Chapter 262

Chapter 262

The current game scenario was indeed no different from a defense battle.

Within a limited time, players had to protect the two remaining cities in the human world and create a miracle.

At this moment, in Arkham City.

A swarm of locusts covered the barrier, causing those below to feel a chill run down their spines at just a glance. Originally, Black Cat and the others had set up the barrier to establish a base, then plan their rescue missions and monster slaying. But now, forget about that – it would be good enough if they could just hold the line.

"How is it? Can the barrier hold?" Frenzy looked at the scene above that could trigger acrophobia and felt a chill on his scalp.

Professor Crey and Alders inspected the nodes where the barrier was set up. Alders nodded. "The Philosopher's Stones you found have high intensity. For now, it can barely hold, but if…."

"Don't, don't, don't say it!" The players screamed as they made an 'Emergency Stop' gesture to stop Alders from mentioning the worst-case scenario, but it was too late. Alders had already finished his sentence. "If the intensity of the invasion outside increases, we can't guarantee anything."

Players: ....

Are you jinxing us here?

Hardly had Alders finished speaking when, whether it was an illusion or not, the locusts outside seemed to have grown another centimeter in height.

Crack!

A fissure appeared in the barrier.

Well, it wasn't an illusion after all.

"Oh dear, we've silenced the players but not the NPCs (sigh of regret)."

"Listen to me, next time, gag everyone present first."

"Learn a Silencing Spell."

"Hehe, actually, it's useless. This is a city defense battle; they won't let you pass so easily."

"Bask in the storm's fury!"

While those in the live stream could still make jokes, in-game spectators like Judith of Orlandu watched the scene outside with unease.

For safety, most players and natives, except for the reckless ones, had retreated to the shelters, holding their phones to watch the live stream. Some were even quietly rehearsing prayers, probably believing that a locust invasion was imminent, and it would be safer to be a believer in God. The majority, however, remained steadfastly glued to their screens.

Judith knew they were waiting, waiting for a miracle to unfold.

...

"What should we do?" The Druid looked at the fissures appearing in the barrier with dismay. "Should we order everyone back into the shelters?"

"No, there isn't enough space, and there's not enough food to sustain such a large number of people," the Black Cat replied decisively. More importantly, retreating to the shelters would mean surrendering the city, and the world watching them would feel disappointment. Without hope, they might as well succumb to the false God in their hearts.

"Then what should we do?"

The Black Cat turned to Alders. "Can we manually open a gap in the barrier?"

Alders immediately grasped his intention. "You want to create an opening for an ambush?"

"Mm, it's better than losing the entire barrier," the Black Cat nodded.

"It should work," Alders concluded after some deliberation. He then approached the professors in charge of the spellcasting and nodded towards the players.

The Black Cat took a deep breath and pointed in a direction - the one farthest from all shelters and with the most open terrain. Since locusts could fly and traps would be ineffective, there was no choice but to confront them head-on.

Five minutes later, all players arrived at the edge of the barrier, standing ready and watching intently beyond it.

As they watched, an opening formed in the barrier. In an instant, a massive swarm of locusts poured in, densely packed. Just as they spread their wings to swoop down on the players, they found each one wearing gas masks and tactical goggles. A flashbang was then thrown at the entrance of the barrier.

A blinding white light flashed, disorienting the incoming locusts instantly. The Black Cat, overseeing the situation from behind, saw his opportunity and quickly issued commands through the channel.

Black Cat: Effective, fire!

With eyes shut, the players pulled the triggers directly!

While they couldn't set ground traps due to the locusts' ability to fly, they had flashbangs, stun grenades, tear gas, fragmentation grenades... In short, it was a new era, and methods had changed!

The first wave of locusts that swarmed into the barrier was swiftly dealt with. The professors had opened a hole in the barrier with great precision, just large enough to allow a dozen or so locusts to enter, but any more than that would have caused a blockage. The players quickly replaced their magazines and, when the next wave of locusts arrived, continued to use flash grenades. Occasionally, they also employed tear gas and stun grenades, but overall, the flash grenades proved to be the most effective.

It could be because these locusts all had human heads.

However, no weapon was infallible. After the next round of firing, the players were startled to find that they hadn't managed to wipe out the swarming locusts in one go.

Through the live stream of a player in front, Black Cat observed that these locusts were different from before. They had grown an additional layer of metallic carapace, enhancing their defense. Furthermore, their eyes were still closed.

"Interesting, have they evolved?"

"Who would've thought there could be more defensively equipped individuals among locusts..."

"They're even more disgusting since they seem to possess some intelligence now."

Black Cat took a deep breath and spoke on the channel: "Transition to close combat."

The first round of shooting failing to immediately eliminate the incoming locusts marked the beginning of the second phase of the battle. The giant locusts recognized these weaklings. Within their limited cognitive capacity, they believed these small humans were only dangerous when wielding weapons. But once engaged in close combat, they usually panicked and screamed, a result of their frailty. Thus, the locusts confidently charged forward.

What they didn't anticipate was that they had picked the wrong opponents. The most distinct difference between players and the natives was that players weren't afraid of death.

Instead of fear or panic as the locusts drew near, the players' faces lit up with excitement. With their firearms depleted and no time to reload, they unsheathed their cold weapons without hesitation.

"Onward!"

"Wow!" Aron, staring at his 90 Brawling skill on the live stream, declared grandiosely, "I'm not the same as before! Just wait for the world to witness my heroic feats through this live broadcast!"

The live stream viewers promptly poured cold water on his enthusiasm.

"Can you post it early, A-L-O-N?"

"The sun's out, the rain's stopped, and Aron thinks he's back in the game."

"Aron, here's a sad truth: some people can score big wins with just 5 Brawling, while others can still mess up with 90."

"The comment above hits too close to home."

Aron found it true as well. Hence, when he initiated the combat round this time, he didn't rush into the dice mode. Instead, he decided to try the reality mode – a mode without dice assistance in battles.

Oddly enough, or perhaps it was just Aron's imagination, ever since his Brawling skill had risen to 90, he could easily discern who was stronger while watching other players' battles in the game. He could predict within three seconds who would gain the upper hand and who executed their moves more efficiently and ingeniously.

He even tried boxing in real life. Of course, he promptly lost to his coach.

Yet now, attempting was not tantamount to dying.

Aron fixated on the enormous locust's charging motion. Normally, his attention would have been drawn to its horrifying human-like face. But now, he found its movements slow and predictable. Before the insect's mandibles could strike, Aron rolled on the ground, using his waist to swiftly rise without touching his knees. He smoothly turned around, grabbed the wings on the locust's back, and with a twist of his blade, he slashed diagonally at its head.

Despite not activating the dice, Aron felt his actions fluid and effortless. As the blade severed the locust's neck, an imaginary "force clash" flashed in his mind. His strength attribute had long been boosted to 90 due to numerous main quest rewards.

With the blade lowered, the locust's head hit the ground. Aron stood stunned for a few seconds, then silently gestured to sheathe his sword. Turning to glance at the live stream camera, he said nothing, yet his silence conveyed everything.

"Damn! He nailed it!"

"Aaaah, how humiliating! I actually found him cool for a moment."

"So unfair, I also thought Arlong looked dashing."

"Hey, what's going on with you guys, hahaha! The streamer is about to cry here."

"Arlong was clearly the comic relief, yet he's becoming handsome now!"

Of course, despite their grumbling in the chat, these were all lighthearted jabs from long-time viewers, and the flood of gifts continued nonstop.

Aron was too busy to glance at the barrage of comments. After dealing with one locust, he gained an understanding of his current combat strength and lunged at another without hesitation.

He was no longer the same as when he first entered the game!

Players who could only be slaughtered by zombies at the banquet in the first version had now honed themselves into well-rounded warriors. Each of them had their strength, agility, and constitution nearing the limits of human potential. However, due to the overwhelming power of their opponents, they didn't have much of a sense of their own growth. But in this close combat, veteran players could clearly perceive their transformation.

"Kill the monsters, kill the monsters!"

"Experience points, here I come!"

"Don't fight me for it, it's mine!"

The players were like wolves and tigers as they intercepted the locusts entering the barrier. Upon realizing that the locusts were elite monsters - difficult for players to bully but still manageable with skillful maneuvers - they became even more determined.

Their bravery, their refusal to retreat, was incomprehensible yet stirring to the hearts of the native inhabitants of other cities.

In the shelter, the men who had been terrified by the locusts watched the scene with flushed faces. Those whose families had been killed by the locusts wished nothing more than to rush out and confront the pests... only to be stopped by Justice is Beauty with a grim expression.

"Don't be hasty. You still have a chance," Justice is Beauty said, hinting at something. "But you'll have to wait a little longer."

...

Given that the locusts could fly, it was inevitable that some would slip through the cracks, even with the bravest players on the front line. But it mattered little, as Arkham now had three lines of defense: the players, who needed to hunt; the Black Pokers and the police; and lastly, the professors from Miskatonic University, the Perfects, and the adult men and women in Arkham.

The elderly, children, and the injured were safely hidden in underground shelters, not needing to fight until everyone outside was wiped out.

At this moment, at the second line of defense, the police chief stood with a cigarette between his lips, gazing at Carlens and his men with a complicated expression.

"I never thought I'd be collaborating with gangsters."

"Neither did we imagine working with the law," Carlens shrugged. He didn't have much of a liking for the police due to certain stereotypes, but in these apocalyptic times, who cared? It was far better to team up with the police than to be devoured by locusts.

Speaking of which, where were Albert and his group?

This fleeting thought crossed Carlens's mind, but seeing the approaching locusts, he snorted coldly. "Shoot them down."

"What a bunch of insects, daring to have human faces!" The officer operating the cannon grumbled. "If those animal rights activists dare complain again, we'll feed them to the bugs."

"I agree," a gang member chimed in, swiftly drawing his weapon and aiming in the direction to the left of the officer.

A fleeing grasshopper attempted to approach but was swatted away, causing the officer to glance back. The insect was mere meters from him. "Thanks, buddy."

"No need, bro... Forget it, no need to thank me, buddy."

Regardless of their usual roles, be they gangsters or police, city enforcers or street vendors, all were united in this battle.

Carmen and Kamui's people stood at the heart of the defense line, directing their kin in brewing potions. Even a professor from MIT's Department of Magic was present. It had to be said that, despite the changing times, the mystical side still excelled in healing. At least, magical potions took effect much faster than conventional first aid.

The finished potions were handed to the women nearby. Though physically weaker than adult men, these female residents could still contribute as battlefield medics, administering life-saving potions to the fallen.

This was no easy task either. Moving around the battlefield carried the risk of attack. Moreover, most of these women lacked training in firearms or combat, making them extremely vulnerable should a grasshopper strike.

The natives were unaware of the live broadcast; they were merely doing their best to protect their city, for it was their home. They had nowhere else to retreat.

Newport was no different, though the situation was more gruesome due to the lack of an institution like MIT. Nonetheless, they had their own unique cultists – ahem, Bletchley University.

Though Bletchley had suffered a setback after the Newport replica emerged, it remained a secret haven for cultists, albeit with a more demanding signature spell.

Upon witnessing the Blood Thralls' self-mutilation, Fors was taken aback.

Upon witnessing the Tea Milk Dog squad unleash a more formidable power, Fors grew wary. "You guys aren't...?" The God Among Men remained calm. "At a time like this, let's not be too rigid. Use any strength you have. So what if they're heretics? Are heretics not human? Besides, their beliefs have nothing to do with God. They're heretics, on God's hit list. Of course, they'll fight desperately." Fors hesitantly glanced at the senator standing beside him, someone he had only seen on television, an official who had climbed the ranks thanks to the anti-religious movement. "Did you know that this university is...?" The senator looked back at him as if he were insane. How the hell would I know? In reality, it wasn't just the heretic players fighting; the few NPC heretics were also putting their lives on the line. This was because The God Among Men whispered in their ears, "This is a global live broadcast. Don't you want to prove your loyalty to your faith? That one up there is undoubtedly a heretic god. Do you remember how religions handle heretics? If the barrier breaks, you..." With that, the heretics had no choice but to fight desperately. "That thing up there isn't the god we believe in! It's a despicable thief! Can we let it succeed?" "No way!"

"Step forward, prove yourself to our god!"

The nearby players fell silent, stepping back a little to avoid any splatter, for these heretics were indeed fierce, their devotion genuine. They dared to desperately fight both malevolent gods and the Almighty for their beliefs.

"They are affirming their faith to the world," the divine presence on Earth beamed with satisfaction. "It's good to be a believer. Faith blinds, and sometimes, it truly moves mountains."

Fors: ...

The previous sense of familiarity must have been an illusion, right?

A thoughtful merchant nearby interjected, "Live broadcast worldwide? Are you serious?"

Divine Being on Earth gazed at the capitalist and the legislator standing beside Fors with a knowing smile. He had forcefully dragged these few, who initially sought refuge, to this spot. Nothing much, except that after the appearance of the live broadcast, Divine Being on Earth had developed a new plan. He pulled the two aside for a whispered conversation.

At that moment, the politicians' and capitalists' instincts were triggered. If — just if — they managed to survive this, the resulting publicity or political capital would be enormous.

The legislator replied, "Even if that's the case, I can't contact President right now."

"Is that so?" Divine Being on Earth narrowed his eyes. "While the signal towers are indeed damaged, satellite phones or other forms of communication, like gestures or codes, must not be overlooked. Remember, we're live on air. You'll find a way to connect if you truly want to. Think about it, if you can save humanity, the benefits to you and the interest groups behind you will be immense..."

The politicians and businessmen swallowed hard. "Well… let's give it a shot."

Satisfied, the divine presence averted its gaze, only to refocus on the barrier. As it witnessed wave after wave of players making glorious sacrifices, the battle had reached its climax. The players' steadfast refusal to retreat roused the native population's ferocity, and this ferocity would, in turn, ignite the hearts of people worldwide through the live broadcast.

Potions, spells, spiritually cultivated plants from Miskatonic University, and even the desperate use of forbidden rituals by the heretics – it could be said that Arkham City and New Port City had laid all their cards on the table, employing any means necessary to resist God's impending judgment.

Though their power was still feeble compared to previous calamities, like the flicker of fireflies against the moonlight, these individual glimmers, when combined, could challenge the brilliance of the full moon.