Return of the Dead

We can ask Ma Xiaoyun about this later when she arrives.

The agreed time with Ma Xiaoyun was noon, and Ma Xiaoyun arrived shortly after.

I had met Ma Xiaoyun once before, but I didn't have a deep impression of her. Today, I realized that she was also a beautiful woman. She was dressed in a white robe as white as snow and wore a pair of large decorative glasses, which made her look quite scholarly.

"Welcome, welcome. But by the way, how did you become a game writer?" Xiao Yu asked curiously.

Ma Xiaoyun, on the other hand, seemed to take it all for granted.

"I'm the screenwriter, after all. I'm responsible for controlling the entire game's storyline. Otherwise, what do you think we're busy with all the time?"

Xiao Yu hesitated, then said, "For example—maintaining the system, combating cheating, and things like that."

"Haha, you're hilarious. The game 'Sky World' is different from other games. The system is completely self-sustaining, and cheating is absolutely impossible. This isn't a technical issue, but rather due to the system's operating mechanism. Even the game developers can't control the game. We can only guide the plot through the power of the gods within the game. That's what I usually do, but recently the Demon King Tournament needs a lot of story writers, so I was transferred to this group."

"I see. But, putting aside the promotional video for now, I'd like to ask about the rules of this competition first."

Xiao Yu then voiced his question, concluding with, "So, is it possible to bring NPCs into battle?"

Ma Xiaoyun nodded. "NPCs can participate in battles, but—they must be NPCs you have complete control over, meaning they are completely loyal to you and you can Overlord their life or death. NPCs like Neptulon, Al'Akir, Therazane, who are half-loyal and half-ally, won't qualify."

Xiao Yu sighed helplessly upon hearing this, but thinking about it, it made sense; if it were really possible to bring it along, it would be a bit of a bug.

"So Ragnaros can be brought along?" Since Ragnaros was resurrected as an elemental golem after being killed by him, he is now completely under his control.

Ma Xiaoyun nodded. "Of course you can bring the Hydra demigod Sgelari, the resurrected Flame Spirit Amalarui, and Wotkud. Don't look at me like that. Although we GMs can't directly control the game, we can still access the data. I know all the NPCs around you very well."

Xiao Yu thought to himself, "So that's how it is," but this still wasn't enough. Ragnaros was an eight-skull level being, and Sgelari was only a five-skull level being. Even with the attribute bonuses from the Hydra demigods, their combat power was at most a six-skull level being. Only these two were still usable. The remaining Big Water Cunt, Leah Bloodmoon, Walter Kud, Agnes, Amalarui —none of them were above the five-skull level. It seemed that this lineup was still a bit weak if they were to fight the Demon King Team Competition.

He hadn't originally thought this way, but after looking at the Demon King Ranking, he realized that he wasn't the only player BOSS who gained immense power through a fortuitous encounter. There were hundreds of millions of players in the entire Sky World game, and tens of millions of them played the monster templates. Among so many players, there were bound to be some powerful BOSSes with exceptional skills and luck.

Should we ask other player lords for help? But if that's the case, we'll probably have to give them a share of the prize money.

"So what about the Evil Forces Competition? What are its rules?"

Ma Xiaoyun said, "The rules of the evil forces are like this: the total number of units that can participate in the battle is 1,000 population. Note that it is 1,000 population, not 1,000 people. For example, a Water Elemental takes up 1 population, an elite Water Elemental takes up 2 population, an adult hydra takes up 10 population, and an ancient hydra takes up 20 population. You have played the Lord Mode, so you should know how it works."

You can deploy up to three bosses to lead your troops—including yourself, of course. You need to plan your team composition before the competition starts, as it cannot be changed once the competition begins.

After the two sides are matched, a map will be randomly selected. Each map has different map elements and rules. Sometimes there will be neutral NPC or monster factions that can be allied with or utilized. However, the ultimate goal is to kill all enemies or destroy the enemy's monster hall, just like a traditional real-time strategy game. This competition is more suitable for those who are commander-type bosses. After all, a great demon king can't just be good at fighting alone; command ability is also very important.

Xiao Yu thought to himself that this competition sounded very interesting, but there seemed to be more variables involved as well.

"What about the Strongest Demon King Competition?"

Ma Xiaoyun said, "The Strongest Demon King Competition is relatively simple. A separate space is randomly generated, with two opposing BOSSes fighting to the death until a winner is determined. In addition, all the maps for the tournament are independent, so dying in the map will not have any impact on your in-game performance."

Xiao Yu nodded. "I understand." He understood, but he still hadn't decided which competition he wanted to participate in. "Any suggestions?" he suddenly asked, looking up.

Since Ma Xiaoyun can see the game data, he should know his own strengths and weaknesses.

Ma Xiaoyun smiled slightly, "According to the rules, we generally can't reveal this, but considering you've cooperated with us once before, I'll give you some personal advice. Elemental creatures are relatively powerful among monsters of the same population, so if it were me, I would probably choose the Evil Forces Battle."

Xiao Yu thought to himself, "So that's how it is. Then let's just Evil Forces Battle."

Using earth as a tank, fire for damage, Water Elemental to slow enemies, and wind for mobility and scouts, this elemental army works together to be incredibly powerful.

Ma Xiaoyun asked, "So, did you watch that promotional video?"

Xiao Yu shook his head. "I haven't watched it yet. I was just waiting for you to come and watch it together."

Let's put the competition aside for now and watch that promotional video first.

Xiao Yu took out a virtual disc and inserted it directly into a video player in the office. He then called over several people from the studio, and they gathered around the video player to watch it.

There are five sample promotional videos in total. Let's start with the first one, "The Return of the Dead".

The opening scene is completely black, with occasional background sounds of fighting and battle, seemingly setting the tone for the film. Then, a deep, magnetic voice begins to narrate.

Narrator: "My name is Spencer, a prince of the Duchy of Sarion. My homeland Duchy of Sarion, is situated on Tranquility and beautiful Eastern Plains, and has always been renowned for its idyllic scenery."

The scene unfolds with a beautiful pastoral landscape accompanied by narration: an elegant castle, valiant soldiers, peaceful farmers, children playing and laughing, and a handsome prince dressed in magnificent armor, riding a white horse through the city streets, followed by a troop of imposing knights. The prince waves to the people on both sides of the street as he rides, creating a leisurely and carefree scene.

Narrator: I once had a wonderful life, but the Orcs invasion destroyed all that peace. When the Orcs army crossed the Dark Portal and invaded Azeroth, I was ordered to lead my country's army to join the Alliance army and lead my soldiers to fight against the Orcs. The war was extremely brutal, and my friends fell one by one, but for the peace of our homeland, it was all worth it.

The scene depicts the prince leading his human army in constant battles against the Orcs, showcasing the prince's bravery and the cruelty of war.

Narrator: But on the eve of victory in the war, a piece of terrible news suddenly came: an Orcs army broke through the Alliance's encirclement and invaded my homeland. Due to the lack of soldiers to defend it, my homeland was destroyed. When I returned home, I saw corpses everywhere and devastation all around me.

The scene shifts: an Orcs army storms into the duchy, farmers are killed, castles are razed to the ground, and blood and flames engulf everything.

Narrator: The people of the Duchy of Sarion have perished in this catastrophe. The Orcs must pay for their atrocities. I have once again entered the battlefield, but this time, not for the Alliance, but for my fallen brethren.

The scene shifts again: several montage shots show Prince Spencer fighting with Orcs, his handsome face contorted with rage, yet also tinged with a tragic grandeur.

Narrator: However, after defeating the Orcs, the kings and leaders of the Alliance did not kill these Bloodlust beasts, but instead imprisoned them in concentration camps. At the same time, they schemed against each other for the territory of the Duchy of Sarion, and the sacrifices were forgotten. The heroic risks of our people resulted in the division of our land. This was a naked betrayal. These hypocritical and greedy Alliance politicians must pay the price for their betrayal.

In the scene, Prince Spencer charges at the king of the Alliance but is easily killed, his body left to rot in the wilderness. The music becomes mournful and tragic. Time flies by, and in an overhead view, the prince's handsome body loses its appearance and becomes ugly and grotesque.

Narrator: However, the vast difference in power defeated me. I finally understood that justice and righteousness do not exist in this world. Only power is eternal. My body lay in the wilderness of Lordaeron, exposed to the wind and rain. My soul remained because of the deep-seated hatred. And at this moment, an opportunity appeared before me.

In the scene, a necromancer shrouded in black robes appeared beside the corpse. The necromancer bent down and gently touched the corpse's brow with his finger. Suddenly, the dead Prince Spencer opened his eyes again, and this time, his eyes emitted the blue light of the soul fire of the Undead.

Narrator: A powerful necromancer demonstrated his immense power to me—a power capable of reviving the Duchy of Sarion, a power capable of fulfilling my vengeance. Now, I will wield this power to exact revenge on the Alliance and the Horde. However, before that, I must assemble a massive army.

In the scene, the prince, transformed into Death Knight, rides a skeletal warhorse slowly through the wilderness. Eventually, he arrives at the ruins of the Kingdom of Sarion on the Eastern Plains.

Narrator: Wake up, my subjects! Your sacrifices will not be forgotten! Wake up, soldiers of the Duchy of Sarion! Your prince needs your service!

In the scene, the fallen soldiers and the slaughtered farmers rise from the wreckage and ruins, flowing like water to form a massive army of the Undead. The scene suddenly zooms out, revealing this army stretching into the distance as if it were endless.

Narrator: When my armies sweep across the world, both the Alliance and the Horde will regret all the sins they committed against me and my people—this torrent of vengeance—

In the scene, a Death Knight riding a Frost Wyrm appears on a mountaintop, with Undead army marching forward below him. Suddenly, the Death Knight turns around, facing the screen, and then the frost bone dragon flaps its wings and flies into the sky.

Narrator: Nothing can stop us!

THEEND