Chapter 1 Time Goes Back

Time rewinds slightly, to the edge of the Necropolis, in the desert of the Boundless Maze...

A floating black shadow and a crimson figure were both moving at high speed. The entanglement between the two was rapid, forceful, and dangerous, filled with deadly traps and shocking moments.

*Bang!* Another collision of power.

K3's figure faltered, retreating several steps. For the first time, a solemn expression appeared on his face, and his right arm erupted with crimson light. In an instant, a dragon's roar echoed in the desert sky, and an energy blast shaped like a red dragon burst forth.

Vairu, hovering in the air, also solidified into a human form. His purple face was filled with horror as he crossed his hands, covering himself with necromantic power, intending to use himself as a shield against this terrifying attack.

The two had been fighting for a long time. As the intensity and speed of the battle increased, and the techniques became more advanced, K3's advantage became more obvious, and Vairu gradually weakened. This attack was the one K3 believed could decide the outcome.

The crimson dragon's flame roared forth with earth-shattering force. Vairu's defense was like a withered tree in a strong wind, about to be uprooted at any moment.

"You deserve praise for fighting this far." Before the attack reached its full potential, K3 withdrew his killing intent. In his eyes, the battle was already over. "However, your skills end here."

Vairu left no last words, nor did he manage to surprise K3 in any way. In the end, he could not withstand the devastating attack. His body was blasted apart by the red energy, turning into a scattered black mist, which then dissolved into dust, scattering down to become part of the bone desert.

K3 indifferently flicked his hand and suddenly spoke to the empty maze before him, "You've been watching from the side for so long. Even out of courtesy, you should come out and say hello."

In the sky, a layer of distorted black space slowly shifted, as if a veil was being lifted. A huge skull face appeared there, its mouth emitting a dry, raspy voice, "If you think it's necessary..." he replied, continuing K3's words.

When he saw that face, K3 confirmed the other party's identity. "So it's Kui Shou (chief), no wonder you were able to get here so quickly."

Under the command of You Wang of the Nether Abyss, there were nine subordinates second only to the Four Pillar Gods, known as the "Nine Necropolis Chiefs." The skull in front of K3 was the leader of the nine, Duo Ling (Soul Snatcher).

"Hmph... Watching your own kind be killed, and you remain indifferent?" K3 asked with a smile.

"He is not my kind, you know that very well." Duo Ling replied. "You and I are more like kindred."

K3 replied, "That's true. After all, we are both data with unique properties." He coldly snorted, pointing at the black dust left by Vairu on the ground. "But this idiot who doesn't understand the rules actually killed one of my fourth-level brethren, presumptuously."

"I am sorry," Duo Ling said, "But Vairu did nothing wrong. From his point of view, he was just doing what he should..." He sighed. "Each of us has our own mission and corresponding lifespan. Vairu is like a fleeting spark, and my master and I are candles that will eventually burn out, but you..." He paused. "You are a higher existence than us. As long as you have enough ability, you have the opportunity to enter the 'Inner World'. The lifespan of data there... can become an unknown."

"The Inner World is not some eternal place of peace either," K3 replied.

"Compared to data that can see the end of their destiny at any moment, it's already good enough." Duo Ling said, "To us, 'unknown' is the most precious thing. So-called 'life' is full of uncertainties. But the precision, harmony, and the established 'answers' brought about by mathematics are the sorrow we can never escape, and the most tragic thing is... we weren't even programmed with the emotion of 'sorrow'."

"I think that's fine," K3 said. "That's why you can be so calm about what just happened, and accept the past, the future, everything that has happened and will happen."

"Hmph... Maybe." Duo Ling didn't continue the topic. "You need to go back to the other side now... Let me open a space tunnel and send you on your way."

K3 replied, "Then... I'll have to trouble you, Kui Shou."

***

On the other side, Feng Bujue and the others only took less than ten minutes to reach the shrine at the top of the mountain. Without the influence of the illusion, they were just doing ordinary mountain climbing, so their actions were swift. With the abilities of these six characters, it wouldn't be a problem to chase a bus for three or five stops. Climbing this mountain, which wasn't very steep, was more than enough in ten minutes.

As the saying goes, coincidences make stories. Just as they passed through the torii gate outside the shrine, a beam of crimson light suddenly erupted from the bottom of the cursed well in the courtyard. An indescribably heavy sense of oppression rippled out from the wellhead.

Including the GM, everyone's feet seemed to be rooted to the ground, unable to move forward even a step. This was not the effect of a skill, nor was it something that could be explained by the laws of physics.

This experience beyond the five senses was unprecedented in any game. The six people who came to this place, as humans, felt "killing intent" in this virtual reality presented by neural connection.

K3-Scarlet Iron leaped out of the well, standing on the edge, looking down at the crowd in front of him with varying expressions. His right arm under his sleeve was now in its complete form. A red dragon tattoo coiled around his entire arm, from two-thirds of the way down the shoulder to the wrist, faintly glowing red. The invisible aura emanating from his body also had a faint crimson tinge.

"Hmm?" K3 looked at the number of people on the other side and muttered with slight confusion, "The players haven't been teleported yet..."

"You should have waited for our main quest to update with the appropriate content before making a move." Feng Bujue was the most composed of the six, and he responded in a very calm tone.

"I see," K3 said, "But... things have come to this, so it doesn't matter anymore." He jumped lightly to the ground. "Heh... Although I am somewhat restricted on this side, you guys... are really pathetically weak." He glanced at his right arm. "And thanks to Vairu, I've already warmed up quite thoroughly."

Galileo suddenly said nervously, "Four... the situation has changed, you have to help us..." He had obviously realized that the person in front of him was a third-level Derivative.

"Since you've said so, I have a foolproof plan." Feng Bujue actually replied immediately with confidence. Before anyone could react, he stood with his feet apart, clenched his fists, raised his arms high, and shouted, "I'm going to be King of the Pirates!"

[Protagonist Aura has been transferred]

[The player currently possessing the Protagonist Aura is — Feng Bujue.]

As soon as the system prompt sounded, Feng Bujue added, "You guys can leave, I'm going to duel him."