Encounter
At the same time.
The lake area.
Thick white fog churned violently on the cold lake surface.
The round-faced girl stood at a safe distance, her slightly chubby face filled with astonishment.
In her line of sight, Jian Li and Lu Xiu were cleaning up the crystal monster.
The way the two of them fought monsters was simply a feast for the eyes.
Especially Lu Xiu.
Those enormous, terrifyingly powerful crystal monsters were like clumsy wooden stakes in front of Lu Xiu.
Most importantly, Lu Xiu didn't use any skills; she relied solely on her understanding of the game mechanics throughout.
He rolled, rose, swung his blade, and slashed.
Her movements were incredibly agile; each seemingly casual roll was precisely timed to coincide with the moment the crystal monster's attack landed.
The massive crystal fists kept crashing down, but they couldn't even touch a single hem of her clothing.
The moment she stood up, the Nameless Blade always managed to precisely strike the weak points in the crystal monster's defenses.
"----This is so smooth!"
The round-faced girl muttered to herself, her worldview severely shaken.
Jian Li was already quite smooth.
But I didn't expect there to be something even more significant.
When she completed Dark Souls, every battle was fraught with danger and peril.
Watching Lu Xiu fight monsters is like this: this is rolling, this is attacking; you can already defeat any enemy.
Just roll around randomly, and the enemy will die.
It's like a textbook demonstration of a flawless operation.
Boom!!!
In the short few minutes that the round-faced girl was lost in thought, the water exploded.
The multi-headed serpent monster, a boss lurking deep within the Black Forest Basin, roared and began attacking Lu Xiu.
Round-faced girl:
I just spaced out for a moment!
She can just go straight for the boss!
Still alone!
Jian Li is still dealing with the crystal monsters!
They just went ahead and lured them in! Are they really that confident?
When the main force of Nine Provinces finally arrived at the lakeside by following the narrow path through the Darkroot Garden.
The boss battle has ended.
The multi-headed serpent, as large as a mountain, had several heads severed at the root, with water elemental light gushing from the cuts. The long blood bar on its head had dwindled to a mere sliver.
Swish!
A blade of light sliced through the mist.
Lu Xiu and Jian Li took a nimble step back, Nameless Blade precisely severed the last head of the Hydra.
With a loud bang, the enormous snake body collapsed and vanished into a shower of Bai Guang on the lake's surface.
Lu Xiu straightened up, then raised her hand and casually smoothed her slightly damp ponytail, giving it a gentle shake.
"Wow----"
The round-faced girl was completely impressed by what she saw, and couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!" Her eyes seemed to sparkle with admiration.
If we say...
Just cleared out the crystal monsters.
Lu Xiu was very skilled at it.
Then, fighting the BOSS is done by the Martial God.
That relaxed posture.
Those graceful movements.
That keen sense of timing.
She's really beautiful and cool.
The round-faced girl had no doubt that even if she applied a debuff to Lu Xiu, she could easily handle B.
OSS.
Looking at Lu Xiu's pretty face, still glistening with a few water droplets, she made up her mind! From today onwards, Lu Xiu would be her idol!
And just as her eyes were sparkling with excitement.
Lu Xiu also noticed the overly intense gaze.
Lu Xiu turned her head and gave the girl a strange look.
That girl is dishonest.
He actually stood there openly and brazenly slacking off the whole time.
They're not even going to act anymore.
I thought they were really something, arriving so quickly, but they're just slackers.
never mind.
Lu Xiu sheathed the Nameless Blade, thought for a moment, and decided not to bother with this blatant act of slacking off.
A large forest has all kinds of birds.
It's normal for the Coordination Bureau to have members who slack off.
Moreover, the other person's gaze was too intense, and Lu Xiu felt that speaking up would be troublesome.
She turned around and looked at the Nine Provinces army that was approaching from the edge of the Darkroot Garden.
They're all old acquaintances.
Leading the way was the boisterous Wei Yidong.
Beside him stood Cheng Xiu, whose expression remained calm.
Further on were Shen Nian, who looked pale and resentful, and several other core members of the Strategy Group whom Lu Xiu vaguely remembered.
Surprisingly, Jiang Qiu was also there.
Jian Li approached Lu Xiu's side and, upon seeing the arrival of everyone, simply nodded slightly.
"Finally, we've crawled out of that hellish place!"
As soon as Shen Nian arrived, she looked at Lu Xiu with a resentful expression: "Lu Xiu ----"
Lu Xiu couldn't help but chuckle, pretending not to notice her gaze.
At this moment, other people who had seen Lu Xiu before also came over to say hello.
Those who had never seen Lu Xiu before stared at her with amazement and curiosity.
but.
Now is clearly not a good time for casual chatting.
soon.
Several core players quickly gathered around Lu Xiu.
What are the next plans?
Jiang Qiu, the mature and sophisticated woman, felt somewhat embarrassed upon seeing Lu Xiu. The two hadn't seen each other since she questioned Lu Xiu last time.
Seeing her now, she felt rather awkward.
The only way to ease the awkwardness is to get straight to the point.
"Players who went to fight Prison Rock!"
Lu Xiu has not yet answered.
Wei Yidong immediately brandished his weapon, excitedly shouting, "I just asked Fan Lixin, Prison Rock those bastards from Qiuyan's gang are in the Anor Londo. It seems they've gone to the Painted World to steal the Bonfire! Let's lead our men over there, trap them inside the Painted World, and slaughter them!"
"Shut up."
Cheng Xiu glanced at him, then looked at Lu Xiu: "What do you think we should do?"
Cheng Xiu was the kind of person who was born to work for the government; he would carry out all orders from the Coordination Bureau without question.
Since Yan Fushou said he would listen to Lu Xiu, then he would only listen to Lu Xiu.
However, it is precisely because of this personality trait that he sometimes lacks flexibility.
Lu Xiu thought for a moment and replied, "Let's go to Oolacile."
"?"
Upon hearing this...
Many members of the Strategy Group turned their heads abruptly.
----Fear.
During the dungeon speedrun phase, many members of the Strategy Group also visited the Painted World and Oolacile.
The latter, however, clearly left a deeper impression on them.
Because right inside the entrance is the Sanctuary Guardian, which makes everyone cry out in agony.
Cheng Xiu seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this.
Lu Xiu explained, "Let's go and capture those two Core Bonfire inside Oolacile first. After all, it's unrealistic to kill all the players in Prison Rock. The map is too big. If we focus all our energy on chasing players, we're doomed as soon as they hide."
We need to secure at least two of the five Core Bonfire. That way, we'll have room to maneuver, and we'll win if we can capture the remaining Core Bonfire later.
"Then why not choose the Bonfire in the Painted World or the Firelink Shrine?"
Jiang Qiu asked curiously, "----Is it because we lost the initiative? Logically speaking, lighting those three Core Bonfire should be much easier than lighting Oolacile's Bonfire, right?"
"Uncertain."
Lu Xiu shook her head. "These two areas—well, there have been some new changes."
The others suddenly looked at Lu Xiu again.
What???
"It's a system problem, not my fault."
Lu Xiu pretended not to notice their gazes. "In short, the Core Bonfire of Oolacile is the most suitable for us. Of course, I know you are not familiar with the map yet, but I will guide you to quickly light up the two Core Bonfire of Oolacile."
Is there enough time?
Cheng Xiu then asked, "Do we still have time to steal other Bonfire?"
"There's still time. If it really doesn't work, I'll take you guys through the map."
"Running—running the map?"
"Um."
Lu Xiu gently swayed her ponytail. "As long as you can keep up, you'll definitely make it in time, trust me."
"Good."
The others nodded.
Cheng Xiu spoke again, "Shall we go attack the Duke's Archives now? To get the Broken Pendant?"
"Need not."
At this moment, Wei Yidong spoke up, "I was in the Duke's Archives, Broken Pendant is here."
As he spoke, he took out a necklace.
"That would be even faster."
Lu Xiu took the necklace and looked at the golden crystal monster in the distance.
The main force of Nine Provinces pressed forward.
The golden crystal monster didn't even survive a single round of attacks before shattering.
Amidst the flickering light.
A silhouette dressed in a classic long dress slowly emerged.
That is the Dusk of Oolacile.
She glanced around, then looked at Lu Xiu, and with a slight lift of her skirt, performed an elegant ancient bow before turning into specks of light and disappearing.
Immediately afterwards.
--
In the depths of the lake ahead, space began to distort.
A black vortex, as deep as a black hole and exuding a strong Abyss aura, slowly tore open in mid-air.
This is the entrance to Oolacile.
Lu Xiu stopped in front of the black vortex.
She turned around. "Once we go in, it'll be a boss fight. Since I have a negative buff, I'll be the one tanking the aggro. Too many people will be too much trouble. You guys can just roam around and attack when you get the chance."
Actually, Lu Xiu originally wanted to go alone.
Because too many people might cause her trouble.
But she was genuinely worried that there wouldn't be enough time.
A compromise is the only option.
1
Upon hearing this, the members of the Strategy Group swallowed hard.
Those players who had visited Oolacile during the speedrun and witnessed the Sanctuary Guardian were particularly pale at this moment.
That stitched-together monster with the body of a lion, the tail of a scorpion, and the horns of a ram was far stronger than most of the bosses in Dark Souls. Apart from Jian Li, almost no one present could last more than five minutes.
After all, he's a boss who's trying to intimidate you.
Now, Lu Xiu is actually saying she'll bear the wrath of the Sanctuary Guardian alone?
Once the instance is transformed into a scene, the enemies are also strengthened accordingly; the Ornstein and Smough are an example.
Cheng Xiu hesitated for a moment before asking, "Lu Xiu, that monster is too mobile. Are you sure you can handle it alone?"
"Um."
Lu Xiu nodded, then turned around and reached out her hand towards the black vortex that exuded an Abyss aura.
Just as Lu Xiu's fingertips touched the edge of the vortex...
A sudden change has occurred!
Suddenly, a tremendous suction force erupted from the once calmly rotating black hole.
Immediately afterwards, a gigantic arm formed from the aura of the pitch-black Abyss suddenly emerged from the vortex!
They captured all the players from Nine Provinces in one fell swoop.
Everyone's vision went black.
When the players from Nine Provinces scrambled to their feet, dazed and confused, they found themselves inside the inner court of the Spirit Temple.
This is a passageway similar to a tree hollow.
Everyone quickly got up.
"Let's go, remember not to block my way."
Lu Xiu picked up the Nameless Blade and took the lead, running ahead first.
Cheng Xiu and the others exchanged glances and quickly followed.
They hadn't run very far.
A white fog door then appeared.
For players who have completed Dark Souls, this fog gate is all too familiar.
Lu Xiu, carrying her knife, walked to the fog gate without hesitation, dispelled the thick fog, and went inside.
at the same time.
At the Firelink Shrine, where they were conducting a thorough search, Gallagher and his companions also made a discovery.
"Gallagher!"
Queenie suddenly shouted, "There's an entrance here!!!"
"Um?"
Gallagher was taken aback, then immediately rushed over. "Is there another entrance to Firelink Shrine?"
On the other side.
The Painted World.
"Zane."
A player from the Prison Rock, standing high above the Painted World and gazing at the distant chapel, asked in bewilderment, "Was there a church there before?"