Dark Town
Under the moonlight, the night in Dark Town is eerily quiet. No one dares to venture out after dark; the shadows are a constant reminder of danger. Before dawn breaks, the rules governing the residents of this nocturnal realm have already shifted, though they remain unseen.
Each day, the townsfolk can only fully grasp what they must and must not do during the daylight hours. Thus, the streets are empty at night—staying indoors is the safest way to avoid violating unannounced rules.
The sound of mechanical footsteps echoes through an alley as the mayor of Dark Town—an old man with dull eyes—patrols the streets. As a manifestation of the town's laws, his duty is to protect it. Upon receiving word of an impending attack, he began his rounds.
For a creature bound by rules, the laws guide him to those who dare to break them.
Tap, tap, tap.
As the mayor continues his patrol, faceless figures clad in black masks move silently in the opposite direction. The Cultists of the Night, while also bound by the town's regulations, possess their own privileges, such as creating hidden spaces for gods and evildoers and enforcing order.
Tonight, their vigilance is particularly heightened.
After the two groups disappear from sight, the darkness in the corners of the town begins to stir. In a dilapidated building, Charles appears, his expression grim. Though he anticipated the mayor's presence, the reality of facing such a monstrous figure weighs heavily on him.
Creatures governed by rules are nearly invincible in their domain. Even the Dawn Team typically avoids confronting such bosses, preferring instead to dismantle the core of the rule area to eliminate them.
Frustrated, Charles prepares to learn today's new rules from the room's owner when he hears a faint crack beneath him.
Crack.
The sound of wood splintering interrupts his thoughts. How could the foundation be unstable?
Before he can ponder further, the floor collapses with a loud crash, shattering the night's silence.
"Ah!"
A scream erupts from the bedroom, piercing the air like a siren, and Charles's heart sinks.
"Article 97 of the Night Town Law prohibits making noise after 11 PM."
An old voice resonates, and a terrifying force surges from the bedroom, abruptly silencing the screams and replacing them with the metallic scent of blood.
Startled, Charles turns to see the mayor, who had seemingly retreated, now holding a thick black book and regarding him with cold eyes.
"Shit!" Charles mutters under his breath, cursing his bad luck.
Stealth in the Dark!
Buzz.
He melds into the shadows, his form darkening and blending with the surrounding gloom.
"Article 126 of the Night Town Law states that anyone who trespasses into another's residence without permission will be detained for 48 hours and fined. Blacksmith, you have violated the law!"
The mayor's words transform into a binding rule, freezing the darkness and thwarting Charles's escape.
"Damn, a monster of the Law System!"
Charles feels frustration boiling within him. No wonder Pu Sheng sends the Night Cultists to patrol the mayor's residence daily; they aim to block information.
"Article 35 of the Night Town Law: Insulting a strong person incurs minor penalties of thirty strokes with a cane."
The mayor's gaze pierces through the darkness as the black book in his hands glows ominously under the moonlight.
Buzz.
Instantly, Charles feels a powerful force rend through the shadows, striking him directly.
Puff.
He coughs up blood, his strength waning, as the crimson fluid floats in the air, transforming into a dark mist that bursts with divine light.
Buzz.
The mayor pauses, the pages of his book flipping until they stop at the ninth.
"Ninth Rule of the Night Town: Prison escapees will be marked, wanted, and executed!"
Bang!
The mayor closes the book and strides away with mechanical precision. A peculiar wave sweeps across the entire town.
Pu Sheng, observing from a distance, smiles and gestures. Figures in black robes wearing faceless masks scatter in all directions.
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of hurried footsteps fills the air, echoing through the darkened streets.
Red Wanted Order: All attributes of the law enforcer increase by 10%, while those of the wanted criminal decrease by 10%. If the law enforcer is within ten meters of the wanted criminal, an alert is triggered.
"Shit."
Charles curses again, his mind racing. How could the ground collapse without any energy fluctuations? It felt like a stroke of fate—he knew he was being targeted but not by whom.
He quickly drinks a potion, its pure black liquid revitalizing him.
Dark Town is the heart of the world, where the rules reign supreme. The mayor wields this power, enhancing his combat effectiveness to unprecedented levels. Even Charles, who has grown strong, finds it difficult to contend with the old mayor.
He suspects that even Cesis from the nightmare world would be subdued by these laws.
Glancing around, he realizes he is in a tavern—a popular place in any era. But in this world of rules, unless someone's mission is to drink, this establishment cannot function.
Dust covers the tables and chairs, evidence of neglect. Only the benches and bar counter show signs of recent use.
Charles dismisses the surroundings and heads upstairs, using his spiritual power to force open a door.
Da da da.
Woo~ Woo~
The sounds of chattering teeth and low whimpers fill the air. The tavern's owner is huddled under a quilt, trembling, the weight of the law's fluctuations pressing down on him.
Charles reaches out, summoning darkness to envelop him and the two residents, transporting them to a dilapidated house.
Leaving their rooms means they've relinquished their protection before the rules are revealed.
He observes the two humans—a man and a woman—as he channels dark energy. Their eyes darken, devoid of any whites, as they begin to move under his influence.
Charles needs to quickly test the latest rules to avoid complications. With only one mayor to contend with, he can seize the town's core if the Dawn Team members are dispersed.
Tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps echo outside, fading into the distance as Charles maintains his control over the two residents.
"Faster!"
Their bodies twitch and contort, bones dislocating with audible cracks. But Charles is indifferent to their suffering; their fates were sealed the moment he chose their home.
As time drips slowly by, Charles feels a mix of relaxation and tension. The two have tested numerous easily triggered rules, yet none have activated, suggesting a surprising flexibility in tonight's regulations.
Then, silence envelops the area.
Suddenly, a rule activates. The man's distorted form vanishes, replaced by a foul maw that opens in the void.
"Fudong."
The soft whisper sends chills down Charles's spine. He spins around to find a group of masked figures surrounding him, their energy descending from another dimension, sapping his strength.
In this realm of law, his power is diminished by 30%.
"Darkness descends!"
Charles attempts to escape, but the shadows hold him fast.
Buzz.
The Night Cultists spring into action, their talents on full display as they enforce the law, sealing all of Charles's escape routes.
"Mayor, we have located the wanted criminal, but he is resisting."
Charles's heart drops. With seven or eight gold-ranked players, Pu Sheng's weakening influence, and the nearly invincible mayor, his fate seems sealed.
"Impressive, Charles," Pu Sheng taunts, a smile evident even behind his mask. "Are you prepared for a decisive battle?"
With a calm demeanor, Charles replies, "Let's see what you've got."
The mayor approaches, his tome at the ready. "Arrest, jailbreak, insulting a strong person, breaking and entering, murder—multiple offenses warrant immediate execution!"
The old voice booms, and the pages of the book flutter. The power of law overwhelms Charles, his health plummeting as dark blood seeps from his mouth and eyes.
Yet he remains unyielding, his gaze locked on Pu Sheng, who stands confidently behind the mayor.
Suddenly, Charles's health hits a critical point, and something within him awakens. Darkness envelops him, a palpable aura radiating through the night.
The surrounding Night Cultists instinctively step back, sensing the shift in power.
Pu Sheng's smile falters as he realizes Charles has grown stronger than anticipated.
With a fierce determination, Charles's power surges. He dashes forward, breaking through the Night Cultists' ranks with newfound ferocity.
Boom!
The ground shatters beneath him as he escapes the town, leaving chaos in his wake.
The upper-gold fighter stands ready to confront him, muscles tense as he unleashes a punch.
Boom!
A violent explosion rocks the tavern as the fighter's fist collides with the force of darkness.
"Ah!"
The pain is overwhelming, leaving the fighter bewildered as Charles slips from his grasp.
Before the remaining members can react, Charles vanishes into the night, leaving an atmosphere thick with tension.