Domain

The Firelink Shrine.

A cold wind carrying ashes blew by, creating a very oppressive atmosphere.

Zane, Gallagher, and Finn, three renowned Chosen Player from the Prison Rock faction, looked at each other's ashen faces and fell into a long silence.

"The people you brought out of the Painted World are all dead?"

Finn looked at Zane and asked a question.

Zane rubbed his face hard, took a deep breath, and said dejectedly, "----They're all dead. Gwyndolin is much harder to deal with than in a dungeon. Their area-of-effect attacks and follow-up attacks were almost non-stop, and with Fan Lixin from Nine Provinces constantly causing trouble, there was absolutely no room for maneuver."

Upon hearing this, Finn fell silent again, and after a long while, he said, "I shouldn't have killed the Crossbreed Priscilla —I fell for their trick."

Upon hearing this...

The remaining two were speechless.

Yes, I was definitely fooled.

I should have realized it long ago. When Lu Xiu, who had done so many bad things, was in the Anor Londo, he would rather run away and take the players of Nine Provinces to Oolacile than go to the closer Painted World.

"There's no point in saying all this now. We didn't bring the people from the Painted World out, and we're already at a significant disadvantage in terms of numbers."

"We're in a very bad situation right now."

Gallagher broke the silence, his light falling on Zane: "Most importantly, Zane, you are now equivalent to a Core Bonfire. If you are killed by a player from Nine Provinces during the battle, the opposing team will gain an Core Bonfire's worth of points, and Prison Rock will lose immediately. We, as fellow players, cannot kill you; if we do, we will inherit your Core Bonfire status."

Upon hearing this, Zane's eye twitched slightly.

"Unless you act like a coward now and just leave and hide, we'll have to devote a significant amount of energy to protecting you."

Finn continued, "However, to be distracted in the chaos of battle to protect a vital target who cannot die, while simultaneously confronting Lu Xiu's main force from Nine Provinces head-on—this is almost an impossible task."

At this moment, although the three of them did not know the extent of the losses suffered by the core players of Nine Provinces in Oolacile, the main force of Prison Rock had suffered heavy losses due to the successive defeats of the Sister Friede, the Ancient Dragon and Gwyndolin, and their morale had plummeted to rock bottom.

At this moment, the pressure on their shoulders is as heavy as Mount Tai.

Zane was silent for a moment, then replied, "What do you want to say? Just say it."

"We need your combat power. Although your domain can no longer be unleashed, you can still attract players from the Nine Provinces."

Gallagher spoke directly, clearly having already discussed it with Finn the moment the announcement was announced, "I need you to stand with us later and use the Core Bonfire and battle merits to lure the players from Nine Provinces into the area where Darkeater Midir, is located. This boss will launch a wide-range laser attack at the beginning, and you are responsible for attracting the players from Nine Provinces to take the hits head-on with Midir."

Then—die alongside them at the hands of Midir, so that the Core Bonfire points won't fall into the hands of Nine Provinces players, and at the same time, it will also kill Nine Provinces players.

Beside Gallagher.

Finn continued, "We know you were killed by the monster, and your battle merits will be reset to zero, but we need you to abandon all your battle merits since the arena battles began, all for the sake of Prison Rock."

["

Zane thought for a moment and asked, "Although it's not certain yet, these new bosses are very likely constructed by Lu Xiu. Are you sure they'll fall for them?"

"She might not, but I don't believe the other Nine Provinces players wouldn't, even though Lu Xiu explained to them that they would be stunned the moment they saw Midir."

Gallagher replied, "I have a lot to say on that—of course, if they don't come down, then you go and die alone to buy us time. We'll disengage and head straight for Oolacile."

Zane fell into a long silence, and after a long while, he nodded with difficulty. "I understand—it's all for Prison Rock."

At the same time.

Outside the city, in the Undead Parish.

Above the first Bells of Awakening that was recently rung repeatedly, in the same old spot.

Jian Ning sat down on the edge again and gently swung her legs.

The howling cold wind blew against the hem of her clothes.

She gazed once more at the location of the Firelink Shrine.

This time, however, she wasn't there to cause trouble.

She just wanted to see things for herself, to confirm the extent of Lu Xiu's abilities as Architect.

And beside her.

Zhang Chongshan squatted down, bearing the Title of Prison Rock Camp, his face full of excitement at finally finding his organization.

"Big Sister----"

Zhang Chongshan looked at Jian Ning: "Not enough people yet? I really don't want to wear this lousy Title for another second. Prison Rock and his gang are a bunch of useless trash! They're being played with like dogs by Lu Xiu! I want to go back to Nine Provinces! That's my home!"

Upon hearing this, Jian Ning did not turn around. Instead, she raised her hand, summoned the System Panel, glanced at the survival list, and said, "Not enough. At least another hundred or so people need to die in Nine Provinces for the Play Society to have enough votes to be able to secure your return to Nine Provinces."

Or do you want to take a gamble? Go ahead and initiate the request? Pray the Strategy Group will approve it?

"Then forget it."

Zhang Chongshan thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I doubt they'll agree. After all, I'm probably quite disliked as a traitor. Let's wait and see."

Speaking of which...

He also looked towards the direction of the Firelink Shrine: "Moreover, the two sides will soon be facing off head-on. No matter how much of an advantage Nine Provinces has, it's impossible for them to win with low casualties. It will be stable in a while. It shouldn't be difficult for them to lose another hundred or so people."

"What a pity, if Lu Xiu hadn't killed so many people from the Play Society, we would have had more votes."

Jian Ning didn't speak upon hearing this, but simply gazed quietly in the direction of the Firelink Shrine.

The Firelink Shrine she was gazing at was located near the place where Midir was.

Zane, Gallagher, and Finn stood together, with the core players of Prison Rock behind them.

Although the losses were severe.

But there are actually more than two hundred core players.

The three were still discussing the details of their upcoming tactics.

On their side, there was also a player with the Title "Nine Provinces".

Yes, it was Queenie.

She stood behind the three of them, waiting for them to finish their discussion. After a moment's hesitation, she finally spoke up, "Gallagher —Gallagher shouldn't we start a vote to send me back to Prison Rock? The deadline has passed."

Gallagher turned around upon hearing this, about to speak.

Sudden.

A series of rapid footsteps sounded in the distance.

I heard footsteps.

moment.

Gallagher's expression changed, and he forgot all about the vote, saying directly, "We'll talk about it later!"

Queenie could only shut up.

All the players in Prison Rock looked in the direction from which the footsteps came.

Not far away, at the end of that slightly steep slope.

The first figure slowly walked up and appeared in the sight of the players in Prison Rock.

Next came the second and third courses.

The sound of footsteps grew louder and louder as more and more players with the Title "[Nine Provinces Faction]" appeared, quickly taking over the high ground like a tidal wave.

One by one, the core players of Nine Provinces, including Shen Nian, Jian Li, Cheng Xiu Jiang Qiu, and Wei Yidong, revealed themselves.

Holding different weapons, they looked down at the Prison Rock players who were waiting in ambush below.

There aren't actually that many players in Nine Provinces.

There were approximately three hundred people.

Because there are quite a few players in Nine Provinces who fight independently, not to mention the Play Society, many guild leaders and their members did not join the Strategy Group.

but.

Although the difference in numbers wasn't huge, the morale boost from the Nine Provinces players' recent capture of two cities was truly astonishing. When they all looked down at the Prison Rock players, the oppressive aura was like Mount Tai pressing down on them.

An overwhelming sense of pressure washed over me.

At that moment, the players at the forefront of the Nine Provinces Chosen Player suddenly turned around in unison, and Jian Li and Shen Nian in the middle even took a half step back to the sides, making room for each other in the center.

Immediately afterwards.

A young girl walked up.

Her hair was tied in a neat high ponytail, and her fair and beautiful face was expressionless, but her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of curiosity.

She slowly stopped, then lowered her head slightly to observe the Prison Rock players who looked like they were facing a formidable enemy. Finally, her gaze settled on Zane, Gallagher, and Finn.

They didn't say anything.

He was simply standing there.

But when the players from Prison Rock saw her ID above her head and the Title Creator, they still inexplicably felt a terrifying pressure that almost froze their blood.

Lu Xiu!

The chief Architect of Nine Provinces! The greatest villain!

This ID is now a household name among players of the Prison Rock faction!

At the same time.

Externally, in the main live stream rooms of both sides.

With Lu Xiu's appearance.

The two-screen perspectives, which were originally separate, rippled like water at the edge of the screen the moment Lu Xiu stepped onto the slope, and then merged into one!

It transformed into a grand and complete panoramic view, completely encompassing both opposing sides within the same frame.

After a brief pause, the chat in the live stream exploded!

[Screen merged! Screen merged!!!]

[They've met! Holy crap, this is really the final battle! Was this entrance staged?! The sense of oppression is incredible!]

[Nine Provinces are awesome! Lu Xiu crushes them!!!]

[This scene is so damn Epic! The players from Nine Provinces are completely overwhelming us, and the faces on Prison Rock's side are as black as the bottom of a pot!]

[After all, Lu Xiu has appeared—and Zane is practically a walking 100,000-point machine now! If Lu Xiu kills him, Nine Provinces will win immediately. This game is too exciting!]

[The last one to appear, don't they know who the main character is? [Leaning back]]

[Kill them all!]

[----]

[It's finally come to this—Lord Gallagher, can we really win?]

[We'll win! We absolutely will! They already have a plan!]

[Yes! Although I feel like I can't beat Lu Xiu in a one-on-one fight, I might be able to in a team battle!]

[That's right! No one can be strong in every aspect! We will definitely win!]

Lord Gallagher and Lord Finn definitely have a strategy! As long as we lure Lu Xiu to Midir, we won't lose out even if we perish together!

The audience's excitement and anxiety intertwined, pushing the atmosphere of the final battle to its climax.

At the eye of the storm, Gallagher, who was directly targeted by Lu Xiu's gaze, felt every hair on his body stand on end.

And this fear quickly turned into anger, giving him an impulse to rush forward immediately, to die as soon as possible and to witness the Architect's strength.

But soon...

He bit his tongue and came to his senses.

You can't fight here!

Even if the difference in numbers is smaller than expected, and there aren't many players from Nine Provinces, in this open terrain, facing the Nine Provinces main force with its soaring morale and that chief Architect of Nine Provinces —they will definitely collapse!

Using the sharp pain on his tongue as a means of breaking free from immense psychological pressure, Gallagher exclaimed, "Zane!"

Zane took a deep breath, then walked directly in front of all the players in the Prison Rock, raising his spear. "Want my Core Bonfire points? Come and die if you want."

The players from Nine Provinces looked at Zane, who was speaking, and at the special Title above his head; their expressions changed slightly.

-- A clumsy attempt at provocation and enticement, but it has to be said, it was quite effective. After all, killing him meant winning the battle as a group and gaining a huge amount of battle merits.

And at this time...

Gallagher decisively turned around and ran towards the dark slide leading to the underground cave behind him, shouting in the internal channel at the same time, "Jump!!! Everyone, get into the BOSS area immediately!!!"

With a roar from Gallagher.

All the players in the Prison Rock immediately followed Gallagher and Zane, leaping decisively into the bottomless, pitch-black slide, disappearing in an instant and being completely swallowed by the darkness.

Seeing this, Lu Xiu lightly touched the ground with her toes, her figure as light as a falling leaf, and gracefully leaped down the steep slope. "Chase after them."

Bang!

A heavy thud echoed as Cheng Xiu jumped down.

He quickly caught up with Lu Xiu, hesitated for a moment, and then asked with some concern, "Lu Xiu, is it alright to just chase after her? Shouldn't we try waiting for her to come to us? After all, the boss of the Firelink Shrine is—"

Lu Xiu paused slightly in her steps.

I almost forgot.

"It doesn't matter."

Lu Xiu turned to look at Cheng Xiu: "This time is different from before in Oolacile. You don't need to patrol anymore—I'll just test out my Domain Skill while I'm at it. You can all swarm in."

Try out the Domain Skill?

Swarm in?

When did Lu Xiu Chosen Player the time?

Cheng Xiu was taken aback.

The others were also taken aback for a moment.

Because of the sheer volume of information, no one had time to process it all, and everyone was filled with questions.

Lu Xiu explained, "It means that once you go down there, you can just act like brutes. You don't need to worry about anything—defense, evasion, positioning, none of that matters. You only need to do one thing: attack with all your might. And while you're at it, tell the others."

Upon hearing this outrageous instruction, Cheng Xiu's eyes widened.

Wei Yidong, Shen Nian, Jiang Qiu, and the others standing nearby also stared at Lu Xiu with disbelief.

ah?

What's the difference between this and lining up to die?

Lu Xiu said, "Go down first, trust me."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiu finally came to his senses.

Without asking any further questions, he turned and roared, "Everyone, listen up! Once you're down there, abandon all defense and movement! Focus all your energy on attacking!!!"

After yelling.

Without any hesitation, Cheng Xiu followed Lu Xiu and rushed together toward the wide, dark slide.

The others followed closely behind.

More than three hundred core players from Nine Provinces filed in, jumping almost simultaneously down the dark slide and leaping into the seemingly bottomless dragon's lair.

The whistling sound of the wind from the rapid descent reached my ears.

The darkness receded rapidly before my eyes.

Bang bang bang bang bang!

A series of heavy thuds followed.

More than 300 core players from Nine Provinces successfully landed on the dark slide and saw the Dragon Cave located deep underground.

Just landed.

Many Nine Provinces players were stunned.

The main reason is that I didn't expect there to be such a vast space underground. Standing in it, you can clearly feel your own insignificance.

Just as they shifted their attention away from the space and steadied themselves to search for the Prison Rock player,

The next second.

The giant dragon in the distance instantly drew everyone's attention again!

He was truly handsome, and also truly terrifying.

The dragon was enormous beyond reason, its body covered in thick, gray-black scales, with deep, purplish-black crystals embedded between the scales reflecting a magnificent light.

This is further enhanced by the Epic background music that starts playing as soon as the dragon lands, and the Ancient Dragon dragon suddenly spreading its four wings.

A suffocating sense of oppression instantly overwhelmed me.

The performance was absolutely top-notch.

The Nine Provinces players were momentarily stunned.

After all, this was their first time seeing Darkeater Midir, unlike the Prison Rock players, who had seen it twice already.

At the same time.

"Roar!!!"

Midir suddenly let out a deafening roar, the sound wave instantly pushing away the surrounding water.

Immediately afterwards.

Its powerful forelimbs suddenly exerted force, supporting its massive, mountain-like body. Its huge, ferocious head lowered, its enormous mouth slightly open, and its dragon breath began to dissipate.

It began spewing scorching flames downwards, as if it were gathering some terrifying power.

Not good!

The moment the giant dragon rose up, Cheng Xiu sensed something was wrong.

He was about to speak.

"Gravity!!!"

A furious roar from a player named Prison Rock suddenly rang out.

Immediately afterwards, a visible gravitational field suddenly struck!

A semi-circular force field enveloped all the falling Nine Provinces players.

Many players from Nine Provinces were directly crushed by the irresistible gravity, letting out a muffled groan. They felt their shoulders sink as if an invisible mountain had suddenly been placed on their backs, and their legs felt as if they were sinking into sticky mud, making their movements extremely sluggish.

Cheng Xiu also felt a weight on his back.

At the same time.

Swish!!!

With a piercing sound, a long spear suddenly thrust straight at him from the shadows to his side!

Cheng Xiu reacted extremely quickly, resisting the force of gravity, he raised the long sword in his hand and slashed it outwards.

With a clang.

The spear attack was deflected.

Zane was also knocked back half a step.

He steadied himself, his spear pointing diagonally at the ground, and stood alone before all the Nine Provinces players.

Facing over three hundred menacing Nine Provinces core players, he completely disregarded the attack he had just been deflected from, and showed no sign of backing down. Instead, he grinned and declared, "Nine Provinces players, die with me—and with all my battle merits!"

On the other side.

As more and more flames gathered beneath the Ancient Dragon Midir, the surrounding water began to boil and evaporate, and the temperature of the entire underground space seemed to be rising rapidly.

The next second!

A burst of intense light suddenly erupted from Midir's slightly open maw!

That was energy compressed to its limit before the Abyss Laser erupted.

The power contained within the light caused visible ripples in the surrounding space, the air emitted a piercing shriek as if it could not bear the weight, and even the ground seemed to tremble wildly!

From the shadows, Gallagher witnessed this scene, his breathing became heavy, and his whole body began to tremble.

Under the suppression of the gravitational field.

Add to that Zane's suicidal maneuvering, and most players in Nine Provinces would have absolutely no chance of escaping or rolling out of that terrifying attack range before the laser beam is unleashed!!!

Cheng Xiu also realized this. Feeling the terrifying power gathering of the giant dragon in the distance, his hands and feet turned cold and his eyes were bloodshot. He subconsciously wanted to shout out to make everyone scatter against the gravity.

"Disperse----"

But he's only just begun.

"Expand the domain!"

A calm and collected voice suddenly rang out from behind all the Nine Provinces players, interrupting Cheng Xiu.

That was Lu Xiu's voice.

Everyone turned their heads sharply to look.

In the dimly lit underground cave, at the very back of the group, Lu Xiu gripped her Nameless Blade in reverse and plunged it heavily into the ground!

Buzz!

Half of the Nameless Blade instantly sank into the ground. Then, centered on the location of the blade, a wave of heat spread wildly outwards like a raging storm, sweeping across the entire cave and easily shattering the gravity field covering everyone!

at the same time.

A tiny flame suddenly ignited on Lu Xiu's body.

The cluster of flames spread rapidly like wildfire along Lu Xiu's body, igniting Lu Xiu hair and the edges of her clothes. The flames remained smoldering, like withered Kindling about to burn out or newly lit firewood, with Ember carrying tiny sparks that began to drift away.

Until this point.

Lu Xiu finally raised her snow-white chin, revealing her beautiful eyes that reflected the firelight, and called out the domain name:

--Lord of Cinder.

And it was in that very instant.

Laugh!!!

In the distance, the Abyss Laser that Midir had been brewing for so long finally erupted like a flood bursting its banks!

Midir suddenly stood up on his back!

Accompanied by a terrifying sonic boom that rips through eardrums.

A dark purple laser beam, originating from beneath Midir's feet, swept towards the location of Lu Xiu and the Nine Provinces players with terrifying speed, as the Ancient Dragon dragon's ferocious head suddenly rose.

The moment the Abyss Laser swept out.

At the critical moment.

Zane, standing at the very front of all the Nine Provinces players, suddenly narrowed his eyes!

Although they were mentally prepared to die together with their enemies, when death actually came, instinct still prevailed.

If they could survive, who would be willing to let their hard-earned battle merits vanish?

Just as the purplish-black laser was about to touch him, Zane suddenly braced himself with his spear and rolled to the side at an extremely extreme speed!

Boom!!!

The Abyss Laser swept past his Afterimage, and a violent surge of energy sent him flying.

Zane rolled awkwardly through the water for over ten meters, but he was overjoyed!

He dodged it!

But those Nine Provinces players whose pace was slowed down by the gravitational field will definitely not be able to avoid it now!

"Pretty!!!"

On the other side, Gallagher, hiding in the shadows, saw the purplish-black laser, like the scythe of death, sweep across the most densely populated area of Nine Provinces players, even carving a scorched trench in the ground. He roared with ecstatic joy.

A violent energy storm raged within the cave.

A blinding purple-black laser, accompanied by a secondary explosion, caused everyone to temporarily lose their sight.

As Midir swept his head horizontally, the laser traced a semicircle before finally stopping, and white steam filled the underground space.

Gallagher stared eagerly at the area shrouded in white mist.

Through the dissipating steam, he could clearly see that at least a hundred Nine Provinces players lay sprawled on the ground in the area ravaged by the Midir Laser.

Although there are still quite a few Nine Provinces players standing.

But at least half of them died!!!

"Ha ha ha ha!!!"

Upon seeing this, Gallagher could no longer contain his elation, his face contorted with excitement. "They're all down!"

Leave!! Let them continue fighting Midir ----"

However.

His excitement didn't last long, and before he could finish speaking, he suddenly stopped.

Because at the end of the fog when it completely dissipates.

He saw someone.

Lu Xiu.

She was slowly pulling the Nameless Blade stuck in the ground.

Flames were burning on her body.

The hem of her dress and the ends of her hair were like burning Kindling, constantly scattering brilliant sparks and Ember.

It made her look like a figure in a painting.

The Architect didn't die.

No.

That's normal! It would be strange if she, the Architect, died!

As long as enough core players in Nine Provinces die...

Gallagher forced himself to think positively, but halfway through, his thoughts came to an abrupt halt again.

As Lu Xiu drew her sword and straightened her back.

In front of her were the Nine Provinces players who had been struck head-on by the Abyss Laser and should have died, turning into Bai Guang and being forcibly kicked away.

It did not turn into Bai Guang and disappear.

Instead, they all slowly stood up!

He actually stood up!!!

Player from Prison Rock:

Live stream viewers:

one.

two.

Ten.

One hundred!

These Nine Provinces players, who rose again, were engulfed in flames identical to Lu Xiu's, with Ember and sparks scattering around them, like warriors returning from hell, bathed in divine grace and blazing fire, reborn into the world.

Every player's clothes, hair, equipment, and even the weapon they held were on fire!!!

How is that possible?

1

Gallagher's eyes widened instantly as he stared at the players who had stood up, and at Lu Xiu standing at the very back, his pupils trembling violently.

A gentle breeze swept by, ruffling the hem of Lu Xiu and the ends of her hair like an ever-burning spark.

He had absolutely no idea what she had done.

But as she stood there, and countless Nine Provinces players, burning with First Flame, slowly rose to their feet like an undead legion before her.

The firelight that dispelled the darkness, the Ember dancing in the sky—all made her feel as if she were the Deity.