novelraw Chapter 315 : Bai Fu Also Had Her Merits
Chapter 315 : Bai Fu Also Had Her Merits
Chapter 315: Bai Fu Also Had Her Merits
With the progression of Version 2.3’s storyline, those Players who had joined the various major factions finally welcomed the glorious moment they had been dreaming of.
War! War! War!
At this moment, whether it was the more than twenty million Players who had joined the Garden of Silence, or those who had joined the Revolutionary Army, or those who banded together to form the Star-Hunter Companies roaming among the great powers, all of them were mobilized.
Quests flew toward them like snowflakes.
In the past, good quests were things Players fought tooth and nail over. Now, even those of average strength could afford to pick and choose.
The reason things turned out this way was because the top powers in the game had all clashed together.
Although the current intensity of war was not high, precisely because it was not at the level where Domination-level beings or Transcendents needed to risk their lives, it gave Players—whose average strength had reached S-rank—plenty of room to shine.
Hesitant to strike without knowing the enemy’s strength?
That was all ancient history.
Now, without caring about consequences, they just sent in Players to charge first.
If they could directly take the enemy down, all the better. If not, at least they could probe the enemy’s real strength.
The arrival of Players had even changed the very model of interstellar warfare.
Because of this, some old-school military commanders could not help but sigh:
“Nowadays the youngsters really have it easy. Whenever there’s a tough situation, they just send in the Undying Ones. Back in our day, we had to consider so many things—whether we could afford to send people, how to send them, when to send them, what the public opinion fallout would be afterwards… too difficult.”
The value of Players was evident at a glance.
Apart from actively taking part in all kinds of war quests, Players also enthusiastically engaged in “community wars.”
So-called community wars were essentially Players from different factions mocking each other.
At this stage, those unquestionably dominating in momentum were the Players of the three Cosmic-level Civilizations and Bai Fu’s faction.
It could not be helped. They had the largest numbers—how could their voices not be the loudest?
The Players from the Revolutionary Army faction were not far behind either.
Their numbers were fewer than the “Three Greats,” but as they were currently on the offensive with the tide looking wholly in their favor, they were full of confidence when debating against other Players.
【You’ve followed Bai Fu to glory for so many versions. Now it’s our turn to enjoy it!】
【Version 2.3 may still be Bai Fu’s version, but starting next version, the world will focus on our Jiebao!】
【Jiebao? Why would the world focus on that kind of thing, this isn’t some multiplayer eroge.】
【The hell, bastard! I’m talking about Elice, the protagonist of the Shadow Legion.】
【Never heard of her. Is she really strong? Half as strong as Fufu?】
【I know you’re anxious, but calm down first. Bai Fu may be powerful now, but next version will be different. With the Holy City of Apostles and our siege, the fate of the Three Cosmic-level Civilizations can only be annihilation! Without the Three Greats as her backers, Jiebao will soon surpass Bai Fu. Just you wait and see!】
Who would ultimately be stronger, Bai Fu or Elice?
Every day, Players from the Three Greats and Revolutionary Army factions quarreled endlessly over this topic, pushing community popularity to record-breaking heights since the game’s launch.
Yet, although the Players of the Three Greats and the Revolutionary Army detested each other and even pulled off tricks like feigned deaths and surprise raids on each other’s bases as if playing an SLG, there was one matter that could instantly turn enemies into temporary allies.
That was mocking those Players, led by Wind-rises-among-Stars, who had defected to the Holy City of Apostles.
For the Players of the Three Greats, mocking Wind-rises-among-Stars and his group was simple—they were mostly Bai Fu supporters, while Wind-rises-among-Stars and the others were notorious Bai Fu haters. If they did not ridicule them, it would betray their very identity.
For the Revolutionary Army Players, the reasons were more complex. At first, they had no enmity with Wind-rises-among-Stars. But ever since he and his followers joined the Holy City of Apostles, they bragged endlessly in the community, huddled together for warmth, and looked down on those who supported other protagonists, claiming they did not understand the game. Naturally, resentment grew.
Now that the Revolutionary Army Players’ fortunes had improved, while Wind-rises-among-Stars looked the same as ever, they seized the chance to strike hard.
【Damn it, these bastards!】
【Petty men drunk on small victories!】
【So what if they have a Calamity-level? Compared to Sui Xi, or even Bai Fu, they’re nothing! Truly shows that followers resemble their idol—abstract fools.】
【Exactly! Sui Xi is already carrying her weight in the Holy City of Apostles, while their so-called Jiebao hasn’t even managed to get a fleet command.】
Inside the hater group founded by Wind-rises-among-Stars, anger boiled as they raged against a mocking post, some even proposing to release Sui Xi’s growth record to slap the Revolutionary Army Players in the face.
At that moment, Wind-rises-among-Stars stood up.
【Everyone, calm down!】
Truth be told, he too wanted to jump out and smack others in the face with real achievements. Otherwise, why would he have worked so hard to reach the Holy City of Apostles to follow Sui Xi, instead of just continuing to post videos mocking Bai Fu?
But the time had not yet come!
With Sui Xi’s current strength and experience, she was barely stronger than Jiebao, and compared to Bai Fu—she was not even a single strand of Bai Fu’s hair.
Thus, his plan was to wait.
And the wait would not be long. Sui Xi was already on the runway, about to truly take off.
Of course, he would not simply idle away either.
Wind-rises-among-Stars intended to replicate Digging-Treasure’s path to fame.
Digging-Treasure had risen by making storyline analyses and growth-record videos of Bai Fu. He now planned to do the same for Sui Xi.
Once Sui Xi truly soared, even surpassing Bai Fu, as the first person in the field, founder of the Sui Xi Cult, her staunchest supporter, and Bai Fu’s fiercest hater, his fame might even surpass Digging-Treasure’s.
At that time, money would flow in like a rushing stream!
He had already decided: his first video would document Sui Xi’s shining exploits in Rayas, her rise as the darling of the Holy City of Apostles.
With that video, he would bear witness to Sui Xi’s legendary beginnings, use it to thrash Elice at her peak, and prove himself and his group of followers.
【Do you want to be trapped in endless arguments, or land one decisive blow that leaves them speechless?】
Wind-rises-among-Stars delivered the soul-striking question.
Of course, they wanted the decisive blow!
Excellent. Then they would endure for now. After all, only those who could bear what others could not were destined for greatness!
Having calmed his group, Wind-rises-among-Stars led his followers to record Sui Xi’s experiences in Rayas from every angle.
He was confident in her rise for three reasons:
First, Sui Xi had the Lucky Star talent—she was no ordinary NPC. Now that the story had reached the stage where important NPCs were set to shine, her turn had come.
Second, this was the first time the Supreme Apostle had assigned her to lead a mission alone, a clear sign of importance.
Third, while following her, he had received a main storyline quest. Yes, a main quest—investigating the truth behind the Rayas attack. The rewards were immense, boosting both Reputation and Favorability with the Holy City of Apostles. With the officials backing her, how could she not rise?
Excited beyond reason, Wind-rises-among-Stars never imagined that his words in the hater group would be secretly leaked by some “white-cloaks” to Digging-Treasure, who then quietly passed them on to Bai Fu.
Bai Fu thought to herself:
Oh, now that was impressive. One had to admit, the plan was feasible, and the drive admirable.
But—completely the wrong direction!
“Let them fuss. Right now, my only concern is how many more days of training it will take to raise my base Spirit to 5000.”
She instructed Shadow Fu to keep an eye on things, then stopped paying attention.
Although Shadow Fu usually acted cute and obedient before Bai Fu, always calling her “Elder Sister” and even pouting coquettishly, as an assassin, she excelled at underhanded methods.
So it turned out—Sui Xi was Elder Sister’s dog.
And so it turned out—Sui Xi’s dog was Elder Sister’s enemy.
Then of course that Undying One called Wind-rises-among-Stars needed a lesson.
Since the opponent was an Undying One, killing or torturing would not count as a lesson. Thus, Shadow Fu defined the lesson as crushing his dream.
Did he want to rise to fame by recording Sui Xi’s ascent?
Then she would simply prevent it—not only stop him from filming, but hand that opportunity to an Undying One who disliked him.
And so, while Wind-rises-among-Stars was cheerfully eating hotpot and singing songs, camera aimed at Sui Xi, Shadow Fu suddenly struck.
“Here we go, here we go! The attackers have appeared. Now let’s see how Sui Xi deals with them, hahaha!”
Wind-rises-among-Stars did not dare run ahead for the sake of footage.
He feared getting himself killed and missing the best scenes.
But…
Something was wrong!
Why was the attacker’s figure growing larger in his lens?
“Shit—it’s coming straight at me!”
By the time he realized it, he was already being dragged away by the shoulder.
Still in mid-air, he thought of taking his own life to escape the predicament. But a strange force suddenly pressed down on him, rendering his body completely immobile. When he regained his senses, he found himself locked inside a black box—he could see nothing, he could do nothing.
“?”
Damn it, wasn’t something wrong here?
There had been tens of thousands of Players present at the scene. He had deliberately chosen an inconspicuous spot, so why was he still caught? Could it be that his domineering aura was too eye-catching?
Damn.
Now, before the NPC who had captured him killed him, he had no way of filming any video.
Fortunately, he was just a small fry now. It should not take long before he was killed. At least since the storyline had just begun, missing only the opening would not affect his ability to make videos later.
Wind-rises-among-Stars kept complaining in the group, drawing plenty of sympathy.
【Sigh, just my bad luck. But it’s no big deal—wait for my kingly return!】
Then…
Day one.
“Why haven’t they come to interrogate me yet?”
Day two.
“Could it be the one who caught me already died?”
Day three.
“Shit, could this account be finished?”
Wind-rises-among-Stars panicked.
He begged for help in the group, but who had time to save him now?
【Wind-bro, it’s not that we don’t want to save you. It’s just that right now we really don’t have the hands to spare. You don’t know how many big things have happened in the few days you were gone.】
Reading that reply, Wind-rises-among-Stars panicked even more.
Big things had happened, and he had not recorded them. How was he supposed to make a video later? Rely on secondhand accounts and put out a voice-over video with no real footage?
Such a video’s popularity would surely be drowned by others instantly.
He urgently asked what had happened.
It turned out, in the days he was absent, Sui Xi had keenly caught clues of the attackers and launched a counterattack.
At first, things went well. But no one expected the attackers’ strength to be beyond imagination—two Dominations sent by the Holy City of Apostles were killed.
With no other choice, the Holy City of Apostles had to send in a Transcendent Servant.
【Sui Xi is incredible. Even while fleeing, she secretly left a tracking mark on the attacker. We’re on our way to their lair right now.】
【Not saying more, Wind-bro. I’ve got to do quests.】
“Damn it.”
Locked in the Black Chamber, Wind-rises-among-Stars felt like ten thousand ants were crawling in his ears, driving him mad with torment.
If not for the fact he could still go online, the surrounding darkness alone would have broken his mind.
Such claustrophobic conditions were not fit for a human.
He could log off to avoid the torture of darkness, but if he missed the interrogations of those who captured him, then what?
Ahhh…
“Why is my luck this bad? The path to the peak of my life is right in front of me, but you tell me there’s a door on the road, and this door says it cannot be opened from this side?”
Wind-rises-among-Stars nearly fainted from anger.
He could only keep watching the group chat for updates.
【We found the attackers’ lair!】
【We’ve already broken in—charge!】
【Damn, no wonder these bastards were so tough. Turns out they’re also Psionic Prayer-users, immune to some of the Holy City’s means.】
【Haha, but the Holy City of Apostles still has the upper hand. They couldn’t win and started to flee.】
【Sui Xi has earned great merit this time. That Transcendent Servant said the Supreme Apostle would reward her, boosting her strength.】
Wind-rises-among-Stars clenched his fists hard.
It was over. His plan, his patience—endured beyond ordinary men—had all been endured in vain.
Damn you, dogshit Developers!
As he cursed, the tone in the group suddenly shifted.
【What the hell, I got one-shotted. What about you guys?】
【Don’t mention it, I got one-shotted too.】
【I’m still alive, but the situation is dire. That Transcendent Servant opened a database in the attackers’ lair, and it turns out all these attackers were following an Apostle.】
【An Apostle, like Bai Fu?】
【Exactly. Now it’s blown up big. I heard the Holy City of Apostles is sending more people to investigate.】
So the quest was not over yet?
But Wind-rises-among-Stars grew even angrier.
Damn it, such a massive event, and he could not participate at all. Worse, the one reporting it in the group was—wasn’t this the very 【Spaceman】 he had fought with before over monster-stealing?
“My money!”
Wind-rises-among-Stars nearly exploded.
He was certain this guy would rush to make a video before him, stealing his road to fortune.
Shit!
That was a hundred times more painful than just losing money.
“Let me out, let me out right now!”
He stood up and pounded on the box nonstop, but no one responded. Everything he did was useless.
A day later, new messages arrived in the group.
【The attackers seem to know their identities have been exposed. Now they’re not even pretending anymore. In one day, they attacked several Holy City garrisons, causing horrific casualties.】
Attached was a video.
Dark Energy rained down from the sky, wrathful and ferocious, wiping out an entire base in an instant.
【The Supreme Apostle is already in a rage. A few minutes ago, I got word that the Supreme Apostle will come personally in an Icon-class Mothership to handle this. The nature of this matter has completely changed. At first, people thought it was a reprisal from a civilization invaded by the Holy City, but now it looks like this is Apostles fighting among themselves—another Apostle has set sights on the Holy City’s Apostle!】
Bang.
Wind-rises-among-Stars collapsed.
A war between Apostles—what explosive news! But he could not witness it!
Out of sight, out of mind. Fine, he would just abandon this account.
Fuming, he logged off.
When he logged in again, he found he had been freed. He quickly checked game time—two full days had passed.
【What’s the situation now?】
He opened the hater group.
Immediately, his blood pressure shot up again.
For he saw that 【Spaceman】 was now lording over the chat.
【I heard the Holy City of Apostles sent over more than ten Transcendents. Terrifying.】
【This quest is no longer something we can participate in. All we can do now is peripheral work, like small investigations.】
【Which is fine. This way I can spare time to make a video. Just wait—I’ll release it soon and slap those Revolutionary Army Players’ faces hard!】
【Space-bro awesome! We’ll wait for your video!】
Wind-rises-among-Stars turned red with rage.
What made him angrier was that not only were they praising Spaceman, they even remembered to whip his corpse.
【Wind-bro’s a bit unlucky, huh.】
Damn you @&%!
He shut down the group himself, fearing he would explode if he stayed.
At this point, he decided to just kill himself.
After respawning, he would see if he could buy some footage to make a video. In any case, he could not let that bastard Spaceman hog all the glory.
The moment he revived at the Respawn Point, he contacted his friends.
He spent two days making a video, barely managing to release it at the same time as Spaceman.
As he nervously prayed his video could siphon some traffic and cut Spaceman’s profits, shocking news spread.
Cathedral Number Four of the Holy City of Apostles had been attacked. The attacker was—
Bai Fu!
【What the hell!】
In an instant, no one cared about Jiebao, no one cared about Sui Xi. Bai Fu was the true number-one trending name.
Wind-rises-among-Stars silently looked at the numbers on his and Spaceman’s videos.
Well then, both had died miserable deaths.
He should have cursed Bai Fu. But when he thought of Spaceman, who had waited so long only to gain nothing just like him, he suddenly felt that Bai Fu also had her merits.
“No wonder so many people like Bai Fu.”