Lin Yi stood on the road leading west, his gaze blazing as he stared ahead.
There was indeed a faint screen of light before the passage. Transparent and difficult to detect, it was nonetheless like an impassable barrier.
Tiny runes seemed to flow across the light screen, emanating a mysterious power that kept all players outside.
Unlike everyone else, however, Lin Yi could see the light screen's specific attributes.
[Wall of Nightmares] Type: Barrier Grade: Z Effect: A barrier separating the strong from the weak, the righteous from the wicked. All creatures whose own combat power is below ten million are prohibited from entering. Entry requirement: Player combat power greater than 9,999,999! Description: A place only the strong may enter. Do you have the courage to set foot inside?
Lin Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of doubt flashing through his mind as he studied the seemingly invisible light screen before him.
At this stage, Lin Yi was probably the only person in Novice Village No. 4396 with ten million combat power!
They might as well have listed Lin Yi's ID number as the entry requirement!
Although Lin Yi's memories of Novice Village No. 4396 from his previous life were no longer particularly clear, there had definitely been no such thing as this [Wall of Nightmares].
There was no doubt about it. He was being targeted!
Some unseen existence was secretly pushing him to come here.
While Lin Yi pondered, the surrounding players continued shouting, trying to find a way through the light screen.
Yet whenever someone approached the entrance to the passage, they seemed to hit an invisible wall and could not advance another inch.
The crooked sign mercilessly shattered everyone's dignity.
Some attacked it with weapons and skills, but those still had no effect whatsoever.
It was as though this wall were an insurmountable chasm, barring their way.
"Save your breath. We've tried everything. There's no getting out!"
"What the hell does this mean? Only the strong can pass through here?"
"This is bullying! We haven't even left the novice village. How are we already weaklings?"
"So we can only get stronger by leaving, but we can't leave unless we're strong?"
"This reminds me of my job interviews back then. Over a dozen companies rejected me for having no experience. None of them would hire me. Where the fuck was I supposed to get experience?!"
"Could it be a game bug?"
"Definitely not! Look at those eight big characters. That's blatant mockery!"
"Could that [Return to Zero] guy have done this?"
"Holy shit! You've got a point!"
"Well, damn! And to think I actually admired him a little! Now I finally see him for what he is!"
"Confirmed! [Return to Zero] was afraid we'd steal his opportunities, so he deliberately blocked the road!"
"Son of a bitch! That bastard has no decency!"
"After all the hard work I put into helping him complete an EXP quest, he's turning his back on us already?"
"That guy above me? You little shit, you got a good deal and you're still complaining!"
Everyone seemed to have found an outlet, instantly shifting their attacks from complaints about the game to resentment toward Lin Yi.
Although they did not have complete evidence, the flames of their jealousy seemed to have scorched away their last remaining scraps of reason.
Lin Yi's gaze slowly grew calm. He squeezed through the crowd and reached the front.
He cast another indifferent glance at the sign inside the barrier, which read, "Weaklings and dogs, no entry."
Hmm...
That statement was a bit too sweeping!
Dogs had different tiers too!
Good dogs could guard a home, making them somewhat useful.
Mad dogs that had lost their reason, however, served no purpose beyond being annoying.
Clang!
Click!
Whoosh!
After stepping out of the crowd, Lin Yi instantly equipped every piece of gear he could wear.
The Mountain Armor fitted Lin Yi perfectly, reflecting a dazzling gleam. Like the armor of a war god, it appeared indestructible.
The Shadow Cloak billowed in the wind, its black fabric rustling. Its edges swayed gently in the breeze, emanating an elusive aura.
Behind Lin Yi, a pair of colorless wings rose and fell gracefully. They seemed woven from the purest light and shadow, transparent and dreamlike.
Two eerie wisps of spectral light drifted from the Spectral Fangs, the pair of S-grade earrings at Lin Yi's earlobes, looking especially mysterious in the morning light.
The greatsword in Lin Yi's right hand was broad and heavy, its blade resting against the ground and glinting with a chilling coldness.
Facing the unknown existence beyond the barrier, Lin Yi decisively chose to fully arm himself.
Granted, aside from the [Stardust Triangle Chain], the other equipment did not give him particularly large bonuses.
But Lin Yi's ten years of gaming experience kept him from letting his guard down.
"Zero Game" was a dangerous world!
Everyone's talent could have a counter!
There were countless examples of those with low combat power defeating those with high combat power!
Unless he was 100% certain!
Otherwise...
He could not underestimate anyone or take any battle lightly!
Even a lion used its full strength to hunt a rabbit!
Gasp!
At the sight of Lin Yi's impressive full set of equipment, everyone sucked in a sharp breath.
"You! You're!"
A warrior in the crowd stared at Lin Yi, his eyes wide and his expression blank.
Scrape-
The greatsword dragged along the ground, throwing off sparks.
Ignoring everyone's shock, Lin Yi slowly walked toward the invisible wall.
As casually as if strolling through a courtyard, he passed through the invisible wall that had blocked everyone else!
Yet at that very moment, to the onlookers, Lin Yi seemed to enter another dimension, instantly vanishing before their eyes.
"Congratulations on unlocking the novice village's unique dungeon, [Nightmare Deadlands]. A race-wide announcement will be issued throughout this universe. Would you like to hide your name?"
The system notification sounded beside Lin Yi's ears, its voice carrying a trace of mechanical indifference.
Lin Yi narrowed his eyes slightly as he surveyed the unfamiliar scene before him.
He tightened his grip on his sword, grinned, and replied:
"Don't hide it!"
Suddenly!
A ding rang out across the sky for a full five seconds!
Three announcements resounded among the human players of this universe in batch 8,836,002,300,000,433!
"Race-wide announcement! Player [Return to Zero] of Novice Village No. 4396 has unlocked the novice village's unique dungeon, [Nightmare Deadlands (AA)]! [Return to Zero] is rewarded with one random two-star equipment item! All other players in Novice Village No. 4396 are rewarded with one random one-star equipment item!" "Race-wide announcement!..." "Race-wide announcement!..."
The three announcements struck like thunderclaps, shaking every player's heart.
They stopped what they were doing and looked up at the sky, their eyes filled with confusion and shock.