Chapter 116

Chapter 116

After scanning the area and observing what the players were doing, Lane's expression turned peculiar. He looked at Destiny and asked, "Are you sure you can see the fate lines of humans?"

He was curious if Destiny could truly see what the players were up to, without being breached?

The Prophet said dismally, "I can't see too much detail, only the general trajectory. Aren't you going to save your believers?"

Lane, having observed the situation, met Destiny's calm face with a sudden smile. "There's no need."

Destiny replied, "That contradicts what you said earlier."

Lane: "Because now, I only want to prove that your so-called destiny is nothing but a joke."

"And your attitude is too arrogant."

Taking advantage of the fact that his main body isn't here to act recklessly?

Lane stepped forward, grabbed Destiny's hair, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. From his palm, the power of fog began to emanate.

From the Prophet's words, it was clear that Fate's essence wasn't present here; it was only a temporary manifestation of its consciousness, which would soon retreat again.

Logically, Lane had no way of dealing with it since Fate's body was merely that of a vagrant.

But now, Lane had a new idea. If he couldn't affect Fate in the realm of reality, could he perhaps deliver a surprise through the dimension of the subconscious?

...

Players might not excel at anything else, but their knack for seizing opportunities was unparalleled.

The moment Fate announced its intention to act, players immediately sensed that the dungeon was about to begin and started to seize every chance they could.

"Church of Stellar Wisdom! I want to enter the church!"

The deity among men set a fine example, even though there had been no church involved in his exploits, nor did he become legendary for entering it. Nevertheless, players were creatures obsessed with rankings, lists, and records.

As the game gained more popularity, it was predictable that the Church of Stellar Wisdom would be packed later on. However, by staying in the middle of the pack, one could ensure that later players would forever look up to them.

How could they not rush?

In the midst of the chaos, Archie pulled Kerry back and calmly said, "We have to find a way out of here. Once we return to Arkham Hospital, we can directly enter Lord Lane's divine realm."

A long time ago, Lane had warned Archie that someone was eyeing them. Therefore, it wasn't surprising for Archie that someone would attack them with the intent to kill.

He just didn't expect their opponent to be so bold as to strike during the gathering.

Kerry replied, "I'm afraid it's not that simple."

He looked towards the exit of the gathering, only to find it blocked by panicked people, as expected. Intimidated by the Doomsday Sect's reputation, few present thought of resisting, despite there being many more of them than the sect members.

"The exit is blocked. I don't recommend seeking safety there. Given how the attack unfolded, the more chaotic the location..."

Kerry's words were cut short when he noticed the area catching fire.

In the confusion, someone knocked over an oil lamp, spilling its contents onto the fabric. By chance, the alcohol from the lamp poured onto the flames, causing the fire to escalate rapidly and spread to nearby stalls.

If their luck ran out, this fire might even ignite a forest blaze.

The crowd grew even more restless, and in the midst of the chaos, Archie kept his nerves taut, vigilantly watching for any sign of danger around him.

Yet, accidents were unpredictable.

As Archie and Kari kept watch over the crowd, they didn't notice the wine stealthily spreading beneath their feet...

"Watch out!" The black cat arrived at Archie's side in a flash, hastily pulling both Archie and Kari away. A split second later, flames licked along the trail of wine like a fiery blade. Had they remained standing there, they would have been engulfed in flames.

Archie broke into a cold sweat; despite having experienced it before, such unforeseen incidents were always difficult to guard against.

But their worries proved unfounded.

Players suddenly surged out from the crowd, their eyes lighting up upon seeing Archie. "Here they are!"

Stunned, Archie and Kari watched as the players swiftly surrounded them.

"Hurry, form a human shield!"

"Protect them forcefully!"

Archie, Kerry: ????

Still processing the situation, they found themselves promptly surrounded by players, making it difficult for them to move forward.

The players at the innermost circle watched Archie and Kerry with gleaming eyes, "Don't worry, you'll be fine. We'll protect you and make sure not a single hair on your heads is harmed!"

Kerry exclaimed, "Wow, is your guild that harmonious and caring?"

Archie: "..."

As someone who had spent considerable time interacting with players, Archie had a good grasp of their nature. Thus, he instinctively felt that something was off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"What on earth are these Huskies up to now?"

They weren't the first to encounter such treatment. When the players trailing behind found no space left beside Archie, they turned their attention to other random NPCs.

Amidst the chaos, all the stalls were toppled, and various herbs and potions that hadn't been collected in time were smashed and trampled underfoot, shattering the remaining hope of the cultists.

Driven mad, they realized that their hope of returning to the normal world was shattered. Since that was no longer an option, everyone present might as well go to hell together!

At least there would be company on the road to the Netherworld.

The scarred woman, the black-clad youth, and the brown-haired burly man began to charge indiscriminately into the crowd, sowing death and screams in every corner.

The vendor who had earlier attempted to sell the fake old seal to the madman hastily gathered his belongings from the ground. However, in his panic, trinkets kept falling from his arms. Just as he managed to collect them all, he was jostled by someone fleeing for their life, causing another pile of goods to spill onto the ground, mercilessly trampled by passersby.

With gritted teeth, the vendor picked up each item one by one. He couldn't bear to abandon these possessions in order to save himself; they were all he had left. Without them, he'd have to start anew, a prospect more unbearable than death itself.

Suddenly, he noticed silence behind him, replaced only by heavy breathing. Realizing the impending danger, he trembled as he tried to stand, but his ankles wouldn't stop shaking. As soon as he gained his footing, he stumbled back to the ground.

It's over, it's all over!

The vendor turned his quivering head and saw one of the cult members not far away, wielding a bloodied blade and staring at him with a predator's intensity, like a monster cornered and eyeing its prey.

In the next moment, he heard footsteps rapidly approaching. He turned around and found someone fearlessly moving toward him, standing in front to shield him. "Run! Leave this to me!"

An angel!

Tears welled up in the vendor's eyes. He didn't recognize this person; they probably hadn't met before. Yet, someone was willing to risk everything to save him, a stranger.

In that moment, another person also stepped forward to help the faltering vendor, his face radiating kindness and righteousness. "Are you alright? I'll help you to a safe place. Don't worry, my companion will stop that person."

"Sob... Why are you all so kind to me?"

"What nonsense," the player replied with a cheerful expression, each word resonating with conviction. "This is a gathering hosted by the Kamui tribe, and friends of the Kamui are my friends! On Kamui land, how could I let anything happen to my friends!"

The vendor was deeply moved. His previously pessimistic mood, born from the unexpected incident, seemed to be lifted by the player's words. "Y-You are all too kind."

Similar scenes unfolded elsewhere as players actively aided NPCs and left behind trails of impassioned, righteous declarations.

"We won't let anything happen to you on Kamui soil."

"Hurry, leave this to me!"

"My faith does not allow me to retreat here."

"And you, my friend, you are a true hero."

"This is the power of faith. My belief tells me I cannot abandon anyone in need!"

In ordinary circumstances, such flattery might have drawn nothing more than disdainful glances from those in the mystic realm, who would have found these words overly insincere.

But in a life-and-death situation, a person's true character is revealed. As the players earnestly worked to save lives or desperately held back the fanatics to prevent catastrophe, their selfless bravery moved the onlooking mystic practitioners.

Their resentment over the attack at the Kamui gathering began to fade.

Player Channel:

OddNumber: Hey, hey, how was that? Wasn't my rescue attempt super cool? I should pass, right?

Matcha Milk Green: You missed the most crucial step.

Druid: Don't you want your quest progress? The NPC's favorability you've been building up?

OddNumber: It's fine, we can always grind for more favorability. NPCs don't just disappear.

This sentiment was shared by most players. NPCs wouldn't run away, favorability could be regained, but a missed opportunity was truly lost.

Thus, the player who had just saved the vendor roared at the doom cultist and charged fearlessly towards the blade, inevitably meeting a gruesome end under the enemy's onslaught, thanks to the players' generous assistance.

Then came the second, the third...

The players' blood stained the gathering ground red, but they fought desperately to prevent the enemy from being seen by the onlookers. The vendor who had just been rescued by the players gritted his teeth and shouted, "We outnumber them, what are we afraid of? We can drown them with our saliva alone!"

Due to the players' intervention, the panicked NPCs gradually calmed down. "That's right, we have so many of us, let's charge together!"

In truth, if not for the players, these selfish individuals would rather run to the front than turn to face the blades. Everyone knew that by uniting, they could exhaust the cultists, even if a few might fall to their swords. But human nature is selfish; who knew which of those few would be themselves? Thus, even if they understood the power of unity, they would still choose to flee for their lives.

But when a group of people willingly step forward to sacrifice themselves, the selfish cannot help but feel ashamed.

So, as the players prepared for their heroic deaths, the NPCs suddenly found courage.

Players: ?

"Charge! Slay these damned mongrels!"

Witnessing the players' blood pooling on the ground, the vendor who had previously argued fiercely with players over discounts, the cunning merchant who had deliberately swindled an unsuspecting customer, and the thief who had stolen from players all felt an indescribable mix of emotions. Though they didn't consider themselves upright individuals, witnessing the death of someone good in their attempt to save them left a heavy feeling in their hearts.

As these scattered NPCs banded together, they formed a formidable force.

Among the cultists, the few who still retained their sanity perceived the danger in the united NPCs. Once cornered, they wouldn't last long before being cut down in a flurry of blades.

The black-haired youth among the cultists anxiously surveyed his surroundings for a way out. Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the two players at the center of the group.

To be so heavily guarded, they must hold great importance. Perhaps capturing them could provide a slim chance of survival.

Swiftly sharing this information with his comrades, the cultists redirected their charge towards Archie and his companions.

The players blocking Archie's path were momentarily taken aback but quickly realized an opportunity. Adjusting their expressions into valiant ones, one of them declared, "If you want to harm Archie, you'll have to go through me first!"

With that, he charged headlong at the cultists. However, as soon as he took a step, his strength deserted him, and he stumbled to the ground in a most undignified manner.

Player Channel:

Cosmic Machine: Come on, buddy, your acting is too obvious.

Abandon this pitiful class if it's like this: Damn, I'm not pretending!

Following him, another player attempted to put on an act to stop the NPC but before he could even start, his body weakened, and he stumbled straight into the enemy's blade.

Matcha Milk Green: You guys are going too far! Your acting is too fake. Do you think the game's AI is an idiot?

Seeking Even Numbers: No! I'm really not pretending!

Not Crazy: Something's off. It seems Archie and crew have been cursed.

As someone who rescued Archie and Clay from the start, Not Crazy had also witnessed the bizarre incidents near the two NPCs. It was like a live broadcast of "Death o Comes."

Seeing players fall one by one before Archie and company due to unexpected accidents, Not Crazy gasped. Could the NPCs actually be in danger? Anything was possible!

Not Crazy: Stop pretending! Be serious, or we might stumble at the last moment!

Life is Fickle as a Cloud: We're not pretending anymore!

The players weren't fools. Upon realizing the situation's gravity, they all became solemn. However, their seriousness seemed to have limited effect. For some reason, they were constantly disrupted by strange factors, causing their actions to fail or preventing counterattacks.

Initially, the followers of Doomsday had apprehensions about the sheer number of players, fearing it would be a formidable challenge. However, once the battle ensued, they discovered that the players were like fragile bubbles that burst with a single touch.

Is that all?

All the Doomsday Cultists, save for Scarface, had been driven to madness and were now acting with unchecked audacity. Upon realizing that the players were all show and no substance, they grew even more fearless, felling two or three players with each shot.

Archie watched from within with immense anxiety. "Make way quickly!"

"No, we will definitely protect you!" the player declared with unwavering conviction, fully immersed in the role.

Archie was utterly speechless.

Only Insane, perceptive as she was, grasped Archie's intention. She swiftly retreated from Archie and Cree, placing about five or six meters between them. Then, she spun around, drew her gun, and fired at the cultists of Doomsday.

"Shot: Hit"

"Burst Fire, Damage: 5+7+1"

Insane was one of the few players who had already advanced to a new class. Naturally, she had chosen Sharpshooter, which significantly boosted her shooting skills. Most importantly, advancing to a combat class granted her an exclusive skill.

Her ability allows her to fire consecutive shots, up to five rounds in a row.

After dealing three shots, she instantly eliminates a Doomsday Cultist. Scar Woman glances at Madman, who's firing from afar, a fleeting hint of aggression flashing in her eyes. She raises her gun and returns fire.

Madman instinctively dodges to the side but is a fraction too slow. His gun is knocked out of his hand, and worst of all, the webbing between his right thumb and index finger is fractured by the impact.

The other players finally grasp the situation.

Player Channel:

Black Cat: "Quickly move away from Archie and the others! This peculiar luck issue might be affected by distance!"

The Strongest Man: "Understood!"

Majority Rules: "But if we leave, Archie and the others will be exposed to the Doomsday Cultists. With that strange luck, they might die on the spot!"

The Strongest Man: "I have a plan."

Without hesitation, The Strongest Man lifted Archie and ran off. The Druid watched him in astonishment, then promptly followed suit, lifting Cree.

Archy had intended to fight back, but Cley was more composed: "In our current state, engaging in combat might mean instant death."

Archy gritted his teeth, forced to watch as players pulled him away from the heart of the battle.

The Doomsday Cultist pursued, while the burly brunet, at the scarred woman's command, approached the most threatening figure, Bonkers. The memory of her shooting their comrade in the head was terrifying, and they couldn't afford to let her roam freely.

Seeing the brunet coming towards her, Bonkers instinctively reached for her pocket, only to find potions and bullets – no second gun. Tsk, she hadn't prepared for this.

Matcha Latte then ran over to her. Bonkers expected backup, but instead, Matcha Latte pulled out a first-aid kit.

"First aid now?"

"I can't shoot for beans," Matcha Latte replied. "And it's not like you're the only one who's advanced."

"First Aid: Success"

Typically, players' attempts at first aid or medicine were instantaneous, but in-game actions still took a considerable amount of time, especially for medicine. However, after Matcha Latte became a doctor, she gained the 'Quick Treatment' skill, reducing the time needed for both first aid and medicine, perfect for a battlefield medic.

Bonkers noticed that her hands had stopped shaking. Matcha Latte handed her own gun to Bonkers and tightly wrapped her right hand with bandages. "You might get a hematoma later, but for now... maybe two more rounds?"

Insane: "One round is enough."

The other NPCs on the scene weren't just decorations; they stood in front of the Doomsday Cultists, brandishing clubs or weapons. Though their appearance was menacing, their aura was imposing. They blocked Insane and his companions, causing the brown-haired muscular man to hesitate for a second before immediately casting his final spell. A transparent shield faintly appeared in front of him, rendering the NPCs' attacks ineffective.

"HE'S A WIZARD!" someone shouted.

This cry made the initially courageous crowd show signs of retreating. They might not fully comprehend the power of wizards, but in a majority of ordinary people, the mere existence of such legendary beings was terrifying.

The brown-haired man bared his teeth and raised his gun again, attempting to intimidate them. He knew that if he showed even a hint of fear, this group would rush forward and tear him apart.

At that moment, Insane fired.

"Shooting: Critical Hit"

"DAMAGE: 9 + 11 + 10 + 8 + 3"

Five consecutive shots rang out, tearing open the wounds Insane had just bandaged, causing him to wince from the recoil. However, the outcome was breathtaking. The brown-haired man, along with his so-called magical shield, was penetrated; five large holes now punctured his body.

Matcha Milk Green: "F*ck."

Insane: "......Damn it!"

Matcha Milk Green: "Why are you howling in such despair?"

With a face full of regret, Insane replied, "I should've used Mad. Maybe I would've looked even more awesome if I fought the anomalies."

All that damage overflowed! What a waste!

Meanwhile, there was good news from the other side. As the players distanced themselves from Arche, their combat power returned to normal. Utilizing their numerical advantage, they quickly subdued the cultists, pinning them to the ground.

Seeing the players regain control of the situation, the panicked crowd gradually calmed down. The Kamui began to extinguish the fires. The cultists were bound in the center, surrounded by an angry circle of people. Both Arche and Kley felt the subtle pressure directed at them fade away, and they breathed a sigh of relief.

...

Feeling that the outcome was decided over there, Lane, while searching for the spirit dimension belonging to Fate, commented casually, "Seems like your power isn't all that impressive."

Fate remained silent. He had already anticipated that the chances of success this time weren't high, but he still needed to try.

Fate was ever-changing. Every choice led to a new outcome, making it so unpredictable.

However, he still needed to test if he could witness the future he desired.

The Glimpse of Fate shifted its gaze toward the Seer: "My apologies."

Seer: ? What do you mean by that?

A fleeting glint of silver illuminated the Glimpse of Fate's eyes. In that instant, Lane caught the ripples it created when it employed its power, thus localizing the entity's subconscious dimension.

He sensed the Glimpse of Fate using its ability, unsure of its purpose but immediately funneling the maddening mist back into it.

Simultaneously, the bound Doomsday Cultists' expressions changed, their faces contorted with madness as they chanted forbidden incantations. Their bodies swelled rapidly, detonating like bombs, affecting the surroundings.

Boom!