"What's going on here?"
Fan Cun and a few other players were fiercely battling the monk. Several spears had pierced the monk's massive body, but instead of blood, black smoke was seeping from the wounds. The monk was also beginning to absorb the strength of nearby bandits, his body expanding until the average player only reached his waist. His colossal frame, like a small mountain, created an overwhelming sense of pressure on the players.
In the distance, the Demon General's form was even more terrifying, towering four or five times higher than the monk, reaching over ten meters. It was impossible to see any trace of the Eastern General's original appearance; he had transformed entirely into a demon of condensed black smoke. With a casual wave, he sent the remaining Ranger players back to the spawn point!
Distracted by this sight, the players attacking the monk were caught off guard and slashed down by his massive naginata. What was once a long-handled weapon now looked like a dagger in the monk's hand, but its blade emitted a black light, extending its reach and greatly enhancing its power.
The only good news was that after draining the demonic energy from the surrounding bandits, they fell to the ground as empty shells.
All players had now gathered outside the city, looking at the last two enemies on the battlefield: the gigantic monk and the Demon General.
"So this is the true power of demons? What should we do now?"
"There's no way to beat this! Our stats are too low!"
"There's got to be a way; we just don't know if it will work…"
"You mean, the 'ankle strategy'?"
The players were unsure of what to do next. Based on other games, there were usually two ways to handle colossal bosses: attack their ankles or exploit game mechanics. But *Ashes of Darkness* was so realistic that they weren't sure if ankle damage could actually kill a demon. As for game mechanics, they only knew about the "aura of righteousness" that could counter demons. They couldn't possibly have all the Scholars recite poetry until the demon died, could they?
"Whatever, let's just fight!"
Fan Cun mounted his horse again, charging at the monk with his cross-shaped spear, while the other players surrounded the monk.
For the players, no matter how terrifying the scene, there was only one solution: fight!
As players, they had to believe that no matter how tough a boss looked, there was always a way to beat it!
Chu Ge directed the other players to prepare an attack on the distant Demon General, but they were forced back by the thick black smoke surrounding him.
"Restorer! Dare to face me in a true battle!"
The Demon General's voice echoed like thunder across the battlefield.
The players looked at each other, puzzled.
What did he mean?
Haven't we been fighting you all along?
Could this be a scripted cutscene with pre-set lines in the game?
And why did he make the Restorer sound like a coward hiding in the shadows? Ridiculous!
"Come out!!"
The Demon General roared again, his powerful voice causing some players in the front row to stumble.
In the crowd, Meng Yuan sighed.
It seemed his NPC act couldn't stay hidden any longer.
The players still thought this was just part of a cutscene, but if the script didn't continue as a cutscene, it wouldn't go well.
Moreover, with the demon's power now consolidated, it would be difficult for the Restorer's scattered strength among the players to stand against him.
With this thought, Meng Yuan quietly communicated his plan to Can Shang.
…
"Restorer, come out!!"
The Demon General roared again, his massive form moving towards the players.
At that moment, everyone heard a clear sigh.
"It seems some destinies can't be avoided, no matter how one tries."
The players turned to see a familiar figure standing atop the city wall.
A handsome young man had appeared, with words above his head: "Beichen, the Unremarkable Restorer Who Failed the Trial."
The players gasped. "It's the Quitter!"
But soon, the words "Unremarkable Restorer Who Failed the Trial" disappeared, replaced by "The Restorer Who Will Correct All."
Beichen stepped down from the city wall, his feet seemingly walking on air. At the same time, the players felt their power being drained, returning them to a ghostly form.
Looking down at the players, Beichen spoke with determination: "Today, I no longer hesitate. I am committed to fulfilling my mission as a Restorer and setting everything right!"
He then turned to face the monk and the Demon General, raising his hand slowly.
"The world holds a righteous spirit, spreading through all forms!"
Before he finished speaking, a nearly tangible aura of righteousness began to surround him, radiating immense power.
"Below, it shapes rivers and mountains; above, it becomes sun and stars!
"For men, it's called righteousness, vast and boundless!"
All of the players' Restorer powers were drawn into his hand.
The entire slice of history began to tremble, the invisible stars in the sky, and the rivers and mountains on the ground seemed to gather a righteous spirit, encircling Beichen.
"This land of China shall not be defiled by demons.
"Kill them all!"
With his words, the Restorer's power transformed into a mighty aura, instantly creating a storm that engulfed the monk and the Demon General.
The demon's strength clashed directly with the Restorer's power, no tactics or skills—just a raw contest of force.
Though the struggle seemed to go back and forth, the Restorer's aura of righteousness clearly had the upper hand!
At this moment, all players were in a ghostly form, watching the scene unfold.
"Whoa, this is awesome!"
"Is this a cutscene CG?"
"Looks like it. I knew this boss was unbeatable! Of course, the NPC had to come and finish the job. Our mission as foot soldiers is complete."
"So when the boss kept shouting for the Restorer to show up, he wasn't calling us, but the NPC?"
"Wasn't the Quitter 'an unremarkable Restorer who failed the trial'? How did he become 'the Restorer Who Will Correct All'? Can the game just change its settings like this?"
"Obviously, this isn't just changing settings—it's triggering a hidden storyline!"
"What do you mean?"
"As the only NPC in *Ashes of Darkness*, and the original legitimate Restorer, do you think he could have failed such a simple trial? I think his disheartened attitude was just part of his character!"
"He was likely discouraged from a major setback fighting demons, or he was hesitant about his responsibility. But as our progress inspired him, he decided to take up his mission and eradicate the demons."
"It's such a classic story! A former hero, disheartened and in hiding, is motivated by the players' actions and comes back to defeat a powerful enemy. Seriously, you guys need to play more games if you can't piece this together."
"Like that guy from that other game?"
"Exactly! Now it all makes sense!"
"Quiet, it's getting to the good part. Let's watch!"
"Man, this NPC is insane! One move, and the whole place is shaking, way stronger than thousands of players combined."
"So that's the Quitter's true strength? I was planning to take a swing at him before. Good thing I didn't…"
The players quickly pieced together the backstory, watching Beichen with newfound respect.
As in typical games, NPCs often appear at the climax to claim victory, but he was a key character in the storyline, deserving respect. They'd likely need his help in future quests and rewards.
The demon's black smoke was gradually compressed by the righteous aura, like silt in a river washed away by the current.
The monk was the first to fall, leaving only his armor and weapon on the ground, while the Demon General shrank continuously until he transformed into a wisp of black smoke, attempting to escape.
But immediately, countless threads of righteous spirit encircled the smoke, tearing it apart.
Only faint remnants of the demon's consciousness lingered, drifting toward Beichen, who was actually Meng Yuan in disguise, murmuring, "You're so powerful… why didn't you act sooner…"
Meng Yuan smirked inwardly.
Why? Because combat isn't exactly my specialty…
Though Restorers could single-handedly fight through hordes of demons, they were still at a disadvantage. Demons could wear down Restorers with relentless attacks, and even in a one-versus-many scenario, Restorers still faced energy depletion.
When demons consolidated their power to attack, it was usually when the Restorer was weakened.
It was like in many action games, where facing a powerful boss might be easier than dealing with a swarm of lesser enemies.
But this time, the demons had been worn down by the players and forced to consolidate their strength. This gave the Restorer side the upper hand, reversing the power dynamic.
With Can Shang's help, Meng Yuan only needed to concentrate the Restorer's strength and unleash it on the demon. The problem was solved.
"Look, the sky isn't gray anymore! The black smoke is gone, and you can see stars!"
"It looks like everything here is being restored!"
The players finally noticed the surrounding changes.
This meant that the demons in this slice of history had been completely eradicated, the corrupted timeline corrected, and the Restorer had taken the first step toward the demon stronghold of ancient times!