What Did They See Before They Died?

What constitutes a good thing?

Even when surrounded by a pile of garbage, a good thing's high value can be recognized at a glance, making it stand out from the crowd.

For example, "A World You Can't Leave Without Victory."

Upon seeing the name, Gong Qiying's imagination began to run wild, and after seeing the actual effect, he was so satisfied that he kept nodding.

This is practically a high-end version of "A Room You Can't Leave Without Doing XX".

Among all the trash in the Calamity Nest Dungeon, this privilege is like the brightest star in the night sky.

To be on the safe side, Gong Qiying carefully read the instructions again before making a choice.

[A separate dimension can be created where one cannot leave without meeting certain conditions; the creation and maintenance of this separate dimension does not require Spirit Power.]

The construction limit for each alternate dimension is 3,000 Spirit Power, meaning the total Spirit Power value of all buildings, monsters, and items placed within it cannot exceed this limit.

The construction of alternate dimensions does not require Spirit Power, and items cannot be taken out of them.

The upper limit can be increased by consuming a certain amount of Spirit Power, which will cause this alternate dimension to require Spirit Power to maintain its daily existence.

A maximum of ten alternate dimensions can exist simultaneously, with a maximum of one person allowed to enter each dimension. The number of such dimensions can increase as the dungeon level increases.

Gong Qiying carefully read the introduction and found that there were a lot of words in the description of this permission.

He thought about it and realized that these alternate dimensions could be used to create some independent, small and exquisite level designs, or simply to make combat exciting.

Seriously speaking, you could create miniature gardens or arenas; less serious, you could create rooms where you can't leave without doing something.

You could place the alternate dimension in some unexpected corner to surprise adventurers, or make it into a "DLC" that requires certain conditions to be met, or something else entirely.

He just happened to be having some issues with the construction of the "Painting World," and if he could use this permission, it might be able to solve the problem.

Various limits are not a problem. Gong Qiying does not want the alternate dimension to be built too large for the time being, otherwise it would overshadow the main body of the dungeon.

Another minor issue is that items from other dimensions cannot be taken out. Without material rewards, the attraction for adventurers might decrease.

The solution is quite simple: select a few high-quality items and put them in, set difficult acquisition conditions, and if the adventurers can find the items, make an exact replica for them after they come out.

But

"Rewards are not necessarily limited to props."

Gong Qiying's fingers unconsciously tapped the Shrine, his thoughts drifting further and further away.

Suddenly, a rumbling sound came from the outside. Upon closer inspection, it was the base of the Calamity Nest Dungeon was slowly disintegrating.

Jia Nage is indeed dead, but the remaining Spirit Power in the Calamity Nest Dungeon is enough to revive him—provided that Gong Qiying doesn't take all of it away.

If he chooses to make the Calamity Nest Dungeon a vassal, he can decide the fate of Jia Nage; even if Ganago is resurrected, he will become Ganago's slave.

If he chooses to take away the authority and Spirit Power, the entire Calamity Nest Dungeon will fall into hibernation, and no one knows when another unlucky person will be captured to work.

But who would give up useful privileges and choose a dungeon that has almost no value instead?

"I choose permission four, and I want all the Spirit Power as well."

In that instant, he seemed to hear the resentful howls of Jia Nage in his ears.

Gong Qiying picked at his ear, revealing a smile unique to victors.

How boring, Jia Nage! I'll probably forget about you soon.

Next up is the awards review.

[Looted all Spirit Power from the Calamity Nest Dungeon: 14585]

[The Lord of the Calamity Nest Dungeon has died, and the dungeon is about to fall into hibernation. An additional 2300 units of his reserve Spirit Power will be plundered.]

[Plundering Authority: A World You Can't Leave Without Victory]

[Obtain a combat avoidance permit, which allows you to refuse any dungeon combat requests for three months.]

[Available Monster: Chimera Bug]

The results of the Deathmatch have been announced.

[Received a congratulatory gift from the Astar Alliance: 2000 Spirit Power. The city lord commented: Well done, brother! The purity of the world has been defended once again!]

[Received a gift from the Dark Blue Sea Dungeon: 1000 Spirit Power. The city lord's message: You've worked hard, you must have had a tough battle. Get some rest.]

[Received a gift from the Boulder Dungeon: 800 Spirit Power. The city lord's message: Brother, I may be broke, but I always keep you in my heart.]

[Received from...]

Gong Qiying paused for a second upon seeing the series of messages.

What's going on? How come the results of Deathmatch battle are being made public? I've never seen news of other people's Deathmatch before.

It can't be just me and Jia Nage fighting each other lately, can it?

Really?

He quickly checked the messages and breathed a sigh of relief when he found that the announced result was just a short sentence, "The Zane Dungeon has won."

Thankfully, they didn't release the entire footage of his fight with Jia Nage.

Gong Qiying shook his head, unsure whether the current situation was good or bad. The advantage was that he could show off among the city lords, while the disadvantage...

"Forget it, why think about these things?"

He closed the City Lord Panel. At this moment, congratulatory gifts were still pouring in, but the number of city lords who would generously send Spirit Power had reached its limit. The rest were all unique items, and the messages were also bizarre.

These can be looked at later when there is time, but there is one important thing that you will regret missing if you don't do it now.

"Reopen the dungeon."

The Deathmatch with Jia Nage wasted his precious time, a full hour... wait, how come only an hour has passed?

"I'm really efficient."

Amidst Gong Qiying's cheerful smile, the Zane Dungeon reopened.

The crowd gathered on the ground had not yet all left, and Leon was still advising everyone not to waste their time waiting there.

Suddenly, the portal began to flash with light, and then returned to normal operation in the next second, welcoming everyone's arrival with great enthusiasm.

The noisy crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted in cheers.

"Haha, I knew I shouldn't have left, my dear endless cycle of reincarnation, here I come!"

This statement was met with agreement from many. Endless Reincarnation is the official name for the Roguelike in the Adventurers' Guild.

"Another day of hunting bad guys."

The Sun Warrior donned their headgear, and at that moment, they were united, striving towards a single goal.

"The strategy for quickly descending from the Calling Ship route to the Death Knight's gate can still be optimized. We will continue testing it today."

The New Strategy Team is full of enthusiasm.

"Sigh, I can't type it out."

Sword Saint Gapar sighed. Today was another day of grinding in the dungeon.

"Boss, boss, come down quickly!"

Malu waved to Leon, as if she had gotten a great deal, and said, "Everyone's gone home, so we don't have to queue today!"

Leon chuckled. In fact, given their status, they could easily have cut in line, but none of them had ever done so.

"I didn't expect it to be so fast. I've never heard of such a rapid restart before."

He looked at the portal; once he passed through it, it would be a completely new adventure filled with wonder.

"The Zane Dungeon really knows how to create surprises."

With mixed feelings, the entire Strategy Team gathered and entered the Zane Dungeon once again.

Today marks exactly one month since they first entered this place, so it should be considered an anniversary in some way?

I hope to find some anniversary gifts in the dungeon.

Later, everyone discovered that the Zane Dungeon had become very generous today. The monsters were less aggressive, but the number of items had increased. Some traps were not activated, and even the number of souls obtained from killing monsters had increased.

On that day, everyone made a fortune.

People were overjoyed, thinking that the difficulty of the dungeon had finally decreased, so they quickly called their friends and family to explore the dungeon together.

The next day, everything returned to normal, and the increased foot traffic once again transformed into Spirit Power to nourish the dungeon.

Adventurers might make a small profit, but the Zane Dungeon will never lose money!

Both Sain and Bede City are showing signs of vitality.

Every day people celebrate the harvest, every day experts from other places come to challenge, and every day new caravans bring new opportunities.

A thriving and prosperous scene.

Meanwhile, on the far Western Continent...

We traversed through layers of Miasma Mist, to the place where the fog was thickest and the sky was darkest.

A colossal black tree spans the heavens and the earth; such a magnificent creation could only exist in myths and legends, much like the corrupted World Tree.

Surrounding the giant black tree, a vast city was built— the Great Demon City, the royal capital of the demon race.

This city, named after the Great Demon Tree, is the true core of the demon race. No matter how much Horde warfare rages outside, no flames of war can reach here.

The city is divided into three levels: outer circle, inner circle, and core circle, inhabited by different social classes. Within the core circle, there are even more noble individuals.

The priests, those responsible for communicating with the Great Demon Tree, are truly noble beings.

The temple, shaped like an inverted triangle, is built against a giant tree. Standing at the top, one can reach out and touch the Great Demon Tree.

A young girl, still somewhat naive but dressed in luxurious clothes, stood at the edge, touching the Great Demon Tree with her delicate palms.

Her skin was quite fair, even bone-white, making her stand out from the dark-skinned demons around her. Her long, pale purple hair fell to the ground, adorned with various sizes of holy bells.

"Lady Ounuo La." The maid dared not look up at the youngest priestess in the history of the demon race. Even though the other party could be described as cute, the maid's hands trembled at the thought that the dozens of Horde outside had been wiped out by this girl.

This is absolutely a cruel monster disguised in a cute exterior. She has never seen such a bloodthirsty priest!

The most famous characteristic of this young priestess is that she rarely shows any emotion; she is neither happy nor sad, neither afraid nor angry, like a golem puppet.

Is there really something that could make her show emotional changes?

Ounuo La waved her hand expressionlessly, and the maidservant quickly left with a sigh of relief.

"Recently, the deceased with a massive soul have been Doslai Bo, Jia Nage, who is Jia Nage?"

She stroked the giant tree, and the patterns on the trunk twisted into the faces of demons— Doslai Bo and Jia Nage!

What did they see before they died?

Ounuo La pressed down on Doslai Bo's face, her expression cold as she muttered to herself, "Let me go and confirm whether what they saw was indeed my enemy."

As a priestess, she has the privilege of viewing the memories of the dead demons whose souls returned to the Great Demon Tree. Even if it's only for a moment before death, it's enough to learn a lot of information.

"Doslai Bo, Doslai Bo"

She silently recited the other person's name, and through this medium, she glimpsed Doslai Bo's memories of the most intense emotional fluctuations before his death.

A pitch-black space, with stars flickering in the distance.

A colossal celestial body rotates in this space, which is filled with deathly silence and coldness.

Ounuo La didn't know this was called the universe. She was bewildered. Why did Doslai Bo see such a sight before he died? The coldness of the universe made her shrink back.

Just then, she felt a warmth coming from behind her, like the warmth of her father's embrace when she was a child.

Instinctively, Ounuo La turned her head and saw a circle.

A yellow sun?

"Aaaaaah!"

Ounuo La screamed hysterically.

The connection to the Great Demon Tree was abruptly severed, and her delicate body fell directly to the ground.

Cold sweat poured down her forehead, she covered her eyes, and gasped for breath.

"What... what did I just see? What was that thing?"

When her gaze met the yellow flames, her soul felt as if it were being burned, her body seemed to return to chaos, and she was plunged into an indescribable and immense fear.

If the Great Demon Tree hadn't severed the connection to protect her, she probably would already be...

Ounuo La sat on the ground, unable to calm herself down for a long time.

Her rather out-of-control scream had already caused a commotion outside. The guards wanted to come in and find out what was going on, but they hesitated because of her reputation.

What exactly did Doslai Bo go through?

That yellow thing... I can't imagine it anymore. It looks like the product of some kind of divine power. Could it be an evil god? In any case, I can't investigate it any further.

She took a deep breath, dismissed the guards, and stood in front of the Great Demon Tree once more.

Her earlier loss of composure filled her with shame and indignation. She had tried her best to play the role of a ruthless ruler in front of her people, but she hadn't expected to lose her composure because of Doslai Bo's memories.

"Jia Nage's memory will never have any problems again."

Thinking this, Ounuo La pressed down on the Great Demon Tree again.

And then—

"Ahh!"