Chapter 503

Chapter 503: Chapter 500: "Evil God.

Since the fourth day, when the disaster period began, the sky of Qiongdi had grown increasingly overcast.

The air was filled with the acrid scent of burning straw, causing agitation to the mind and spirit.

Mizushima Kawa Sora sat at the conference table, flanked by arguing people; the meeting had raged on from last night till this morning, much to her irritation.

"—The First Tribe has already been corrupted! The Evil God’s contamination has enveloped it! What we, the Second Tribe, must do is to assume the heavy responsibility of leading Qiongdi!"

"What heavy responsibility, it’s nothing more than wishing to take their place, why bother sugarcoating it."

"The contamination cannot be contained anymore, this is all because of your indecisiveness! If we had destroyed that Stone Fortress in time, the newly awakened Evil God would never have become this powerful—"

Listening to these NPC elders pass the blame to each other, Mizushima Kawa Sora rubbed her temples, feeling somewhat of a headache.

Her current identity was that of a Guest Elder in the Second Tribe’s elder council, and seated beside her were two players who had formed an alliance with her, Natasha from North Country and Ludwig from Aurum Kingdom. In just a mere five days, they were on the verge of gaining control over the Second Tribe.

Early on, Mizushima Kawa Sora had recognized the importance of "tribes", and while collecting Silver Stars, she quickly infiltrated the story to glean additional information.

As a result, the First Tribe, which she had also targeted, was suddenly struck by a gigantic monster akin to a sludge.

The sludge monster appeared silently, and all they could find out was that it was the disaster brewed by the heretic Cici Zeven who had awakened the malevolent Jiu Shen, seeking to use the Evil God’s tentacles to contaminate all of Qiongdi.

The monster’s momentum was incredibly swift, expanding since yesterday morning.

It spread its filthy tentacles, wildly extending in all directions, greedily sucking up every inch of land, and the unwatchable darkness shrouded the territory of the First Tribe, enveloping the tribe members who hadn’t managed to evacuate in time...

It was contaminating this world, its sin unforgivable, it was the harbinger of the Evil God’s arrival.

All the major tribes immediately entered a high alert state, calling back any tribal members out hunting, and those from smaller settlements or tribes were mercilessly driven away, for there was now a dire shortage of sealed buildings, with no room for these potentially troublesome people in the large tribes.

Including the players who had received the "Evil God’s Arrival" news, those with sharp instincts immediately realized—this was an emergency large-scale world event, likely a key plot point.

Top-ranking players would not shy away from such an event; they rushed towards the most dangerous place like hyenas scenting prey, eager to be the first to crack this mission.

Thus, a situation arose where "NPCs fled, and players charged". Tribe members wished they were tens of thousands of miles away from the First Tribe, while major players dragged their Guides toward it. Mizushima Kawa Sora and her group were prime examples among the players.

Her Second Tribe was not close to the First Tribe, but as the monster expanded rapidly, those omnipresent tentacles were drawing ever closer to their settlement... and there was an overwhelming trend to extend to the entire world.

While listening to the elders still debating the "possibility of moving the tribe," she walked out of the conference room.

Behind her, Ludwig spoke:

"Currently, a number of refugees from the First Tribe have arrived nearby, and we have taken them in."

"Hmm," Mizushima Kawa Sora nodded.

"The Evil God’s tentacles are expanding too fast. Now the First Tribe’s internal affairs have completely collapsed, leaving only tribal members who scatter like lambs. Many scattered settlements around the First Tribe have also been affected, with many losing contact. Wherever the tentacles reach, everything is shrouded in darkness..." Natasha, who was like a female soldier, said, "This must be the big disaster of this world replica, just like the World Ceremonies of Ming Hui in the Fifth World, and the Sea Monsters’ Siege of Pulaya in the Seventh World. If we do not eliminate this Evil God in time... we’ll all be annihilated."

"Some players have already tried to enter the tentacles but were quickly enveloped by the darkness and went silent," said Ludwig. "Sora. We now have two plans, one is to find a way to kill that Evil God, the other is to flee straight to the corners of the map. Qiongdi is still vast, and we should be able to hold out until the fifteenth day before that monster completely covers Qiongdi."

Mizushima Kawa Sora turned to look at him.

Her gaze was extremely serene, her emotions as elusive as mist. But Ludwig faintly saw contempt in her eyes.

"... That’s the mindset of an ordinary player," she said. "Spending too much time with ’your own kind’, have you forgotten the dignity of being a top-ranking player?"

Ludwig cleared his throat, a trace of embarrassment flashing across his face.

"It’s no good to flee in such disarray, we need to find a way to confront that evil god directly," Mizushima Kawa Sora said. "Based on the current intelligence, it does not have any additional attack abilities, it only relies on tentacles that spread like seaweed to proliferate... If we can find a way to preserve rationality among the tentacles, we might find its weakness."

As she spoke, a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes, as if she had thought of something.

"...Anything, anyone, even gods... they all have weaknesses," she said. "The so-called ’gods’ are just beings we have yet to find a method to punish—anyone who ascends to divinity can, in fact, be pulled down."

The two players exchanged a glance, picking up on the metaphor in Mizushima Kawa Sora’s words.

"Speaking of which," Natalie said. "Where is the Number One Player?"

"I heard he was with the First Tribe before," Ludwig said. "Perhaps he was killed by the evil god."

"Is that so? But I feel..." Natalie frowned slightly, disagreeing with Ludwig’s conjecture.

Before she could finish, a "clang—" sounded by her ear.

Accompanying the crisp system notification sound, a system panel suddenly lit up in front of all the players.

[Battle Against the Evil God · Contribution Ranking

No.1 Vacant

No.2 Vacant

No.3 ...]

Su Ming’an climbed out from the black mire of muddy water.

He stared at the system quest panel that had suddenly popped up in front of him, shaking off the slippery tentacle fluid on his hand.

He realized that probably the commotion he was causing here was too big, even the system quest had started to target him.

This so-called "Battle Against the Evil God," was also using the guise of "lynching the evil god" and "righteous punishment of evil" to make his "evil" deeds official.

He raised his hand, the tentacles lifting his body.

Since he had obtained control over the tentacle monster yesterday, he had been controlling the tentacles to spread around, and he hadn’t closed his eyes for a day and a night. This Path of Purification expansion task had extended to a radius of 9000 yards, enveloping the First Tribe, the surrounding six tribes, and a dozen small settlements completely; he was only 1000 yards short of completing the task.

All day, he had been overseeing the situation from atop the Stone Castle Rooftop. The tentacles, as if alive, crawled through the surroundings, over streams, houses, and tribe members fleeing... spreading outwards at a steady pace, covering everything they passed with a layer of tentacles.

Although the scene was truly sinister, akin to an evil god arriving to destroy the mortal world, it was indeed an authentic purification.

It seemed that the land covered by tentacles was contaminated and that the tribespeople had lost their voices, but in reality, the soil covered by the tentacles was having its pollution absorbed, while the tribespeople were merely unconscious. The tentacles were even slowing the curse lurking within their bodies as if curing a disease.

...In that case, he really did seem like a good Samaritan.

Of course, for outsiders, these tentacles and contaminated land were no different from the evil entities that took the lives of the tribespeople.

Su Ming’an had, through the vision of the tentacles, seen many tribespeople act with bravery, wielding pitchforks and shovels, trying to kill these tentacles.

He had also seen one or two players courting death, confident in their strength, trying to infiltrate the tentacles, but they quickly fell unconscious.

For a moment, he felt like he had become the big boss.

Through his endlessly expanding field of vision, he saw many players approaching in a surrounding formation; some of them possessed flying artifacts and were closing in on the Stone Fortress with wings flapping behind them.

He turned his head, looking at Yamada Machiichi lying among the tentacles.

This tentacle monster could affect a person’s mental state. One needed to have a high number of Mentality Points in the Shadow State to maintain consciousness, and Yamada Machiichi had already passed out.

Fengchang and others had already fled. The tentacles extended slowly, so those who wanted to run could still escape.

He heard the flapping of wings. It was the sound of players in the sky:

"—Is this the place? I see the Stone Castle."

"Right, let’s get closer and see, but be careful not to touch these tentacles, or they might swallow us."

"Find an opportunity to destroy this Stone Castle; there might be a lot of Contribution Value. Act quickly."

They were conversing as they drew near.

Su Ming’an stretched out his hand from within layers of darkness.

"Snap!"

Just like swatting a mosquito, a pitch-black tentacle suddenly shot up and "snap" whipped a player, sending them flying a kilometer away.

Seeing this, the players’ bodies flashed with white light, instantly activating their life-saving skills.

A few more tentacles lashed out. The force behind these tentacle attacks was astonishing, bringing a tsunami-like impact, and the players’ room to dodge instantly shrank.

"Snap!" "Snap!" "Snap!"

Three crisp sounds rang out, and three players flying in the sky were violently smacked into the ground; they fled in panic and no longer dared to fly through the air.

The players’ offensive showed much thunder but little rain; upon learning of the tentacles’ Attack Power, many eager players immediately cowered.

"Where is the Number One Player? Where is he?" someone called out.

Normally at times like this, it was time for certain individuals to make an appearance.

"Look, Mizushima Kawa Sora has arrived..." observed a player with keen acuity, looking up.

They saw a blazing white Flame slice across the sky.

Mizushima Kawa Sora and Dian Si’s figures stood above in the heavens. The tentacles that struck at them were instantly cut through by the white line of flame, followed by a rain of meteor-like white flares, large swathes of the dark tentacles were burnt and melted away.

The girl with billowing black hair like a Deity held tightly to her Sword of Judgment as Dian Si stood by her side. Each wielding a sword, the Flame of Judgment that had burned countless Exiles now shined even brighter, casting a momentary light that illuminated the darkness.

Mizushima Kawa Sora stared at the sludge down below and found these tentacles starting to contract and the pitch-black material flowing back.

She knew the master controlling this sludge monster was about to appear. It should be the most Evil God from the Qiongdi background—the source of all calamities.

"—Evil God!" Her voice rang out, clear and firm, as if delivering the verdict of justice, "—Today shall be the day of your demise!"

She had the Guide Dian Si ranked fourth by her side. They had once severed an entire mountaintop with a single sword. As the Guides ranked second and third were missing, they were the light in the eyes of the people of Qiongdi.

The countless people who were fleeing raised their heads, their eyes filled with gratitude.

At this moment, that figure standing high above like a Deity was their hope.

Mizushima Kawa Sora stretched out her hand, pointing the quivering Flame-tipped sword straight at the Stone Castle. Standing in the view of countless people, with fluttering black hair, she looked like a hero descending from heaven to save Qiongdi.

It was a moment when countless people, including those from Qiongdi, players, and over a hundred million audience members, all watched her, feeling as if showered in a spotlight. She suddenly remembered the Lighthouse theory that man had once nonsensically talked about.

...They all had to look up to her.

...They all had to praise her, looking up as if singing the praises of a hero.

And she represented justice and salvation.

...What a wonderful experience that was.

She stared at the surging sludge below, watching it retract and flow, watching it undulate, creating a path, and she saw a figure slowly emerge from the sludge.

She recognized him.

"Su Ming’an... are you the Evil God this time...?" Incredulity filled her eyes.

"Boom boom boom—" Countless tentacles rose from the ground like a dark forest, completely engulfing her figure.

At that moment, Su Ming’an’s Path of Purification mission progress finally reached a range of 10000 yards around him.

"Ding Dong!"

Su Ming’an retracted his hand.

Above in the sky, Mizushima Kawa Sora had already crushed and fled with her life-saving prop.

When even the most powerful current Guide among the players couldn’t contend with the tentacle monster, the battle on this battlefield seemed to end without incident.

This purification mission seemed too easy...

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, his body trembled violently.

He was still holding the Skill Advancement Stone he had just obtained, and a drop of fresh red blood splattered upon his fingertips.

He leaned forward with the momentum, and a hand stretched out from behind him to pull his body back, allowing the sharp weapon to continue to penetrate deeper.

A transparent rose-colored cane pierced through his chest.