บท 74: Killing until the Server is Shutdown
[You killed 8,916 players, experience points +89,160.]
[You killed 8,846 players, experience points +88,460.]
[You killed 8,784 players, experience points +87,840.]
[You have leveled up. Your level has reached 42.]
The power surging through Bai Yi's body grew stronger with each passing moment. As he observed the players rushing toward him, their faces twisted in fury and hatred, his sunglasses could no longer suppress the scarlet glow of his eyes.
These players were clearly desperate. Most of them were level one, essentially cannon fodder. Bai Yi had purposefully left valuable equipment scattered near the foot of the mountain, within range of the communication device, creating the perfect trap.
While some players had quit after their teams were wiped out, there was no mass exodus. They were too deep into the mission to back out now. It was the gambler's mindset—always hoping that the next attempt would turn the tide.
Bai Yi was more than willing to let them keep playing. His level had shot up five times in quick succession, and now he was on the brink of reaching the gold level. As for the dark side's corruption, he had nine small soul crystal cores and one medium-sized one, so he wasn't too concerned.
"Everyone, wonder," Bai Yi began, his voice hoarse, but before he could say more, something unexpected happened. All the players suddenly froze in place, their bodies wavering as if an old radio had lost its signal.
Then, in a blink, they vanished without a trace.
Bai Yi's scarlet eyes widened in confusion. He glanced around, his mind racing. Something felt off. Without thinking, he opened the player forum, which was usually gray. Now, it was split in black and white, and at the top, a glaring message caught his eye.
[Dawnbreak server abnormality: Three servers are suspended for updates. Estimated downtime: 19 days, 23 hours, and 59 minutes.]
Bai Yi froze. Had the server shut down because of his actions?
The two million gold coins he had accumulated turned back to black, signaling that the players' mission had failed—and thus, the reward was nullified.
With a deep sigh, Bai Yi returned to his wooden house, the air around him heavy with malice. His physical form surged with power as he transformed into the evil-minded version of himself.
He activated the teleportation array, and a brief dizziness overtook him as he arrived at the foot of the Tomb of the Dead.
A kilometer away, players' discarded equipment littered the ground. The black mountains sparkled with flashes of light, making the barren landscape resemble a treasure trove.
Bai Yi took a moment to suppress his murderous intent. He collected all the valuable items, slipping them into his storage ring. Initially, he had planned to repair the equipment and offer them as rewards to players, but now, that seemed unnecessary.
As he rummaged through the piles, Bai Yi realized that over 5,000 pieces of equipment filled his ring. The space was only 100 cubic meters, and the gear was quickly reaching its limit. After a moment of consideration, he only kept the more valuable items, setting aside the lower-grade ones for Sabo, who might find them useful.
Suddenly, a surge of malicious temptation filled his mind. It was as if the dark forces were calling to him, trying to drag his soul into darker thoughts. The temptation grew stronger with each passing second.
Bai Yi's mind raced. With his current soul strength, he could endure the pressure for another two hours of high-intensity combat before needing a full three-day rest to recover. He needed a boost.
Without hesitation, he took a [Soul Crystal Core (Small)] from his ring and bit into it. Instantly, his soul felt exalted, and the once-feared item in his hand turned into the most delicious treasure.
He devoured the crystal, and as he did, his scarlet eyes dimmed, returning to their more controlled hue.
[You consumed a Soul Crystal Core. Your soul has been slightly enhanced. Spiritual attribute +20.]
The voices in his mind, which had tried to lure him into darkness, vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of strength.
Although the effect of the soul crystal was weaker this time compared to the last, it was still a powerful boost. Bai Yi reflected on the difference: the same amount of power, but the stronger his mind became, the more subtle the enhancements became. It was a simple matter of scale.
He glanced up at the top of the mountain and headed back toward the teleportation array.
There was still the matter of the bone dragon to discuss with Sabo. Given Bai Yi's current abilities, he doubted he could easily secure such a contract. He'd need to find a way to trick Sabo into inheriting it for him.
The teleportation array buzzed to life, and Bai Yi returned to his cabin. As he retracted the arrays, his form reverted to its original state, and he activated the array leading to the store.
Dizziness briefly clouded his mind, but he steadied himself, drinking a mental recovery potion as he did. Afterward, he checked his updated title, satisfied with the result.
[Title: Hunter]
Quality: ★★★★★
Effect: Lock onto a target and track them accurately within one day. When in hunting mode, your presence will be concealed, making it harder for prey to detect you.
Requirements: None
Description: In hunting time, who is the prey? Who is the hunter?
This five-star title was a rare and valuable one, offering both tracking and stealth abilities—attributes he had long desired. He was pleased with the results.
His panel also updated:
[Host: White Plague]
Race: Human
Class: Alchemist
Level: 42 (Experience: 61,200/280,000)
Gold Coins: 2,070,011
Attributes: Strength: 10 (365), Agility: 10 (400), Endurance: 10 (300), Intelligence: 163 (60), Spirit: 480, Charm: 9 (-3), Luck: 1
Skills: Intermediate Alchemy & Transformation, Mental Expansion
Titles: Future Star: ★★★, Hunter: ★★★★★
Evaluation: Am I a good person? A bad one? Or both?
There was still an expertise choice to make, but Bai Yi wasn't in a rush. Instead, he marveled at how stable his dark side seemed, despite his actions. Normally, such massive killings would have fueled its growth, yet it hadn't.
He briefly considered that the players' souls might not have contributed to this—maybe they had no malice to feed on.
His charm had slightly increased on the light side, while the dark side had a dramatic -3. Bai Yi wasn't sure how charm was calculated, but it was a peculiar discrepancy.
For now, he would focus on further enhancing his alchemy and mental abilities, ensuring his power reached its full potential. He glanced at a worker bee on his desk, containing the soul of the Scarlet Priest. It was time to wait for the soul lantern's arrival.
Bai Yi stood up, put on a headset, and called Sabo.
"Mr. Sabo, I need your help."
"I'll be there soon. I'm at the City Lord's Mansion right now." Sabo's voice came through, sounding muffled.
"Understood."
Bai Yi ended the call and opened the player forum again. The complaints were rampant, players furious about the server issues. The game had become a source of controversy, and everyone was eager to point fingers.
But Bai Yi knew the truth: While some players might quit, many would be back. After experiencing a fully immersive virtual game with 97% realism, anything else would be a pale imitation.
As the forum buzzed with activity, Bai Yi turned his attention to the books on alchemical transformation. The path to mastery was long, and he couldn't afford to miss a single lesson.
The communication device beeped, and after two hours, Luo Ning's voice came through.
"Boss, Mr. Sabo is here."
Bai Yi smiled, excitement flickering in his eyes. He stood up and made his way out.
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