top- Chosen Player act as guardians.

The balance of power in the war was thus lost.

However, these things...

The culprit, Lu Xiu herself, was completely unaware of the situation.

now.

She was in the Construction Space, checking the new copy according to plan.

"That's fine, next one."

After checking the previous enemy, Lu Xiu immediately raised her fair arm and gently waved it in the air.

The scene around her instantly changed, and the ruins of a circular arena appeared before her.

In the center of the ruins, a tall figure, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression, stood silently.

He wore a set of silver armor that was once shiny but was now dull and lifeless. A tattered dark blue cloak hung silently behind him like a broken battle flag. His left arm hung limply at his side, clearly completely useless.

In his intact right hand, he held a heavy greatsword imbued with the aura of the Abyss.

Just standing there, the loneliness and madness of a hero at the end of his road was overwhelming.

certainly.

This is what Lu Xiu imagined.

----But he really is handsome.

"Big A, oh Big A."

As for Lu Xiu's favorite Dark Souls characters...

Artorias the Abysswalker Knight Artorias, is Big A one of them.

Even if ultimately defeated by an invincible fate, even if corrupted and driven mad by the Abyss, the mutilated body still instinctively fights against the darkness.

In addition, the modeling is exceptionally good.

It truly left an extremely deep impression on Lu Xiu in her past life.

This even influenced Lu Xiu's impression of the Abyss Watchers.

Originally, she didn't plan to make the new dungeon into DLC content for the original game.

However, Lu Xiu added the character anyway because she liked him.

This could be considered a side quest.

Simply put, whether or not you fight Artorias doesn't affect your ability to complete the dungeon—but fighting him will increase your reward multiplier.

certainly.

Whether players will participate or not is unknown.

Lu Xiu will definitely fight.

"Bring it on."

Lu Xiu summoned the System Panel and switched to role-playing mode. "I'll try to only fight five times, and from now on, I'll distribute the practice evenly—"

[Process role-playing mode, starting up--]

A notification pops up with this message.

The once boundless white space suddenly shrank back, turning the entire scene into an isolated island.

Lu Xiu's vision went black as a brief but intense wave of dizziness washed over her. When she opened her eyes again, she was now an immortal, with a giant two-handed sword slung over her shoulder.

Opposite her, Artorias seemed to sense the presence of the living, and slowly raised his head, which had been hanging down.

As Lu Xiu moved.

Artorias suit.

He slowly lowered his heavy greatsword, the tip dragging on the ground, and charged forward, leaving a trail of sparks. Then, just before he was about to strike, he swept it across the air in a manner that defied the laws of physics!

Lu Xiu rolled over, narrowly missing the sharp blade of the sword.

Lu Xiu stood up, then looked at Big A attacking again, somewhat uncertain. "Five times should be enough, right? I should be able to beat them smoothly, right?"