Bai Yi's thoughts were swirling, his mind racing with possibilities. He couldn't act recklessly. This wasn't Dongwu City, and now there were four Golds in play. Clearly, something monumental was unfolding here—something only known to certain villainous organizations. His curiosity was piqued. Everyone was chasing an opportunity, and if there was a boss template among them, could Eric truly rise to prominence if he seized it?
The old city lord spoke gravely, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "Five Golds," he muttered. Outside the City of Disaster, the land was desolate, but a lone figure flickered in the distance. Unlike the other Golds, this one was strangely low-key, a presence both ominous and restrained. The very air around it warped as an overwhelmingly terrifying aura spiraled outward, sending ripples through space and plunging the City of Disaster into chaos.
People spilled out from their homes, casting wary glances at one another as fear gripped their hearts. Yet the one truly favored by the God of Disaster still hadn't revealed itself.
Bai Yi's mind worked furiously, piecing together the events. Those who were favored by the God of Disaster had been granted an opportunity of incredible value, so precious that even the ancient gods were eager to obtain it. Yet the ancient gods had their own followers—rivals who, like the mysterious Night Rose organization, were driven to get involved.
The conflict surrounding this opportunity had left the City of Disaster in ruin, a kingdom barely holding on. Even more than a decade later, it was the weakest of the ancient god nations. Bai Yi was inclined to believe that this was the result of the ancient gods' own power struggles, but he couldn't dismiss the possibility that the leak of information to the players had worsened the situation.
A little more waiting was required. Bai Yi knew the mission could be completed at any time, but the allure of this rare chance outweighed the risks. If Eric ascended to the legendary level, his lifespan would extend to two thousand years, opening up far more possibilities for Dawn's future.
Eric's gaze remained fixed on the City below, a place full of hidden significance. Just as Bai Yi pondered his next move, a massive explosion shook the city, sending shockwaves through the land. The walls of the City of Disaster crumbled, and a surge of violent energy rushed outward. People scattered, instinctively heading for the central tower.
From the dust and smoke, a monstrous figure emerged. Towering at five meters, with purple skin, a forest of thick hair, a greenish face, and fangs, it looked like a creature from nightmare: a Troll. Known for their brute strength but low intellect, trolls were creatures reviled by order. They were notorious for hunting and devouring intelligent beings, which made them rare in the Federation.
The troll's bloodshot eyes locked onto the fleeing residents, and it charged forward, driven by hunger. But before it could claim its next victim, a black-robed figure appeared from the shadows. A dry, cold hand reached out and struck downward with terrifying force.
Boom! The ground trembled as the troll was slammed into the earth, raising a cloud of dust. High above, Charles, draped in black, stood on a nearby building, gazing down with an air of elegant indifference. He and the wizard vanished again just as swiftly. When the troll finally emerged, it was angry, disoriented, and carrying a goblin in its grasp as it retreated into a nearby wooden house.
Bai Yi turned to the old city lord. "They're waiting for something. But what?"
The city lord remained silent, his eyes scanning the ever-darkening horizon.
As hours passed, Bai Yi's initial assumptions about arriving at an opportune moment slowly began to fade. Despite the activity below, there was no significant movement. The Golds lingered, but the true target of their ambitions had yet to show itself.
Days passed. When the final group of Golds appeared, the number had reached an overwhelming ten. No longer could Eric confront them with ease. The safest choice would have been to leave, complete the mission, report back to the parliament, and await their orders before making any moves.
But Bai Yi hesitated. He couldn't shake the feeling that something of immense value was unfolding right beneath them. The more the powerhouses gathered, the more it seemed that this was not just any ordinary conflict. Something far greater was at stake.
Then, without warning, all the Golds vanished.
Bai Yi's instincts screamed at him to take action, but the city lord was unmoved. They would have to wait. The tension was palpable, as the two of them continued observing from their high vantage point.
Suddenly, Bai Yi felt a sharp sense of danger—a crackling energy in the air. His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp presence in the distance: a griffin, its wings beating through the air with terrifying speed. With fiery red eyes and the body of a lion, it charged toward them, its very presence distorting the space around them.
Eric's eyes flickered with renewed focus. His hand extended, summoning a dark, demonic sword. He swung, and the sword slashed through the griffin's power, cutting through the air and meeting its massive form.
Clang! A resounding clash echoed through the skies.
Boom! A tremendous shockwave sent the mechanical dragon into a momentary tailspin as the griffin struggled against the weight of the attack. Bai Yi's concentration snapped into place as his mental energy surged to stabilize the mechanical dragon.
The old city lord appeared at once, wielding his sword with unparalleled speed, slashing through the griffin's golden defenses. The battle was an overwhelming display of power. In mere seconds, the griffin was barely holding on, its form riddled with gashes.
But something strange happened. As the griffin tried to flee, its wounds rapidly deteriorated, as though they were being consumed from the inside out. The creature twisted in agony, roaring in pain as it desperately tried to stop the relentless decay.
Eric glanced back at Bai Yi, surprised. "Micromachines?"
Bai Yi nodded. "Gold-eating bugs. They devour gold at a microscopic level. A single strand of gold-eating beetles can eat through gold so quickly that it vanishes in moments."
In an instant, the griffin's form was reduced to nothing but empty space, consumed entirely by the swarming bugs.
[You have used Gold-eating Bugs to defeat the Level 64 Cataclysm Griffin. You gained 30,000 experience points. The boss bonus is 100%. You gained an additional 30,000 experience points.]
Bai Yi paused, looking at the system prompt. He had gained a substantial amount of experience, but something was amiss. Despite his success, the rewards felt hollow.
The old city lord had disappeared, and the battle was over, but Bai Yi felt the tension mounting once again. The atmosphere had shifted. He noticed the lingering presence of other Golds watching from a distance—calculating, waiting.
A thought formed in Bai Yi's mind, but before he could speak, the presence of the Nightmare World closed in on them.
Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming sense of unease as the environment shifted once more. The scenery before him blurred, disorienting him. The space around them seemed to collapse, and everything familiar was stripped away.
Zero:
[You have entered an extremely high-risk area: the Nightmare World.]
Bai Yi's heart raced. "Nightmare World?" he muttered under his breath. He had heard rumors of such a place, but he never imagined he would find himself here.
Zero (explained):
[The Nightmare World is a meta-space formed by the thoughts of beings from the Xia continent and some of the world's rules. It is a closed loop, continuously repeating the darkest moments of history. Each sub-space within the Nightmare World represents a tragic and desperate time, a place where creatures experience the worst of despair.]
Bai Yi's body tensed. The world around him was shifting, becoming hostile and unfamiliar. A hoarse male voice echoed through the darkness.
Hoarse male voice:
"Ahem... How is it? Is there any hope?"
A high-pitched female voice answered, laced with anxiety.
"I don't know, but Variant C-306 has been contained. We haven't deciphered its full data yet."
Hoarse male voice:
"I hope it doesn't bring immortality."
Zero (continued):
[The Nightmare World appears most often during times of great despair, particularly in the Ancient God Era. The Ancient Gods created these worlds, tormenting their enemies or testing their followers.]
Zero (continued):
[Survivors of the Nightmare World have reported three possible ways to escape: survive until the time resets, find the center and dismantle the nightmare, or solve the nightmare's puzzle.]
The weight of Zero's words hung heavily in the air. Bai Yi's mind raced—this place wasn't just a challenge. It was a test of survival, a trial unlike any he had faced before.