Chapitre 3: Night Rose
The abyss and mutation zones within a hundred miles of Dongwu City had been cleared, and the followers of the ancient gods would not approach the Dawn Federation for now.
Bai Yi understood what they were waiting for. In the next thirty years, no one would dare provoke a legendary swordsman nearing the end of his life—even a god.
They were calculating the arrival of other powerful beings at dawn, retracting their claws and prying eyes as they waited quietly for the sword to fade.
Bai Yi observed his "boss template," focusing on experience points, skill points, and free attribute points. These were not unfamiliar to him. Free attribute points were rare, usually awarded as task rewards, since each game upgrade automatically added points based on occupation and breakthrough impact.
In essence, each attribute point was an additional enhancement, akin to an ordinary NPC acquiring a precious potion that permanently increased their stats. The scarcity of attribute points highlighted the exceptional nature of his [Spiritual Growth] specialty. A 90-point mental power increase was substantial. By standard player metrics, 190 points in mental power placed him in the silver range, around levels 38–43.
And he was still improving. Truly, he was worthy of the boss template.
The benefits of a strong spirit were clear: it empowered Bai Yi's soul, sharpened his mind, and made his thoughts more flexible. It could even form a force that augmented his combat power, allowing him to notice things he might otherwise miss.
Bai Yi paused, his leather shoes pressing into the snow. He tightened his windbreaker, pulling the hood up to shield his eyes. In the stark white landscape, his black attire stood out, and his footsteps slowed.
Whoosh, whoosh.
The snowfall intensified, reducing visibility. A blizzard seemed imminent. Thumb-sized mechanical balls floated around the hem of his windbreaker, swirling with the goose-feather snowflakes.
Stopping at the valley's exit, Bai Yi reached into his windbreaker's lining, pulling out a black revolver. His mental power subtly stimulated the pistol, sparking arcs of electricity. He smoothly released the safety, aimed at the field ahead, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Boom!
The explosion amplified the surrounding snow and wind, and the special bullets—many times faster than sound—pierced the snow.
"Ah…"
A low hum sounded, followed by blue arcs that scattered snowflakes. Crimson began to spread across the white, creating a striking contrast.
Boom! Boom, boom, boom.
The revolver kept spinning, blue arcs dancing. Bai Yi's mental power locked onto a rat trying to ambush him. The bronze-level revolver's recoil made his hands tremble, but his mental strength allowed him to fire five bullets with powerful kinetic energy in rapid succession.
Bai Yi's breath misted in the icy air, adding to the already poor visibility.
"Leave me… just kill me…"
Through the blurred snowfall, a hideous figure that had been lying in ambush began to flee, letting out sharp cries that the blizzard intermittently swallowed. It looked desperate and humiliated.
Bai Yi's mental power tracked the fleeing creature, and he adjusted his aim.
Boom!
With another loud report, the creature stopped, slowly fell forward, and vanished into the snow.
A smile spread across Bai Yi's face as arcs flared from his revolver. The intense electric light pierced through the snow and wind, carrying an almost sacred quality.
He raised his arm, sharply aiming left, and fired.
Buzz~
Six bullets fired, the blue electric arc concentrating into a beam that burst forward.
Boom!
Another loud explosion sounded like shattering glass, exposing the hunter hiding behind the bait.
Clap, clap.
Applause echoed. A muscular man with a shield and a goblin mask stood nearby, while a thin figure wrapped in black cloth—only a pair of eyes exposed—spoke, "To sense our presence like that… your mental strength is impressive, truly unusual."
Through the snow, Bai Yi studied the two figures. They were lower-level silver players, one a warrior and the other an assassin. Their future paths were unclear, but something about them felt off.
Bai Yi's smile faded as he asked cautiously, "What do you want from me?"
A glint of contempt flashed in the assassin's eyes as he pulled an envelope from his robe. The black power in his hand pulsed, and the letter transformed into a dart, flying toward Bai Yi.
Shadow Assassin!
Bai Yi instinctively dodged, the letter brushing past him and hovering in midair.
Exceptional energy control!
When Bai Yi noticed the black rose emblem on the envelope, his heart sank.
"Sign it!"
The voice was commanding, offering no rewards, only an implicit threat: refuse, and die.
Hidden beneath his hood, Bai Yi's expression grew solemn. He had just achieved a breakthrough, yet the enemy sent two silver-level warriors, employing a war of attrition strategy. This… was exactly the kind of meticulous planning this organization was known for.
"What if I don't?" Bai Yi's voice was calm, devoid of emotion.
The field fell silent. A silver-level aura stirred the wind and snow, and a powerful sense of danger enveloped Bai Yi.
The answer was clear: they'd given him a chance to reconsider.
Bai Yi casually slid the pistol back into his pocket, his right hand unconsciously touching his left index finger. In the endless snowstorm, the tension in the air grew suffocating.
This organization was infamous. In the trailer for *Dawn Zone 3.0*, the dying swordsman of the Dawn Federation was a central figure. In that three-minute clip, shadowy figures stood behind high-ranking officials, hinting at their pervasive influence.
Night Rose, the final boss of version 3.0, was notorious for its mystery. The organization's convoluted structure had sparked a "werewolf" scenario among millions of East Asian players, where even quest-giving NPCs were sometimes enemies in disguise. Players would cheerfully embark on missions, only to fall into traps. After dying, they'd struggle to pinpoint what went wrong.
The unmasking of Night Rose's hidden agents turned the world of *Dawn* into a paranoid frenzy. Players couldn't trust NPCs, uncertain if they were friend or foe.
Players in the Star and Sun Federations watched with fascination, marveling at the game's complexity and the unknown identities of ally and enemy NPCs.
Bai Yi could recognize them instantly because he joined the game at version 3.0. Having endured relentless challenges, he had read master guides obsessively. While there were no distinct identifiers, their aura of control, treating others like playthings, and the iconic *Death Notice Letter* left no doubt.
After all, they always issued the letter first and brought overwhelming force—more allies, higher levels, and greater professional restraint.
Their failure rate was low, their arrogance tempered by caution: refuse to join, and face certain death.
Recalling their ruthless tactics, Bai Yi shuddered at the memory of being manipulated by false NPCs.
However, he was less fearful now. Before the Old Sword Saint's death, no monsters would dare disturb the peace.
This was also why players hadn't encountered this organization in earlier versions.
The assassin's gaze turned cold and murderous. "Is that your final choice?" he asked. "You can reconsider at any time… before you die."
As the assassin spoke, he vanished. The warrior also prepared to strike. At a distance of a hundred meters, a silver-level warrior could reach his target in an instant.
They would not allow the alchemist a chance to draw his weapon again.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone