Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
The corrupted player in front of (Player Name) (M) didn’t waste time with pleasantries before launching an attack, which made (Player Name) (M) feel somewhat unaccustomed.
He felt as though he wasn’t facing a player at all.
Instead, it was a demon from this game world, harboring hatred for all beings in the material plane.
Those scarlet eyes were filled with ingrained hatred and greed.
What kind of eyes were these for a player to possess?
Still, it was good that he had managed to stall for a bit.
Star Magus had spell slots and didn’t need to channel spells. As for his partner, Claudia, during their conversation, she had already silently channeled a mid-tier fire area-of-effect spell, “Lava Sea.”
Without any need for his command, the Crusader had already walked up to him with his shield raised. The shield slammed onto the ground with a boom, forming a circle that protected (Player Name) (M) and the others.
At this moment, the Lava Sea channeled by Claudia also formed a barrier, about two meters away from the shield-bearing Winter City Crusader. The two defensive lines formed a ring.
“Playing with fire in front of demons from the Abyss, you really don’t take us seriously!”
CN Bai Zhu shouted. He moved extremely fast, crossing over ten meters in the blink of an eye. Facing the lava circle burning with raging flames, he charged straight in without evading.
The corrupted player behind him did the same.
The magma hissed as it came into contact with the demons’ armor, but that was all.
(Player Name) (M) merely saw fleeting burn buffs under the corrupted players’ status bars.
Because they had successfully crossed the lava barrier and, carrying high temperatures, charged towards the Winter City Crusader formation with their weapons raised.
“Thrust!”
The highest-level Crusader, under the system’s soldier rules, had command authority.
This was because (Player Name) (M) had not given any orders.
“Roar—!”
All the Crusader warriors let out a powerful roar, their long swords piercing through the gaps in their shields and fiercely thrusting towards the charging corrupted players.
However, this fierce thrust did not yield the expected results.
The leading corrupted player, “CN Bai Zhu,” was incredibly ferocious. He neither dodged nor weaved, tucking his foot and sidestepping, using his sturdy arm guards to lock onto the long sword of the Crusader.
Then, with a powerful heave, he actually pulled the Crusader, who was under the formation’s buffs, close to falling onto the ground.
The long sword was also snatched by CN Bai Zhu, who, with a flick of his wrist, threw it like a dart towards a Crusader warrior who hadn’t had time to raise his shield to block.
Fortunately, a warrior next to him immediately turned his shield, deflecting the thrown long sword.
This saved the Crusader’s life.
All of this happened in a flash. CN Bai Zhu alone tied down two Crusaders, creating a gap in the formation’s defense. Two other corrupted players took the opportunity to rush forward.
They raised their legs covered in crimson chitin. The muscles in their legs twisted, and the muscles in their upper bodies seemed to gradually drain and converge into their legs. In an instant, their legs doubled in thickness.
With a loud “boom,” accompanied by the corrupted player’s kick, the shield shattered.
The Crusader behind the shield was also sent flying, spitting blood.
“In over a month, this is all the progress you’ve made?”
“Truly disappointing.”
CN Bai Zhu, hunched over like a mantis, had his bone spear on his arm transformed into a sickle at some point.
The three Crusaders at the forefront lay in pools of blood.
He stood on the corpses of the Crusaders, amidst scattered severed limbs and shields pierced by his sickle. His entire body was stained crimson by the splattered blood.
All of this happened too quickly.
The surrounding Crusader warriors were resisting the corrupted players with all their might.
Although the number of corrupted players wasn’t large, their combat experience was incredibly rich. One person could tie down two Crusaders and even seemed to be doing so with ease.
(Player Name) (M) had never commanded a battle of this magnitude.
This was a blind spot in his knowledge.
Looking at the chaotic battlefield and the Crusaders being slaughtered, his hands and feet turned cold, and he felt lost and helpless.
But CN Bai Zhu wouldn’t be lost. He let out a chilling laugh and pounced towards (Player Name) (M). With a mere leap, he soared over five meters high.
“I wonder where you set your Resurrection Crystal? If only I could find it, then I could kill you again and again until you turn into level zero!”
“Keke…”
(Player Name) (M) stared blankly at the charging CN Bai Zhu, his mind completely empty, until Claudia raised her magic shield to block in front of him.
“No! You can’t block him…”
Before he could finish speaking.
A giant hammer entwined with lightning suddenly appeared mid-air and, with a “boom,” sent the charging CN Bai Zhu flying back at an even faster speed.
CN Bai Zhu tumbled through the air under the fierce impact, finally crashing into the ruins not far away, stirring up a cloud of dust.
“You two can’t stop him.”
A calm male baritone voice came from his ear.
One of the Priests in the party carried his scepter and walked up to (Player Name) (M).
His broad back was like a mountain, blocking (Player Name) (M)’s line of sight.
And blocking all danger.
“Hey! The situation has stabilized. Now everyone needs your command, don’t panic.”
Uncle Priest tilted his head slightly, his voice carried by the wind to (Player Name) (M)’s ears.
He snapped back to reality and found that the situation had changed without him knowing.
The remaining Crusaders were all covered in a layer of silver magic armor.
In mid-air, the Star Magus hovered like a prism tower, firing a beam of silver light at the corrupted players every so often.
The beam was extremely powerful. Not only could it easily pierce the chitin armor of the corrupted players, but the remaining force could also blast large holes in the ground.
(Player Name) (M) looked at Claudia, who stood before him with a worried expression.
Claudia, in turn, held his hand and nodded encouragingly.
His confidence was reignited.
The psychological shadow cast by the Abyssal corrupted players was dispelled at this moment.
No matter how strong you are?
Are you stronger than Winter City’s standard troops?
As a player of Winter City, personal strength was naturally very important, but Winter City was his reliance, and the King of Winter was his backing.
“All Crusaders, immediately mount the Venom Dragons and pursue and surround those corrupted players. Don’t let them escape!”
“Brother Priest, please heal the injured Crusaders first, and leave two people to keep watch on those corrupted players.”
“Claudia!”
(Player Name) (M) drew the long sword from his waist, turned his head to look at Claudia, and his eyes burned with fighting spirit.
No need for words.
The female Magus beside him naturally understood his intentions. With a light lift of her hand, a Fire Elemental shield enveloped the two of them.
His long sword also ignited with raging flames.
They moved one after the other, charging towards CN Bai Zhu, who had just climbed out of the ruins.
Sacrifice was inevitable.
But one must never lose fighting spirit at any time.
“I’ve really embarrassed myself this time…”
(Player Name) (M) looked at CN Bai Zhu and gave a bitter smile, but the killing intent in his eyes burned even fiercer.
“But I will wash away my shame in my own way, and avenge those fallen soldiers.”
