Chapter 105:

When the little players came back online, it was already several hours later.

They had slept very soundly and sweetly in another world, except for those unlucky ones who had been knocked out during the dungeon raid earlier. The remaining 39 came online simultaneously at the agreed-upon time.

It was the weekend today, so everyone could enjoy playing again.

However, when they woke up in the underground warehouse, which served as the “dungeon save point”, even the most dimwitted little player could sense that the Blood Vulture Halls was vastly different from yesterday.

It was clearly much more solemn here than the day before, as if a sense of unease permeated even the air.

“You’ve finally awoken, warriors.”

Greeting them in front of the warehouse was Murphy’s loyal servant, Maxim.

This white-haired swordsman still exuded an intense aura of battle, but he maintained his frigid combat stance as he announced to the little players through the Computation Bead:

“Thanks to your efforts and excellent coordination yesterday, we have now cleared the central part of the corridor. Lord Murphy has opened the final path to the Sacred Blood Pool. The most arduous challenge lies just ahead.

However, there is one bad news you must be aware of!

The fallen Salrokdar is plotting something even more terrifying than we imagined. A sub-dimension rift is hidden in the Sacred Blood Hall, and it could open into the material world at any moment. If it successfully opens, the entire Transia region will instantly collapse and be torn apart.

Currently, we have received aid from the Blood Pact Knights. Lady Tris is making the final tactical adjustments.

I do not wish to conceal how difficult the upcoming battle will be. The fact is, none of us may live to see tomorrow’s moonlight.

However, we have no path for retreat!

Therefore, by Lord Murphy’s command, I must immediately lead you to the final battle. The stingy Witch Hunters have finally been persuaded by the grave reality to bring out their reserves from the bottom of the chest.”

Maxim pointed to the large quantities of vampire-slaying sword oils and a series of mind protection scrolls placed nearby, and said to the little players:

“Three each! They can only be used in the most dire circumstances. Once the scrolls’ protective effects are exhausted, you must immediately retreat from the battlefield, or it will result in rather severe consequences.

This is the first time for you, and for me, to engage in battle with sub-dimension abominations. We must be prepared to die!”

The little players immediately became solemn.

On the team channel, everyone had already started discussing in chaos.

InvincibleTyrannosaurusCheche: 【Whoa! How did the story progress so deeply just from not being online for one night? What is this sub-dimension rift thing? It sounds really powerful, more dangerous than the astral rift that devoured Kadman City?】

AhYuen: 【This stupid Cheche is just lame, didn’t you hear what the NPC said? That thing will tear apart the entire Transia region if it opens!

This is clearly a story kill!

It’s to match the final part of the prologue quest about the server restart, right? Obviously the dev team has thoughtfully written a background story for this story kill restart after a failed raid. I really appreciate their whole family!】

SwordSaintAshina: 【No no no~ It’s not just randomly made up. Yesterday I saw Lumina’s translation post on the forum with some in-game texts, and it clearly says:

The spirit mages of this world have concluded that sub-dimension is the boundless dimension beyond the astral realm, the source of all spirit energy, but also the chaotic source of all evils in the world.

They believe that all sins and disasters in the material world are triggered by the mysterious fluctuations of sub-dimension. Although it sounds unbelievable, if you look into it carefully, after introducing the unscientific factor of spirit energy, the underlying logic of this system actually makes sense.】

OnboardJoyStick: 【!!!Is this the time for you to discuss the depth of the story and the worldview architecture? Brothers and sisters, hurry up! The NPC has already cleared the path to the final BOSS for us. Shouldn’t the next step be the enjoyable BOSS fight?

Take it seriously!

You experienced the difficulty of this dungeon yesterday yourselves. The final BOSS can’t possibly be weak.

Speaking of which, isn’t the dungeon flow a bit short, with only three BOSSes?】

MeowKing: 【It’s five! The remaining two BOSSes are hidden. I just saw the battle report released by Maxim. Yesterday when we were raiding number one and two, Lord Murphy and the old knight took a secret passage and struck deep into the halls.

They dealt with an Astral Manticore and a group of ghostly bandits in the secret passage.

It’s obvious!

This is the dev team’s remedial story after collecting our real-time combat data and realizing they made the monster stats too outrageous, so they let the NPCs step in and help us defeat the BOSS we currently can’t beat.】

LeadingPigeon: 【That’s too cunning! Doesn’t that mean the loot from those two BOSS is gone?】

Heaven’sChosenGrayman: 【You’re still thinking about loot at this point? Have you forgotten how we were ground into the floor by the BOSS yesterday? It’s obvious that this dungeon design is a bit outrageous and will definitely need adjustments later. I reckon the official version of the dungeon will have loot drops, but not this time.】

SisterPomegranateUprootsTheWeepingWillows: 【Okay, enough arguing. Let’s hurry and follow the NPC to the final hall. I want to see what this sub-dimension rift looks like with my own eyes.】

Urged by Sister Pomegranate, a group of players rushed after Maxim towards the final hall. They passed through the central corridor that had already been cleared by the Witch Hunters, but the closer they got to the Sacred Blood Hall, the more NPCs there were.

In front of that final door, they saw Murphy and old Finoch.

At this point, the two story leaders both bore visible marks of battle.

The old knight’s white oak armor bore black corrosion marks, while Murphy’s cloak had become tattered and torn. He, who usually paid close attention to his demeanor, was now sitting on a chair panting, with the Blade of the Desire Clan by his side still dripping strange black fresh blood.

Just thirty minutes ago, he and old Finoch had jointly dealt with the last dozen or so patriarch personal guards who had been seduced by the sub-dimension. Those fellows were true White Silver ranks, powerful individuals like Jed. It was only due to mental instability, sub-dimension corrosion, and blood source weakness that allowed Murphy to ambush them successfully.

Admittedly, it was rather shameful. Out of just fifteen enemies in total, the formidable old knight single-handedly took down thirteen, while Murphy only managed to claim two heads and ended up in a sorry state himself.

This Murphy was truly pathetic!

However, it didn’t matter much. For his current rank, being able to achieve this was already quite commendable, and the【Proof of Warrior】had also been successfully obtained.

“You’ve finally arrived, my warriors.”

Murphy, however, shielded the still dazed Brother Meow King behind him, looked at the Blood Pact Knight before them, and loudly refuted:

“My warrior will not be seduced. Just now he only underestimated the situation recklessly. The same attack cannot be effective against them twice! I can guarantee it!”

“With all due respect, Lord Murphy, your courage is moving, but your warriors are not qualified to join such a battle!”

The Blood Pact female knight before them said coldly:

“They are too weak. Entering the battlefield would only make them servants of the sub-dimension and in turn become a nuisance to us. The current situation is already dire enough, please do not add to our difficulties.”

“No!”

The old knight Finoch, who had remained silent until now, raised his head at this moment and said to the three Blood Pact Knights who had come to aid them:

“Their presence is necessary. Murphy’s decision is not wrong. Apart from those who do not fear death like them, I do not trust any other reinforcements.”

Old Finoch knew that the players were spirits from another realm.

They did not fear death, so when necessary, they would have no burden striking down tempted comrades. Their disdain for death when confronting chaos would become the most precious gift.

This was an advantage that even the most outstanding Witch Hunters did not possess.

Even the most resolute will would waver in the face of death. Once the will wavered, the chaos of the sub-dimension would seize upon that weakness. Unless you never regarded death as a big deal from the very start, beneath such lofty magnanimity, the sub-dimension will would naturally find it difficult to influence you.

After all, if you didn’t even fear death, there were so few things in this world worth fearing.

“I’m puzzled, why are we quarreling amongst ourselves before the battle has even begun? Is it because the sub-dimension has influenced even you beautiful ones?”

As the three sides were at an impasse, a somewhat exaggerated and languid male voice rang out from the shadows of the corridor.

This voice seemed to carry a certain magnetism, drawing everyone’s gaze towards the rear.

Under their watchful eyes, a nearly 2-meter tall, golden-red armored knight with a lion-head helmet tucked under his arm, carrying a lance and heavy shield on his back, strode forth.

Handsome, dashing, and gentle were the first impressions this fellow gave everyone. The tinge of crimson in his blue pupils and his overly pale skin, however, were symbolic of his race.

Most audaciously, this guy even had a night rose fixed in place by spirit energy on his chest plate, exuding a roguish aura. Upon seeing him, the three Blood Pact Knights immediately stood at attention and saluted their knight commander.

“The Blade of Dignity,” the first knight commander of the Blood Pact Knights, waved his hand.

He surveyed his surroundings and upon seeing Lady Femis, Lady Adele, and the gray-haired demoness hunter Natalie, his eyes immediately lit up.

A beautiful rose glided forward, as if by magic producing three gorgeously blushing roses from his hand, which he presented to the three ladies.

Lady Femis was clearly aware of this one’s character and sighed as she reached out to accept the rose, giving Lady Adele a look as well. As for the Witch Hunter side, the old knight Finoch, who had also heard of Lord Palanno Gaerci Cappadocia’s great name, covered his eyes and waved his hand dismissively.

Although she didn’t quite understand, Natalie also accepted the rose with an odd expression.

Then, his eyes fell upon Sister Pomegranate, Lumina, and Orchid Huahua among the little players, and lit up again as he once more produced three roses to present to them.

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became awkward.

The players’ expressions varied, but for some reason, the Ruthcium brothers suddenly felt a liking for this NPC who appeared rather formidable, tsk, this guy was a fellow connoisseur of beauty!

Only little Ashina gritted her teeth and drew the handgun from her waist.

These were all the girls here!

You gave one to everyone except me!

Tell me!

What’s the meaning of this?

Just as she was about to erupt, Palanno turned and produced a rose, handing it to her, delighting little Ashina.

But then she realized the rose in her hand was smaller in size.

A whole circle smaller than everyone else’s!

This vile and malicious implication made her nose crooked with anger.

Meanwhile, Murphy looked at this one who could be called handsome in every sense, and felt a slight threat from him. The biggest doubt floating in his mind was, does this guy have some kind of condition?

Where did he get so many roses?

Is it really okay to carry so many of these useless things on you?

But before Murphy could speak, that deranged knight commander turned and drew a blue rose different from the others, smiling as he presented it before Murphy’s eyes.

He said admiringly:

“I never expected to find someone of the same race so handsome that even I feel threatened. I have also heard your story from Lady Tris. Come, Murphy, accept this, as my tribute to you!

From one perfect gentleman to another.”

For a moment, Murphy stood stunned, but then he accepted the blue rose with the most gracious smile and elegant demeanor, nodding to the other in acknowledgment.

Although he still didn’t quite understand what was happening.

But to be praised as handsome by such a dashing fellow, well, this guy wasn’t so bad after all.