novelraw Chapter 458 311: Is it over just as it's beginning? Game Designer, you really should die!_2
Chapter 458 311: Is it over just as it's beginning? Game Designer, you really should die!_2
The other players, unclear about the situation here, could only follow Rat Tail Juice and his group.
Tens of thousands of players set out together. The sheer spectacle stunned all the elves in the Elf Forest, who stared, examining these powerful humans emerging from the Elf Palace.
The players' strength was evident. Even the weakest among them was stronger than the Elf Queen.
While the elves sized up the players, the players, in turn, scrutinized the surrounding elves.
"Look at that loli elf over there, damn, she's so adorable."
"That elf archer on the tree is the real deal! Check out the Facial Cleanser! With a figure like that, doesn't she totally blow other female players out of the water?"
"Would you shut up? Aren't you afraid of getting secretly knifed by Wanwan and the others?"
"Holy shit, there are male elves too? Damn, why are they so handsome? I feel like knifing him right now."
"..."
The players left the Elf Forest amidst their playful banter, then followed Rat Tail Juice to the outskirts of Lin'an City.
Outside Lin'an City, some adventurers were coming and going; they couldn't help but cast curious glances at the arrival of so many people.
However, the players currently had no interest in exploring Lin'an City.
It's just a modern city, isn't it? We're all too familiar with those; no need for curiosity.
Better to focus on the real business.
The entrance to the Underground City of the Mysterious Realm was in the densest part of the forest, an area completely veiled in darkness by the thick canopy.
Never mind people; even the surrounding weeds grew as tall as a person.
Rat Tail Juice looked at the pitch-black opening and pointed, saying, "That's the entrance to the Mysterious Realm."
Gazing at the entrance to the Mysterious Realm, the players rubbed their hands in eager anticipation, yet no one was in a hurry to charge in to their deaths.
When the Fifth Test began, clearing out Nightmares had been a harrowing experience for the Fifth Test players.
If anyone were to stick their neck out now, wouldn't they be a fool?
Absolutely not!
Junlin turned and nodded to a few members of Lingxiao Hall, signaling them to prepare, before leading the way in.
Seeing the Lingxiao Hall members enter, Flourishing Flowers, not to be outdone, called for the Cloud Lament players to follow.
Then, the Second Legion, Hundred Herbs Hall, Valley of Hundred Flowers, and many other forces of Veteran Players entered one after another.
The Fifth Test players, however, mostly acted independently. Everyone had ambitions and wanted to earn more Contribution Points, so those who truly grouped up were few and far between.
Hugging Chang'e and Roasting Jade Rabbit turned and laughed, "You guys hurry up, we're heading in first."
With that, he led the ten people beside him into the entrance.
Then, Rat Tail Juice and his group followed them in, with the remaining Fifth Test players close behind, all growing wary of each other.
The tactic of kill-stealing had long spread among players. In the game, it wasn't monsters one needed to be most wary of, but the Scheming Players.
This bunch had perfected the art of kill-stealing. Who would want their hard-earned rewards swiped?
Upon stepping into the Mysterious Realm, the utter desolation of the world stunned all the players. It was just like the world they had encountered before.
No! Or rather, this Mysterious Realm was even more desolate than the world they currently inhabited.
The Profound Yellow Sect had merely occupied a desolate corner of such a world, yet this place was even bleaker than that previous desolate realm!
[Task: Slaying the Gods.]
[Introduction: Slay any hidden Ancient God in the Mysterious Realm.]
[Reward: Contribution Points * 10,000.]
As the players stepped into the Mysterious Realm, the System promptly issued a task.
The Mysterious Realm was the hiding place of the Ancient Gods.
And this time, the players' objective was to slay the Ancient Gods here!
"Holy crap, ten thousand Contribution Points! Am I dreaming?"
"As a veteran player, this is the first time I've ever seen a task reward ten thousand Contribution Points! Even Hidden Tasks don't offer that much, do they?"
"Maybe this is a Hidden Task? Don't forget, without Rat Tail Juice's exploration, we wouldn't have found the Mysterious Realm hidden here."
"This must be a Boss Dungeon, right? Does that mean all the monsters in here are Bosses?"
"..."
Veterans and New Players alike were stunned by such a reward.
After all, a reward of ten thousand Contribution Points was enough to tempt any player. With that many points in hand, they could go on a massive spending spree.
Many played this game to make money, especially since merchants in the game had driven the price of Contribution Points up to two hundred bucks apiece.
Such a price was the stuff of legends in the gaming world. Who would believe it? Yet, that was the reality.
Hadn't Abbess, Don't Love Me initially become well-off among players by selling Contribution Points?
Now, his entire family relied on his gaming to make a living; even his child's tuition fees were no longer a worry.
The man was now a bona fide full-time player!
Just as the players were buzzing with excitement, a colossal figure, tall enough to touch the sky and span the earth, slowly rose in the distant gloom. It then walked off towards an even more remote area.
The figure seemed humanoid, but even from such a distance, it appeared incredibly terrifying to the players.
It was the very image of a true titan.
It seemed as though, with a mere lift of its hand, the figure could hold up the very sky of this world.
"Holy shit, what is that thing?"
"Did I just see a Boss? How are we supposed to fight something that massive?"
"I knew it wouldn't be that simple! The Bosses here are just absurd. Even if we're strong, how could we possibly defeat that kind of giant?"
"Don't worry, didn't they say there are quite a few Bosses around? There must be some that are easier to deal with."
"..."
Clearly, the sight of that enormous figure had startled the players, leaving each of them somewhat wary and fearful.
It wasn't that they feared death itself; their main concern was the potential drain on their Contribution Points.
How were they supposed to fight this? With a single step from that being, wouldn't all players present be Team Wiped?
Just then, all players received a system prompt. This notification only deepened their feelings of despair and helplessness.
[You have been gazed upon by the Ancient God—Touch of the Evil God. All attributes are halved and will further diminish over time. Your spirit will suffer escalating trauma. You are projected to die in Ten Minutes.]
HISSS—
What the hell? The Touch of the Evil God merely glances at us, and we have to waste a life after just Ten Minutes?
Old Mo frowned at the prompt, turning to say, "I will die in Half an Hour. It seems to be mandatory."
"What? Half an Hour for you? Why do I only get Five Minutes?" Poisonous Panda's mouth twitched as he cursed inwardly.
Does the difference have to be this huge?
We're all experiencing our first life here, so why does he get Half an Hour?
"I have Ten Minutes," Junlin said, his brows furrowed tightly.
"Hey, I've got An Hour!" Dung Beetle came up, boasting gleefully.
Apparently, he hadn't yet grasped the situation. They were all going to die once; the only difference was how long they had left to live.
Rat Tail Juice and the others stood frozen in shock. The four of them also faced a mandatory death in Five Minutes.
Is this Dungeon cursed or something? We haven't even seen the Touch of the Evil God, and we're already slated to die?
A call went out among the players: "How much time does everyone else have?"
Chaotic Dance Steps then spoke with a frown, "We have to figure out the situation with this Touch of the Evil God first, or there's no way we'll conquer this Dungeon."
Hearing this, players began to report their remaining time.
"I have Five Minutes left."
"I'm at Fifteen Minutes. Not sure how this time is calculated."
"I'm at An Hour, same as our Boss."
"Ten Minutes. Doesn't seem like there's any clue."
"..."
As the players spoke up one by one, Chaotic Dance Steps swiftly scanned all of them.
There's a pattern! The duration definitely follows a pattern. And I think I've figured it out. This Dungeon is timed, and there are restrictions; not just anyone can get the reward here.
"I've got it!" Chaotic Dance Steps said gravely. "This Dungeon has requirements, and the minimum prerequisite relates to either Constitution or Bloodline!
"Most Fifth Test players, having chosen other races, start with about Ten Minutes. Veteran Players with special Constitutions or Bloodlines get at least Twenty Minutes, Fifteen at worst. The stronger a player's Bloodline or Constitution, the longer their time, naturally!"