Beep beep.
Xiahou Fuxing spotted the massive dragon soaring in the sky and excitedly blew the Junlin horn. The players, who were moments away from breaking formation, suddenly surged forward with renewed vigor, as if injected with adrenaline.
"Ulla!"
"Kill!"
"Let's take him down!"
"Bagayaloo!"
The battle cries echoed deafeningly, and the players charged into the throng of undead monsters with fierce determination. The flesh grinder was suddenly upgraded once more.
While the players saw only a censored version of the chaos, Bai Yi witnessed the brutal reality of blood and flesh flying everywhere.
As an NPC, Bai Yi felt the terrifying power of the players. The only true limitations for them were not laws or severe punishments, but rather the level cap. Even a level 25 player from the White Plague could sense the danger. If they were to reach level 50, even with just six million players, the order would be shattered.
The familiar charge reignited Bai Yi's own bloodlust. He focused his gaze on Xiahou Fuxing, pondering the impact of the bugle call. It was surprisingly effective.
Turning his attention away, he spotted an orc—a mid-level gold berserker—who had halted his onslaught. The berserker's bloodshot eyes were locked onto the White Plague, gathering strength for a devastating attack.
Bai Yi smiled, raising his hand as countless machines erupted around him. Nearly one million magnetic mechanical bodies converged to form a giant nearly 100 meters tall.
The berserker's scarlet intent intensified, revealing his violent aura. He clenched his sword tightly, lowered his body, and leaped into the air.
The ground shattered beneath him, sending shockwaves that knocked nearby players off their feet.
With a resounding crash, he collided with the mechanical giant.
Boom!
A tremendous roar echoed in the sky as the seemingly invincible giant was shattered into pieces, the magnetic mechanical bodies collapsing like dark clouds, obscuring the midday sun.
"What the hell? Did he just shatter a Gundam with his bare hands? Is this the alchemist's ultimate form?"
"Fuck, I'm envious! What's happening?"
"Look at the boss! Why is his health bar dropping so fast even though he's in control?"
"Awesome! I don't fully understand it, but I'm deeply impressed!"
"Hey, I'm an alchemist. I think I'll abandon my potion-making to become a mechanic!"
"Beep, beep, beep!"
The charge sound grew increasingly urgent, roaring wildly in both the live broadcast and on the battlefield.
The players' blood surged, emotions reaching a fever pitch. With their mana depleted, the mages charged forward, staffs in hand. In this tense moment, only a charge could express their exhilaration.
"Roar~"
The golden berserker bellowed defiantly, but the mechanical ground beneath him held firm.
Micro-machines, invisible to the naked eye, continued to consume his body. The energy from his flesh and blood ignited the gold-eating bugs within him, causing them to glow faintly before exploding.
"Roar~"
A frantic and agonized roar erupted from the berserker's lips. His rationality began to fade, giving way to overwhelming rage.
In his mind, this level 50 opponent should have been weaker than him, yet he was unleashing power that crushed him.
His dignity as a strong warrior felt insulted.
The berserker's fury often unleashed a force that left others in despair.
Buzz~
The scarlet light flashed as the gold-eating bugs gnawing at his internal organs were obliterated. The blessing from the Scarlet Lord restored him to full strength, enhancing his abilities across the board.
Boom!
The sky blazed with scarlet, overpowering the dark mass of machines. The berserker's eyes shone with a fierce light, and an overwhelming presence stilled the battlefield below.
Players swallowed hard. While there had been a berserker before, they hadn't paid much attention due to the Whispering Legion. This time was different. Bai Yi had already captured their focus, and the boss battle unfolded right above them. The sheer power ignited their desire to fight, even if they knew they couldn't break through the defenses.
Bai Yi observed the boss and momentarily set aside his chat with Diane.
A mid-level gold boss could unleash such power; the Scarlet Lord truly lived up to the reputation of an ancient god.
But he was still a boss!
Accumulated Soul!
Bai Yi raised one hand, forming a gun gesture. Behind him, a blue phantom appeared, mirroring his actions.
Under Zero's control, the magnetic mechanical bodies formed dozens of massive mechanical cones, ready to launch at the giant shadow.
Tiny cones materialized beside Bai Yi, mirroring the larger ones.
The berserker's scarlet gaze intensified. He stomped on the ground, causing the magnetic mechanical bodies below him to explode.
He charged toward the White Plague at an incredible speed.
"Bang~"
Bai Yi flicked his fingers, and the revolver held by the giant shadow behind him discharged with immense force.
A small azure bullet shot forth, colliding with the berserker.
Buzz~
With 800 points of spirit representing the golden limit, the soul bullet struck the berserker's brow. His body surged forward, but suddenly, it felt as though two figures appeared in mid-air.
Ding ding ding.
The magnetic mechanical cones burst forth with a metallic rhythm, racing toward the boss.
The force of impact sent centimeter-sized mechanical bodies arcing through the air, striking the berserker's chest like a colossal electric drill.
Buzz~
"Uh!"
The golden boss let out a muffled groan, his entire body propelled backward, crashing into the enemy ranks.
Boom!
The ground cracked under the immense force, stunning players below. Even those who had watched the video yesterday were awestruck.
But witnessing it firsthand revealed just how powerful their city lord truly was.
[You killed a level 65 gold boss. Experience +50,000, Skill Point +1, Free Attribute Point +1, Additional Experience +50,000.]
[You killed a level 30 scarlet soldier. Experience +30.]
[You killed a level 13 scarlet soldier. Experience +5.]
Bai Yi's mental energy surged, and a golden longsword appeared in his hand. The surrounding mechanical cones dispersed, swiftly returning to his space ring.
[You obtained the golden equipment: Bloodthirsty Sword.]
After acknowledging the bewildered players below, the mechanical dragon flapped its wings and soared toward the next battlefield.
A mid-level gold boss was still far too powerful for the players, so Bai Yi needed to clean it up. The rest could be left for the players to level up.
Once the military merit system was launched, the stronger the players became, the better it would be for the Federation.
On the plain battlefield, Xiahou Fuxing stood in stunned silence, momentarily forgetting to blow the horn. He murmured, "Isn't Bai Yi only level 54? That monster is above level 60; how could he be killed in an instant?"
His words echoed through the live broadcast, snapping players in the war zone back to reality.
Exclamations erupted, bolstering their morale.
"The plot is over! Brothers, follow me! It's time to slay some monsters!"
"Go, go, go! Don't push the crystal in front; this is a rare leveling point! This game finally found its conscience—look at all these monsters! I want to level up a few more times!"
"Right! Charge! Xiahou Fuxing, sound the horn! I feel so powerful now!"
"The city lord is incredible! Brothers, charge and take him down!"
"Beep, beep, beep!"
As morale soared on the plain battlefield, White Plague arrived at the nearest battlefield, where the Guard Brigade was assembled.
Upon entering the live broadcast room, he immediately recognized a familiar tune.
Feeling a rush of emotions, he noted that the players still knew how to set the atmosphere, though those here were facing dire circumstances.
Having wasted time on the first boss, players in this area were being swiftly overwhelmed.
The valley terrain, while advantageous for players, also made it easier for bosses to dispatch them.
Players struggled to disperse. A fighter slammed his fist into the ground, causing the earth to shatter, instantly killing hundreds.
Complaints erupted among the players, as their skills proved ineffective against a boss of this caliber.
Only targeting the eyes offered a slight chance of success, but the boss's speed made that opportunity scarce.
More than three thousand players had already fallen.
Ignoring the White Plague, the dark side emerged, the evil blade glimmering, ready for a bloody backstab.
A profound sense of crisis enveloped the fighter, whose heightened combat intuition alerted him to the mid-level gold boss's presence.
But it was futile. Darkside's attributes had reached the level of a level 68 boss, rivaling top-tier bosses like Charles.
Under the weight of superior attributes and skills, the fighter felt an icy chill creeping up his neck just as he prepared to unleash his ultimate move.
Suddenly, a sharp sensation pierced through him.
"Roar~"
The dragon's might surged, and the dragon roared.
Bolton plummeted from the sky, leaving a trail of blood before vanishing from the battlefield.
The players surrounding the boss were left stunned.
"What just flew by so quickly?"
"Where did the boss go?"
"Wait, the boss was killed instantly? This seems like a legitimate instant kill!"
"Where's the boss's loot? Do they drop equipment when they die?"
"Forget it. The boss's sword on the plain battlefield was taken by Bai Yi. Our city lord is strong, but he won't miss any equipment!"
"Who cares? I just felt a sense of disgust; I don't know what's going on."
Nearby, a guard concealed within the cracks of space seemed deep in thought. It appeared that the files regarding the White Plague were due for an update. Could he switch between forms at will?
Perhaps the nine SSS-level potentials promoted by the Federation could uncover a way to manipulate some data, ensuring their popularity remained intact.
[You killed a level 64 gold boss. Experience +48,000, Skill Point +1, Additional Experience +48,000.]
[You absorb the blood and evil thoughts of the golden boss. Your dark side strength +2, Agility +3, Endurance +1, Intelligence +2.]
[You obtained the golden equipment: Lion Heart Necklace.]
[You killed a level 67 gold boss. Experience +55,000, Skill Point +1, Free Attribute Point +1, Additional Experience +55,000.]
[You absorb the blood and evil thoughts of the golden boss. Your dark power +2, Agility +1, Endurance +2, Intelligence +3.]
[You obtained the golden equipment: Frost War Axe.]
[The growth rate of your Evil Blade has reached 86%.]
[Your soul lantern has reached its upper limit, 1000%. Subsequent kills will no longer collect soul energy.]
After sweeping through two battlefields in succession, Bai Yi was taken aback by the series of prompts on his panel. Unbeknownst to him, his soul lantern had reached its limit. Unfortunately, his soul could not be upgraded at this time.
It seemed he would need to find a recipe for a potion that could be preserved without hindering the continued absorption of the Soul Lantern.
Bai Yi stood atop the bone dragon and swiftly flew toward the final battle zone.
Once he dealt with the bosses across all four battlefields, he wouldn't need to worry about the others.
While level 25 players posed a threat, it was manageable. Dongwu City could still accommodate them, but the Transformed Legion would quickly fill up. In the future, the Apocalypse Legion might have to guard the outer city, while the inner city would require a Transformed Legion to keep increasingly powerful players in check.
As he pondered, Bai Yi arrived at the fourth war zone. He toyed with the Evil Blade in his hand, eyeing the boss wreaking havoc.
Just as he was about to act, an overwhelming sense of danger washed over him.
Frowning, he scanned the innermost part of the valley, sensing imminent peril.
A smile curled on Bai Yi's lips.
Space Penetration! Bloody Backstab!
Swoosh~
The mid-level gold boss was no longer a threat. Bai Yi held the severed head of a night elf aloft, casually brandishing it toward the source of danger.
On the battlefield, he maintained a nonchalant demeanor.
After Darkside acquired the expertise of extremely evil creatures, that frivolous feeling had vanished. As his skills and knowledge grew, so too would his combat prowess.
To the players, these bosses were formidable foes, but to him, they were mere templates.
The players below fell silent for a moment, then erupted with fervor, propelled by the ancient Xia war song as they advanced into the valley.
"White Plague, go! Brothers, charge into the valley! Don't push the crystal; think about the gold coins—let's take him down!"
A frenzied roar erupted as Demacia rode a giant bat, issuing fervent commands.
This was Demacia's second permanent summon, now at maximum level.
Thanks to random summoning, he had been fortunate enough to call forth beings from the abyss or hell. In this high-stakes battle, it was easy for him to reach peak power.
Without looking further, Bai Yi sensed the threat. The mechanical dragon beneath him flapped its wings and carried him swiftly toward Dongwu City.
In the kingdom beyond the teleportation array…
Bang!
The throne shattered as Hanbuna glared at the projection screen, her eyes bloodshot with murderous intent.
Sharp fangs glistened at the corners of her mouth. Just as she prepared to act, an intense wave of sharpness caught her attention.
Looking up, she spotted a gleaming sword hovering above her, sending a wave of dread coursing through her.
"You old bastard!"
Low curses escaped her lips as soldiers in the distance suddenly shrank back, their life forces swiftly diminishing.
A new throne formed from blood materialized, and she seated herself once more. A glass of red wine appeared in her hand, while the wrist of a green-haired elf behind her was cut open, strands of scarlet flowing into her goblet like ribbons.
After sipping the blood, the irritation and murderous intent in her eyes subsided, replaced by the rich taste. She waved her hand dismissively, ordering, "Increase the troops. Let's see if we can break through. If he wants to train his forces, we'll test the combat effectiveness of the soldiers beyond the wonders."
"Yes!"
A respectful voice responded, but Hanbuna remained preoccupied, sensing the sharpness in the void once more.
She felt a wave of boredom wash over her.
Although Charles had arrived in Dongwu City early on, he remained outside the East Gate, beyond the Federation's borders.
Those favored by the ancient gods dared to wander outside the country but refrained from stepping into forbidden areas.
After all, they couldn't be certain whether the old sword would fall upon them.
"Perhaps we can try to unite…"
The whispered voice faded away, unheard by anyone.