The three cracks appeared out of thin air, each starting from the top of the crystal pillar and Spread downwards.
As the sound of shattering glass continued to echo, an inexplicable murderous aura began to permeate the players.
Although the crystals had not yet shown any obvious Shattered, everyone knew it was only a matter of time.
A few steps away, [ the Good Times Don't Last ], staring blankly at this scene, the small hammer in his hand drooped limply:
"Could it be that I broke the seal?"
You might be overestimating yourself a bit.
The person next to me, [ the Do Some Farm Work ], said:
"If the cracks started Spread from under your feet, I think that's a possibility."
"But after all that work, you haven't even managed to break a single shard, yet you insist you broke the seal. That just feels like you're trying to make yourself look good."
[ The Good Times Don't Last long] Upon hearing this, his expression froze. There was no awe in his eyes for breaking the seal; instead, there was only regret for his failed attempt.
"Oh, I was just thinking about it."
So what should we do now?
At this moment, a voice rang out: [The voice of Lion Hidden in the Eyes ]
"I suggest everyone leave the crystal cluster first, then observe the situation. If any problems arise, summon Ed immediately."
"Help... me..."
Just then, a weak but clear voice suddenly entered everyone's ears, as if it had exploded directly in their minds.
The players looked at each other in bewilderment, searching for the source of the sound.
Just then, someone suddenly pointed to the crystal cluster in the middle, the one that sealed the "runaway nobleman," and said:
"It's him! His eyes just moved!"
All eyes instantly turned to the crystal cluster, and several players who had their backs to it jumped away to create distance, turning back to watch it warily.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the middle-aged man in the crystal blinked again, as if doing so had exhausted all his strength.
And at that moment, that weak voice came again:
"You... humans?"
Is this asking if they are human?
The player currently closest to the crystal is [ Traditional Eccentric Wheel ]. He exchanged a glance with the others, nodded, and gave a formulaic answer from a player:
"We are the Tree Worship Church. Who are you? And who are they?"
The figure in the crystal blinked again, as if forcing itself to take a breath, and said:
"The nobles being hunted down, both of them are vampires, the Grand Duke, the Duke!"
As time went by and the cracks widened, the "runaway aristocrat" could say more and more.
Although he didn't name anyone specifically, everyone knew he was referring to the other two sealed individuals.
Meanwhile, the figure in the middle, the "runaway noblewoman," was still chattering away, and seemed to be in even better spirits than before.
"I am a high-ranking nobleman of the kingdom! If you rescue me, I will bestow titles upon you!"
"Even if you are priests of the Tree Worship Church, it doesn't matter. I know the Cardinals, and I will speak to them personally!"
"Help me, help me!"
His tone was quite sincere, and the medieval noble titles were certainly tempting.
But I always felt he was hiding something.
Upon hearing this, the [ Shit Appraisal Master ] couldn't help but think of --
Why does a high-ranking nobleman of a kingdom have no guards by his side?
He didn't have any family crest or anything like that on him, and if he were truly so Fragility, why would he attract the pursuit of two experts?
It seems he's hiding something from them.
However, just as the trapped figure finished speaking, as if not giving everyone time to think, the figure high above at the edge of the crystal cluster also underwent a change.
A not-so-bright Psionic Energy glow appeared in the young mage's hand, illuminating the enclosed underground space.
Several players who were relatively close to him squinted and looked over. This time, they finally saw clearly the material of the staff in the young man's hand.
It was a pale, long spine! And...
"That looks like a human spine..."
A player with a medical background among the crowd frowned and muttered to himself.
No wonder there was a faint smell of blood in the air, no wonder the staff had such distinct segments, the reason was actually this!
Could this must-have creature be some kind of legendary dark magic user?
As the Psionic Energy glow converged, the rate at which cracks appeared on the other two massive crystal pillars suddenly increased.
In less than a few breaths, the two figures, a man and a woman, became blurred and indistinct due to the numerous cracks.
The crackling sound continued incessantly, getting faster and faster, like a sudden downpour on a summer night, before finally becoming a continuous cascade after a few "drips".
The tension in everyone's hearts grew stronger, and the Shattered sound echoing in their ears seemed like a different kind of countdown, urging them to make a choice.
Just as something big was about to happen, [ Traditional Eccentric Wheel ] suddenly spoke loudly in the native language of another world:
"It's too late to run! We have to choose a side to help now!"
"Otherwise, we'll definitely be caught in a pincer attack once they recover!"
The words are simple, but making a decision at this moment is not so easy.
Three powerful individuals are about to awaken; two of them are the type who will draw their swords and attack anyone they see, and the third is hiding something from everyone.
How should I choose?
Everyone fell into deep thought for a moment, but then one person stepped forward—it was none other than [ Good Times Don't Last ].
He looked at the "runaway nobleman" and asked:
"There are more than twenty of us here. What titles can you bestow upon us?"
"Anything is fine, as long as it's not taller than me!"
The figure inside the crystal shouted in a mixture of shock and anger:
"Save me first, otherwise no matter how high the price, you won't get anything!"
"How can I get you out of here?"
"Break the crystal and I'll be free! Almost there! Hurry, they're about to escape!"
[ The Good Times Don't Last ] He nodded, turned to the crowd, and said:
"Brothers, his offer seems pretty good, how about we..."
Before he could finish speaking, he noticed that the other Soul Returner around him had already left him one by one.
Some people left voluntarily, while others left along with those around them after seeing them leave.
Even more shockingly, some of them, while pulling their bewildered companions away, couldn't help but whisper a few words to each other.
As for the content, it is related to a certain "ancient curse" --
It is said that when [ Good Times Don't Last ] and [ Shit Appraisal Master ] get together, any crucial decisions they make will go terribly wrong.
Among players familiar with the two, this mysterious and metaphysical conclusion is no secret.
The players who had just met were quickly informed of this by the others, and they all voted with their feet, moving away to the sides.
In just a few breaths, the players had already formed two distinct factions.
On one hand, it's a case of " Good Times Don't Last," and on the other hand, it's not " Good Times Don't Last."