[Team Size: 35/35]
...
A group of people trudged along under the red sun.
The sky rolled with scorching hues, clouds like cotton candy scorched by flas. Under the glow of the red sun, the city beca a massive, fragile glass sculpture.
Anniev of Cross Judgent led the way in front, tall and imposing, with a fierce gaze, holding a shimring golden spear. The golden halo transford into a shield, protecting the players.
The ground was littered with charred corpses, and occasionally, people engulfed in flas scread in agony. Even seasoned players shuddered at such a scene.
To ease the tension, the players began chatting.
"Anniev, this spear is ’Light God’s Throne Spear,’ right? A purple grade evolving weapon. Did you get it from Ming Hui?" Ali eyed the dazzling weapon enviously, raising his voice to dispel the gloomy atmosphere: "So cool, such golden weapons are truly a man’s romance."
"Haha, this weapon is my sweetheart!" Anniev proudly showed it off: "See, there’s even a glow effect, like fireflies, my sister loves watching them."
He lifted the hilt, and a dozen glowing "fireflies" flew out, dancing around Ali.
"So aweso! So cool! Glowing effect, wow!" Ali was full of envy.
Su 1 walked silently in the middle of the team. He originally wanted to lead, but Anniev took the lead of his own accord. He suggested taking the rear guard, but Luna volunteered to stay at the back.
It was as though he didn’t need to do anything or worry about anything. The players automatically protected him, bringing him to the center of the "ant swarm."
"My biggest wish in life is to see the Sword of Yarman up close, the legendary gold-level weapon..." Player Aylan muttered quietly. He had always dread of being a swordsman, but only possessed a red-level Western Sword.
At that mont, a mirror-like light pierced his eyes, and looking up, he saw a dazzling golden longsword.
Su 1 was holding the Sword of Yarman and raised it slightly for Aylan to clearly see.
For a mont, a chorus of envious "Wow-wow" rang out in the team, with so nearly drooling.
Aylan clasped his hands over his heart, his face flushed: "Beautiful, so beautiful. If this sword could pierce my body, I would have no regrets in life..."
Su 1 was wary; what kind of strange talk was this?
Wang Chaoze looked at the sword and snorted: "This? This is a gold-level weapon? Nothing special."
Qiuqiu laughed: "Yo? Dancing Pig Man, you’re here too. You’re so short, I didn’t see you just now."
Wang Chaoze burst into anger: "Don’t call Dancing Pig Man! Damn it, forget that nickna——!!!"
He could stand it no longer; it’s just because he hid in a pigsty to escape the butcher at Qiongdi. That nickna had stuck for months!
Everyone laughed, and under the red sun, the air was filled with joy.
Seeing this, Su 1 realized that so many familiar faces surrounded him.
Most were t at Qiongdi during those chaotic battles. He got to know many players, so he encountered in ordinary instances, like Eli, Rimu Sheng, Agnes, Qiuqiu...
So were re acquaintances, so had fought side by side, so even had competitive grudges. However, at this mont, they all moved toward the sa goal.
"Su Ming’an, do you still rember ?" asked a woman with charming looks.
"Violet..." Su 1 uttered her na.
"Wow, you actually rember. Number One Player’s mory is impressive." Violet glanced at the chanical Ring on Su 1’s hand: "It’s a pity, everything has changed..."
"So, Su Ming’an, do you rember ?" asked a cheerful figure coming closer with big eyes: "! !"
"i Yani." Su 1 nodded: "I rember you, we t at Main God World’s conference, you’re the Full Perfect Clear player."
"Yay!" i Yani cheered, punching the air, happy that Su Ming’an rembered her.
"And ... Do you rember ?" asked a woman with rose-colored curly hair, smiling.
Su 1 looked at her: "Co to think of it, you t quite early. Flora."
"Does Number One Player rember ?"
"Zhong Xi. Your sniper rifle was impressive... though we had competition at Qiongdi, it seems minor now."
"What about ? ?"
"Sean, I rember you wearing those goggles."
"And ..."
"Sherry, right. You’re a lucky-type player, that’s quite rare."
", , ..."
"Qiao Yuyu, you’re here too."
"And ..."
"Laine... uh? Go away!"
...
Almost every player who had conversed with Su Ming’an was rembered by him, even more so than themselves at tis.
He continually touched his backpack, and others thought perhaps he had a stress-relief toy inside it, never letting go of it.
"People on the forum said Su Ming’an’s soul is nearly worn out, but that’s just alarmist talk," Flora sighed with relief: "His mory is so clear, the soul’s longevity seems fine, his ntal state is good too."
Su 1 blinked, facing the people’s smiles.
"...because so things are very important."
He said.
Important enough that other things were hardly rembered.
...So many people.
Unconsciously, his side had gathered so many people.
Units, tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, tens of millions, a billion, ten billion.
"Ten billion," such a number was too large, enough to make him almost dazed, enough to make him lose a sense of reality. Yet, just "twenty or thirty" before his eyes already felt like a lot.
From the first instance to now, he didn’t realize there were already so many people around him.
...
[Team Size: 28/35]
...
"Next! Switch!" Then, Anniev called out, exhausted of mana points, as he moved to the back of the team to recover. Holess from Holt Wizard Alliance promptly took over, and the team continued forward.
The next was Flora, the Elental Mage, skill Ice Barrier, estimated ti 46 seconds.
The next was Liz the Paper Card Killer, skill Infinite Space, estimated ti 12 seconds.
The next was Qiao Yuyu the chanical Fanatic, skill tal Link, estimated ti 27 seconds.
The next...
Those who survived up to now had high overall qualities. Although so were nervous, they didn’t lose their composure.
Every once in a while, players whose skills entered long cooldowns would automatically leave the team.
Beyond the team’s protection, naturally, they couldn’t last long, but without the team, they would have already been burned away.
So stubbornly refused to leave, aware that making a fuss was pointless, and could only depart.
Su Ming’an’s fa was too grand, his presence kept things orderly.
In this orderly exit, people bid farewell, not like life-and-death separation, more like a brief parting between friends.
——Because the Number One Player had said, "next ti," they would resurrect again.
...
[Team Size: 23/35]
...
"Let tell you, I had a terrible ti in The World of Old Days, the deities were like ghosts. Once I hid under the bed, and they peeked at from under it." Players started chatting again to ease the tension:
"Are you worse off than ? In these days, I was nearly eaten again and again. Luowasha is really a group of little greedy cats."
"The popular Teni Tea shop at Server 182 recently is trending, apparently so player learned secret techniques from Pulaya and developed delicious tea. They quit being an adventurer player, turning into a lifestyle player. Soday let’s try it together..."
"Hey, did you buy the recently popular ’Old God’s White Tentacles’? So players picked it up in The World of Old Days, selling it on the forum. Many bought one, but lately it seems sold out, apparently a player bought them all..."
"Xi Hongzhi, I heard you’re getting married soon? Make sure to invite to the banquet... Getting married in Main God World can be lavish enough to be extraordinary..."
"Sigh, my niece is almost six, always talking about wanting to kill bad people. She’s so young, and already wants to shed blood... growing up in this environnt, I don’t know if it’s good or bad..."
"Brothers, sisters, I’m out of mana points, can’t chat anymore, I’ll take my leave now!"
"Bye-bye, good brother, see you next ti."
"See you next ti..."
...
[Team mbers: 14/35]
...
The temperature was getting higher, and people’s faces were gradually showing signs of cracked skin. But the laughter was so loud, as if the warm breeze of spring was rustling in.
The waves of clouds seed to be ignited by the blazing light, glimring with gold and red flas, like clusters of burning roses.
Since the world ga began, Su Ming’an had never experienced such an atmosphere. Most of the ti, he was in the position of a ruler, a commander, like a god high above. This was the first ti they cooperated so closely.
This was also his first ti, among the crowd, listening to the everyday joys and sorrows of humans.
Complaining about occupations, showing off weapons, online celebrity stores, first loves, milk tea, pet snacks, children’s education, retirent clothes, the beauty of Boss Rabbit... the topics people discussed were varied, yet close to life.
They were all in the mortal world.
And Su Ming’an hadn’t heard these things in a long, long ti. Although in the past, it was once closely related to him, too.
The towering branches and leaves of the World Tree were getting closer. When the team mbers decreased to nine, Su Ming’an saw the roots from afar.
...
[Team mbers: 9/35]
...
"—Almost there!"
The people cheered.
The eight surrounded Su Ming’an at the center, stepping forward.
Atlanda picked up her magic wand, Mizushima Kawa Sora had Bai Wuya’s soul floating over his shoulder, Anniev carried a long spear, Lü Shu held a black blade, Alger was loaded with chanical parts, Isabella was surrounded by chanical balls, Luna drew the Sword of the Yellow Rose, i Yani held a piece of green branch and leaves.
At this mont, crystalline branches suddenly shot up from the ground; the World Tree actually didn’t want to let them get close.
"Now is the apocalypse, the World Tree must be in a weakened state!" Anniev shouted: "I’ll charge in front, everyone follow ! Let’s shove it out of the way!"
"Swish! Swish! Swish!" He swept his spear horizontally; the long spear was unstoppable, tearing through the vines.
"Crash—!" Green brilliance swirled, and i Yani’s plant spell rolled up heavy green waves.
"Buzz—!" Luna raised the Sword of the Yellow Rose, a flash of light, and the nine all received speed amplification.
Fang Tang flew out from the pocket, flapping its small wings, cheering them on.
One thousand ters to the World Tree.
...
[TE2 "They have waited too long for redemption" (Champion of the Disciple Ga, reach the Dark Side, end the world ga) Perfect Completion Progress: 75%]
...
Before the round table.
A figure held a porcelain cup, tasting the red tea inside.
"...The tea today is a bit bitter."
He sipped a mouthful of tea, slightly frowned, and looked at the sugar jar on the table:
"Luckily, there are nine sugar cubes in the jar."
He reached out his hand, unscrewed the jar, took the top sugar cube, and threw it into the tea.
"Plop."
In the scorching temperature, the sugar lted, and the tea was crimson like blood.
He quietly smiled at the porcelain cup filled with red tea.
...
"Plop——!!!"
A thick vine from the World Tree suddenly struck, hitting Anniev’s spear handle.
Anniev couldn’t retrieve his spear in ti, his physical strength was nearly exhausted, causing his spear to fly out of his hands!
The golden halo instantly dissipated, he cried out, as the vine pierced through his chest!
"Ah——!"
"Anniev!"
Luna shouted, imdiately wanting to support with her sword. But the pained Anniev waved his hand, calmly saying: "Go, keep moving forward!"
He had been clearing the path in the front, exhausted, he clearly knew this was his limit, even if saved, it was aningless.
It was better to take this chance to let Su Ming’an go a little further.
He looked at Su Ming’an in front, under the daylight, that figure bathed in radiance, as if it would never fall.
"Anniev, until next ti." Su 1 said softly.
Bright red sunlight flowed beneath their feet, the land charred and rolling.
"Until we et again... Number One Player, until next ti..." Anniev laughed loudly, hugging the vine that pierced him:
"But even if there’s no next ti, even if you lied to us, I won’t bla you!"
Su 1’s eyes widened, he didn’t expect Anniev had already realized.
Yes, the top players are very smart. Many actually had seen through Su Ming’an’s lie, but they wouldn’t say, wouldn’t oppose.
Because they’re too smart.
They knew whom to give the final hope to.
Anniev actually knew there might not be a "next ti" long ago, but so what? Just consider it sothing he’s giving back to Su Ming’an, for Su Ming’an suffered much more than he did.
Anniev fiercely hugged the thick vine, even at the end still wanting to crudely joke:
"—You damned World Tree, you’re even worse than Aunt Jenny’s apple pie next door, I’m going to kick your butt with my boots!"
"Get ready to welco a super big explosion, you damned eyeless fellow!"
His words were crude, but his actions weren’t shallow at all.
After speaking, brilliant golden light rose from his body, along with his purple-grade weapon, expanding, exploding—
Giving a longing glance at his "Light God’s Throne Spear," he laughed loudly:
"Let’s go, co with ! My sweet darling, I love you to death..."
The next mont, an incredibly dazzling sun exploded.
Blazing brightly, the golden light magnificent.
"Boom—!"
"Boom—boom—boom—!!!"
The wild shock wave ca, pushing the remaining eight straight forward, the dense vines of the World Tree, under this blinding brilliance, withered for several seconds.
Su 1 never turned back, yet golden-yellow glows flew from behind, brushing past his shoulder.
One, another, and another.
Each of the last "fireflies," carrying warmth, brushed past his face, gradually, gradually vanishing into the air.
A shattered long spear fell to the ground, black, already without any light.
A silence fell behind them, as if the silent golden light was inching, inching towards the end.
...
[Team mbers: 8/35]
...
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