Liana

[System: Multiplayer dungeon matchmaking successful.]

Number of people: 3

[Instance Name: The Fallen Ancient Dragon]

[Current number of players matched: 3/3]

[Enter or not?]

After deciding to check out the multiplayer instance.

Jian Li and Shen Nian clicked to match immediately.

At this moment, there seemed to be quite a few players matched up.

soon.

The two were then matched with other players.

"Let's go take a look first."

Shen Nian and Jian Li exchanged a glance, then looked at Lu Xiu and waved to her.

Lu Xiu nodded slightly.

Both of them simultaneously clicked "confirm transfer".

The next second, a flash of Bai Guang appeared.

Lu Xiu also summoned the System Panel and entered the Construction Space.

When the Bai Guang in front of us completely dissipated.

Shen Nian found herself suspended in mid-air.

All around were countless broken, floating boulders, and in the distance, the magnificent aurora borealis shone.

She was standing on one of the giant rocks.

She looked around at the scenery with some surprise, and then was about to see who her teammates were.

Upon closer inspection, I spotted someone familiar.

"Jian Li, you're here too."

Shen Nian looked at Jian Li standing not far away. "This seems different from ordinary system dungeons; even the preparation space is so large—"

He hadn't finished speaking.

Suddenly, an excited exclamation came from the side, so excited that the voice even cracked.

"Ah!!! Nine Provinces!!! It's people from Nine Provinces!"

The sudden shout sounded particularly jarring in the empty and desolate environment.

Shen Nian and Jian Li stopped talking at the same time and turned to look in the direction of the sound.

Just a few meters to their right, on another floating rock, the Bai Guang of the teleportation had just completely dissipated.

There stood a rather petite figure.

She was a young girl with a pair of fluffy dog ears, wearing an exquisite long dress with a cinched waist.

Pretty cute.

Lu Xiu would probably just praise it as a Japanese-style kemonomimi (animal girl) here.

Above her ID, there was a prefix completely different from the ones used by Shen Nian and the other person.

[Franca, Liana]

The dog-eared girl named "Liana" was staring at the "[Nine Provinces]" prefix above Shen Nian and Jian Li's heads, her eyes shining with an unprecedented light, and her two fluffy dog ears stood up excitedly.

Are you from Nine Provinces?

Looking at Jian Li and Shen Nian, Liana managed to suppress her excitement and couldn't help but confirm.

She was afraid it was all a lie.

Shen Nian paused slightly, then pointed to the top of her head. "Shouldn't we have a region prefix above our heads? Do you really have to ask something so obvious?"

That doesn't seem very bright.

As Shen Nian pondered this, she looked the agitated beast-eared girl up and down and asked, "Did your Franca region suffer a crushing defeat in this arena battle?"

Shen Nian joined the multiplayer instance immediately.

They came specifically for intelligence.

Of course, we should get straight to the point.

"A crushing defeat----"

Upon hearing this...

Liana's furry ears drooped instantly, and her eyes welled up with tears.

But then she snapped out of her daze and asked hastily, her words coming out in a rapid cadence, "The reason I was so excited to see you all this time is because you, from Nine Provinces, were the sole winners. I want to ask you—how exactly did you win the arena battle?"

"During the previous special event, I visited your forum across different regions. In fact, I've been following you ever since our two regions won that special event."

But ever since the arena season started, I haven't been able to check any messages across different servers. I kept thinking—you guys must have lost like us, but you actually won! How did you win? Why were you able to win?! What did you do? Can you tell us?"

Looking at the girl's eagerness to find the answer.

Shen Nian seemed lost in thought.

Next.

"During special events----"

Shen Nian looked at her and asked, "Lu Xiu's name should already be a regular on our forum, right? When you were browsing the forum from another region, didn't you see her name?"

I've seen it before.

Liana paused, then said, "She's the most famous genius Architect in your Nine Provinces, right? I've seen people on your forums complaining that her dungeons are incredibly difficult, but I haven't actually done them myself, so I can't really understand. Also, what happened to her?"

Just then, Jian Li up.

"She is the main reason for our victory this time."

"----???"

Liana jerked her head around, her eyes wide, her dog ears twitching, her face filled with astonishment. "How is this possible?!"

Isn't she Architect? Could it be that your dungeons completely blocked those players from other worlds?!

"Otherwise what?"

Shen Nian looked at Liana with some suspicion. "Isn't this arena battle just a civilian dungeon? And why do you have such a big prejudice against Architect? Didn't your Franca region win in the special event? You should know the importance of Architect, right?"

Liana was even more shocked. "How can we stop them? Besides, while the civilian dungeons are important as a setting, in the end we'll have to fight otherworldly players no matter what, right?!"

"Then let's fight! Didn't your community-run dungeons make your players stronger?"

"???"

"???"

Both of them looked completely bewildered.

Finally, Shen Nian raised her hand. "Wait! Wait, let me sort this out! So your dungeons are just for setting up scenarios, not for strategic choices, and you can't beat the opposing players in a head-on fight, right?"

Liana nodded and said, "Yes—"

"What's there to say? Your Architect need to step up their game, create more good community-run dungeons, force the enemy to switch from offense to defense, and at the same time, lower-level players should get good rewards. Just win head-on, isn't that enough?"

Liana was a little dizzy, her dog ears standing up and drooping down repeatedly. "Wait—so you're relying entirely on private dungeons?! What about group battles?"

"It's the same."

Shen Nian blurted out, "----You mean the first tier? I don't know what the situation is like for your team battles, but the scenario dungeon for our team battles is our own Architect's dungeon, and she's very strong, she won easily."

Liana was even more confused, and it took her a long time to react. "So you were able to win entirely because of the Architect? Because of that Architect named Lu Xiu?"

"You could say that."

"!!! Isn't she Architect??"

"I said, don't be prejudiced against Architect, at least don't be prejudiced against Architect from Nine Provinces!"

Shen Nian wanted to say something more.

But at this moment...

Jian Li suddenly spoke up, "Let's stop talking now, let's begin."

Shen Nian suddenly came to her senses.

They then realized the countdown had ended, and the three were about to officially enter the dungeon.

Originally, yes.

The preparation time for multiplayer dungeons is to allow them to assess each other's strength.

But the three of them were too busy talking about the arena battle, and there was no other way now but to fight.

[Countdown is about to end, entering the instance.]

Accompanied by a system notification sound.

A sudden burst of Bai Guang flashed, instantly engulfing the three people on the rubble.

After a brief period of weightlessness, the light before their eyes completely disappeared.

The dungeon scene appeared before the three of them.

And the moment you see the scene clearly.

Shen Nian froze on the spot, then raised her hand and slapped herself on the forehead.

Snap----

Not just her.

Even the usually calm and collected Jian Li pursed her glossy red lips.

Because the scene before them was all too familiar to them.

The dilapidated ruins of buildings, the Ember scattered on the ground, and the sky shrouded in gloomy clouds—everything exuded a suffocating sense of the vicissitudes of life.

The Firelink Shrine in Dark Souls!

Directly in front of them was a bottomless, dark slide.

This is the entrance to the passage to meet Darkeater Midir.

"That----"

After landing, Liana first looked around at the desolate and bleak scenery, then quickly looked away, her mind filled with questions. She opened her mouth, about to continue asking Shen Nian.

"Stop! Don't ask any more questions."

Shen Nian felt an exceptionally strong sense of unease at this moment.

She waved her hand to interrupt Liana, saying, "This is the dungeon scenario built by the Architect of Nine Provinces. It's bound to be difficult—you'll see once you experience it for yourself. No need to ask anymore."

"?"

Liana's dog ears perked up. "This is a scene created by your Architect? Then why has it become a system instance?"

"How should I know? Maybe the goddess ran out of inspiration and just copied it directly."

Shen Nian replied casually, not really in the mood to explain further.

She and Jian Li exchanged a glance, then separated and explored the area around the Firelink Shrine.

But the two soon discovered that apart from the slide leading to the dragon's cave, the surrounding area was a dead end blocked by invisible barriers, and there were no other routes to explore.

The only way forward is downward.

Shen Nian's face was full of resistance. "I hope it's not what I think—"

Jian Li didn't say anything, but glanced at the dark slide, then leaped down first.

"Please, please don't come."

Seeing this, Shen Nian offered a prayer and then jumped into the Abyss.

Liana watched as her two teammates jumped without hesitation. Although she was full of questions, she had no choice but to grip her weapon tightly and grit her teeth and follow suit.

The whistling wind rushed past my ears.

With a few light thuds as they landed, the three of them landed steadily in the huge and empty underground cavern.

As soon as it landed.

A muffled sound came from the darkness ahead.

far away.

The enormous Midir, which had left a deep impression on countless players of Prison Rock Nine Provinces, slowly stood up.

This time, however, its condition was somewhat strange.

Unlike the vivid flesh and physical presence found in group battles, its body is a translucent grayish-white, making it appear less like a living being and more like a spirit forcibly imprisoned there.

It's still very impressive, though.

Liana was stunned when she saw him for the first time.

However, this is not the most important thing.

The most critical thing is...

Beside this enormous, ghostly Ancient Dragon stood a tall, slender figure wielding a long sword.

The figure's face was obscured by a faint layer of data light, making it blurry, but the Title floating above her head was impossible to ignore.

[The First Afterimage on the Nine Provinces Merit Ranking]

Then.

The task has ended.

[Defeat the Fallen Ancient Dragon to Neutralize its resentment. Its Afterimage may harass you during this process, but ignore them; simply defeat the Ancient Dragon to complete the level.]

The moment Shen Nian saw the words, everything went black before her eyes.

It feels like the sky has fallen.

What the heck?!

Multiplayer dungeon!

They're actually attacking Lu Xiu?!

Don't bother with it???

What is this system even saying?! Can't you be a human being?!

Shen Nian turned her head in despair to look at Liana, who was still completely bewildered and had no idea what was going on. After a moment of silence, she said, "Didn't you just keep asking me how Nine Provinces won?"

"Didn't you say that Architect couldn't possibly be that strong? Now, the Afterimage of that Architect from Nine Provinces is right before your eyes."

Speaking of which...

Shen Nian paused, stepped aside, and gestured for her to go first, young lady.

"That's your Architect— "

Liana was completely bewildered, staring at the slender, Afterimage -like figure wielding a long sword in the distance, before she could even finish her sentence.

Jian Li suddenly seemed to realize something, her pupils contracted sharply, and she instantly slid to the side, creating distance while holding her knife.

At the same time, the Afterimage in the distance moved.

She raised her left hand and leaned back slightly.

Sizzle!

Accompanied by a deafening thunderclap, dazzling golden lightning gathered wildly in her palm, instantly transforming into a raging thunder spear!

Sunlight Spear!

Swish!

Liana only saw a blinding golden line flash by in the dim cave.

"Go and experience it for yourself----"

Immediately afterwards.

Shen Nian was still making the gesture of invitation.

The sound then abruptly stopped.

Shen Nian couldn't withstand it at all and was instantly pierced by the Sunlight Spear, turning into countless tiny Bai Guang that dissipated into the air.

Sold out instantly.

Before it dissipates.

Shen Nian's smile hadn't even faded yet.

Liana's pupils suddenly contracted, and she felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

Dead?

He was defeated in seconds?!

However, before her already overloaded brain could process the image of Shen Nian being instantly killed...

The air ahead was suddenly torn apart.

The Afterimage, like a ghost, instantly traversed a distance of tens of meters and appeared directly in front of her!

So fast!!!

Liana broke out in a cold sweat and instinctively raised her weapon to attack.

Clang! Clang!

However, two crisp metallic clangs rang out.

The Afterimage flicked its wrist casually, and before Liana could see anything clearly, she felt her arms go numb, and her weapon almost flew out of her hands.

"----?"

Immediately afterwards.

The Afterimage, wielding a knife, clung to her like a leech, unleashing a furious barrage of slashes!

"Aaaaaah----"

Liana was beaten so badly that she couldn't fight back. She started screaming and rolled around on the ground in a sorry state.

Until this moment.

She didn't even realize it.

what happened?

What on earth happened?!

Just as Liana was completely bewildered and about to be sent away, a cold, sharp blade of light suddenly slashed from the side.

Jian Li!

She lowered her center of gravity, charging forward close to the ground, seizing an opening, her long sword aimed directly at the blind spot of the Afterimage.

But the Afterimage seemed to have eyes in the back of its head, and it swung its sword backhand.

When!

Another Deflect!

Sparks flew everywhere.

Jian Li and Afterimage simultaneously used the momentum to retreat.

Then they collided at an even more terrifying speed.

Ta-da!

The two instantly transformed into two blurry figures, barely perceptible to the naked eye, clashing from one end of the cave to the other. The explosive sound of their blades colliding was like a dense drumbeat, making Liana's eardrums ache.

Not just knife fighting.

Both sides continued to exchange skills during the intervals.

So strong----

Liana stared blankly at Jian Li's fierce and unparalleled attacks and extremely oppressive fighting rhythm.

This Nine Provinces player is incredibly strong!!! Even stronger than their Franca Her Royal Highness the Princess, who's known for being invincible in close combat!

But that's not the most outrageous part—the most outrageous part is!!

Such a powerful top-tier player was actually at a disadvantage in his clash with that Afterimage!!

Because there's really no way to meet each other!

With the Afterimage's mechanical precision and Perfect Deflect time and time again, Jian Li's attack rhythm was being constantly torn apart.

They're already being subtly pressured!

Liana watched the Afterimage of that terrifyingly powerful top expert being overwhelmed.

It felt like the sky had fallen.

Is this Architect?

How could this be Architect?!

What Architect could do this?!

Just when Liana was questioning the meaning of life...

The situation in the center of the battlefield has changed again.

When!

The Afterimage Deflect again, forcing Jian Li to slide back several meters.

This time, however, the Afterimage did not continue its pursuit of Jian Li. Instead, it suddenly turned its head and looked directly at Liana, who was still in a daze.

Liana's scalp tingled, and the hairs on her body stood on end.

Then, the Afterimage made a grabbing motion in the air with its other hand.

A long halberd with an ancient design suddenly appeared in her hand!

Then, the Afterimage lowered its body, the tip of its halberd pointing directly at Liana, and charged straight at her.

Dodge Step.

Sweeping away the obstacles, Jian Li.

Accelerate again.

Liana's defenses were easily broken through.

Instant kill.

Liana looked down at the spear in her chest, then looked up at the illusory figure before her.

Then the figure disintegrated in the Bai Guang, turning directly into countless specks of light and dust.

Franca.

The Bai Guang gradually faded away.

--

Liana slumped to the ground, stunned, as the slight dizziness subsided.

She immediately looked down and touched her chest.

The airport was unharmed, and she did not touch the Loathing Halberd that pierced her chest.

However, the terrifying feeling of being instantly pierced, torn apart, and crushed by violent power still seemed to linger.

Liana finally came to her senses, breathing heavily, her furry dog ears pressed against her head, clearly quite frightened.

Several seconds passed before her brain, which had been frozen in malfunction, finally started functioning again.

She survived.

Or rather—

She was killed and forced out of the instance by the Afterimage of that supposedly Architect from Nine Provinces.

"It's actually true—that's incredible!!!"

Liana muttered something, then suddenly realized what she was doing and scrambled to her feet.

Then.

She whirled around, pushed open the door, and rushed out, shouting, "Your Her Royal Highness the Princess! Your Her Royal Highness the Princess!!!"