Volume 17: Enemy of All Things Chapter 6 Second to Multiple Test Plans
(The more I say, the more mistakes I make. I’ve been exhausted lately and all my efforts have been in vain. I’ve wasted half a year of my energy and finally confirmed that I can’t save it… Never mind, I won’t promise anything anymore. Let’s see how much I can update this month…)
What is certain is that ever since players began to define the base time, the time system in this universe has become increasingly weaker.
The power of the time system lies in the manipulation of time. It can slide from a world you don't know and defeat the enemy in a completely unknown fog. However, with the player's baseline positioning, even some low-end characters now know to bring some player items to accurately locate the time.
To some extent, it is a hot sales. Many players can't make a living, so they often go to watch shops or other places to sell watches that are stained with their own magic to survive. The watch that is stained with the player's magic can confirm the reference time, thus jumping out of the time system vicious circle. Unless it is a relative mental suggestion, otherwise, the magic skill of bullying is likely to become extinct.
There are so many players, and they are idle every day, so the production of this kind of basic clocks is quite good. However, few players will stay in one place to sell such cheap and beneficial things. After all, players are free people who are not controlled. They can do whatever they want and go wherever they want. Therefore, most NPCs can be said to love and hate these people. However, a few players who do nothing at all and make clocks will be praised by many NPCs. Players claim that this is a possible breakthrough in the life system, but this matter is naturally a matter of opinion.
With millions of players, no one and no object is above the supremacy of standard time. The world will continue to rotate without anyone, and those time gods who once swaggered in front of ordinary people are now keeping their heads down.
The events brought about by the birth of players are gradually unfolding in this world. Every NPC can feel something unnatural, but the benefits released by the players can make everyone shut up. Moreover, the players are not united, and there is no such thing as unity. It is better to say that infighting and fighting among themselves are the true nature of the players. They are more keen on killing their own people than fighting NPCs.
This situation caused many organizations to stay away from players. However, as the situation gradually expanded, this idea gradually changed over time.
"Extra! Extra! Holy Light once again brutally destroyed three star regions! Hundreds of billions of lives were annihilated! The Tenth Crown is cruel and inhumane, and will be punished by God! The university angrily accused its former partner of being inhumane! Does this mean that the brief honeymoon period between the university and Holy Light has come to an end?!"
"The Pale Crusade is still going on! The fourth demon blockade has been torn apart, and countless star regions have returned to the big family! But is their choice really the right one? Is the Holy Light really perfect? The cry from the survivors of the Free Alliance: The Holy Light is more terrifying than the demons! Let our daily newspaper exclusively reveal to you how deep and terrifying the darkness behind the Holy Light is! The first-hand news from the victims is absolutely shocking!"
"Horrible! Horrible! The pale army is advancing! Who on earth can stop the advance of this monster?"
“…”
In this universe, the fastest spreading news is news of war.
Although many areas are in a peaceful era, or have never seen various demons and strange creatures, they still maintain a certain degree of enthusiasm for war. After all, everyone likes to watch the excitement, and those who have actually been hurt pay more attention to the various monsters and news that appear above.
Therefore, once there is a major battlefield or other news, there will always be mages who work tirelessly to use magic resonance to spread it to every corner of the world in an instant. These broadcast mages are very keen on spreading all kinds of news and never get tired of it. However, the latest news being broadcast now makes everyone feel terrified, and many timid broadcast mages even refuse to publish this news.
Because even a fool can see the hostility in these messages. I don't know why the university suddenly went crazy, and suddenly began to criticize and condemn Holy Light. Holy Light is of course right. Even if they are committing genocide, anyone with a history knows that something big must have happened and there is a reason. But your university has suddenly run into the muzzle of a gun. This is not a problem, but there must be some conspiracy. Even if you use your ass to think, you can know that something that no one wants to see is bound to happen. The broadcasting mage is not tired of living, who has nothing to do to spread such news.
However, there are still brave men under the heavy reward. The news that could have spread in one day took a full five days to spread to the surrounding areas of the star region. Any organization that understood the two forces began to remain silent, secretly considering whether they should occupy a position.
As we all know, Holy Light is undoubtedly the strongest, but the university is not a weakling either. God knows how much power they have accumulated.
Moreover, the Holy Light was now mired in the quagmire of war, and two wars had begun at the same time. Not only were the nine Pale Crusades attacking, but there were also internal rectification troops from the Tenth Crown clearing out those scums who betrayed the Holy Light. Everyone had seen what the Free Alliance had become after being beaten by a small army. However, at this time, the university suddenly published an offensive article, which made people think about it.
Especially as many people know, the University and Holy Light were still on good terms a while ago, both sides began to exchange core technologies and jointly develop the Eastern world. Originally, everyone was planning to go to bed and watch the University and Holy Light build the first all-human alliance, but the sudden declaration and condemnation made everyone feel something was wrong. And the direction of the attack was also problematic, the implication was basically to attack the newly promoted Tenth Champion. And even the mouthpieces within the University began to attack each other in a confusing manner, as if there were major disagreements within the university.
Faced with such a complex and chaotic scene, the world situation that seemed to have a clear momentum suddenly became unclear. And this NPC's tension was almost instantly transmitted to the players, making them feel the pressure from the world's top two organizations.
"That's what I said. How can this miserable world allow all the major forces to unite? Then will everyone still play games?"
Inside the watch shop, the player who was responsible for nurturing the magic of the clock put down the newspaper and said shamelessly:
"It's obvious that the game planner knows how to play. Look at these big organizations. They are just brothers on the surface. But everyone's core purpose is completely different, so there must be conflicts between them. Your university can seek common ground while reserving differences, but Holy Light can't tolerate any grain of sand in its eyes. The devil wants to change his side, but the university agrees while Holy Light disagrees, and this is a conflict. How can the strongest Holy Light possibly fight three alone? The balance of the conflict depends on us, the players."
"And you see, the university newspapers are also talking nonsense. There are quarrels among these publications. One side says that the independence of Holy Light cannot be violated, the other side says that this is a completely extermination act, and some say that they should control the demons, which are the main enemy. What does this show? This shows that the organization doesn't know what to do, and can only argue. And the university can't fight with all its strength, so naturally it will resist the offensive of Holy Light together with the demons who are fighting hard and the remaining Free Alliance? You see, the demons, the university union, and Holy Light have become a triangle, which is stable."
"The history of this game can only be described as admirable. On the surface, it seems turbulent, but in fact, the planning and operation are very stable. Everything is completely under control. Don't accuse me of being arrogant. The internal publications have been posted on this forum, so can't I analyze a few waves according to it?"
"……hehe."
Looking at his companion who was talking nonsense, another player chuckled and continued to grind the potion while browsing the forum.
Everyone knows about the extermination order issued by Holy Light against the Free Alliance. There are players on many planets, and then they are suffocated to death by star destroyers. The resurrection cycle is too long, and those who have nothing to do go to the forum to complain about how unreasonable this game is. The goodwill they worked hard to gain in the Free Alliance and the NPC friends on the planet evaporated into thin air in the blink of an eye, which made the players very angry.
However, there was another group of players who looked down on those hiding in the back world. Those who claimed to be the messengers of justice among the players started to mock and ridicule on the forum, and the faction dispute was extremely conspicuous. Those who were on the university list just wanted to watch the fun, and they directly copied and pasted the original publication that had been quarreled for several days, which attracted everyone's attention and made the players of the demon faction applaud and celebrate. God knows how long they have been frustrated. When they heard that there was finally a turnaround, these players who persisted until now said that their years of waiting were still worth it.
As if there was some hand controlling the situation in the dark, the players quickly split into three distinct factions. The Holy Light faction criticized the University as a bitch who stabbed them in the back and the Demons as monsters. The University criticized the Holy Light faction for being crazy and the Demons for being a bunch of idiots.
As for players of the demon faction, they really enjoy being idiots and are keen to drag other players into being idiots.
The forum once again became unusually lively and noisy, with people blaming each other. Although some people pointed out that something strange seemed to have happened in the real world, it was nothing special for the players at the bottom of the real world to care about. For the people in this world, as long as this world is not destroyed, there is nothing to be afraid of. In other words, even if it is destroyed, they can still find some new homes.
Most of the players are still at the most basic level. Although the magic awakening has been announced, there are still many players who don't like this kind of life, and choose to wander around the world, or treat it as a happy farm. There are also many such players.
With the destruction of planets one after another, more and more players began to criticize the tyranny of Holy Light, and the verbal attacks on player forums gradually came to an end.
"To be honest, sometimes I really feel that this kind of life is very exciting."
"ah?"
"I mean this kind of life, don't you think so?"
Browsing the forum, the braggart player at the beginning said to his colleague:
"Although it's fun to run a shop like this and make money by tinkering with watches, but when you see how lively they are and how enthusiastically everyone is participating, I always feel like I might have missed something, as if something is missing, don't you think so?"
"Come on, why don't you just say you want to be a hero and be admired by everyone? You're talking nonsense like you're missing something. Who doesn't like to be praised by everyone? Everyone thinks so much, to become an awesome person and be praised by everyone. Otherwise, where would there be so many artists and scientists in reality? If they really want to study these things, wouldn't AI be much better than them? It's still a matter of personal needs."
Looking at the busy streets outside the window, the player curled his lips.
"They pursue their own things. They enjoy the admiration and cheers of everyone and the exciting world. So arguing on forums is also a part of their lives. They enjoy these things. But we are different. We are different from them."
"Huh? What's the difference? Aren't they all human?"
"Are you stupid? The way they play is different. Do they have the pleasure of accumulating little by little?"
Pointing at the clock in his hand that automatically started to correct the time after being blessed by the player's magic power, the player who was just browsing the forum looked at the small shop where he lived with a satisfied look on his face.
"Those players just pursue the pleasure of being sought after. They don't understand the spirit of craftsmanship or craftsmanship. Do they know what kind of arc a player's pocket watch should have to look more beautiful? Do they know how to visit a small shop so that people will stay longer? They don't know, they know nothing. People who only know violence and tyranny cannot understand this kind of exquisite beauty."
"...Now that you put it that way, it's true."
Looking at the rather quaint and elegant shop where he was staying, the other player nodded thoughtfully.
"It is true that some things can only be sweet and touching if you fight for them with your own hands. Through my hard work, I bought a small shop like this, and then opened it in the downtown area and looked at the scenery outside. It really gives me a leisurely feeling, or rather, it is beautiful."
"Is it?"
The player smiled smugly.
However, before he could whistle a few words, the doorbell rang suddenly, announcing the arrival of guests.
The two people who were bragging about each other subconsciously straightened their bodies, lowered their heads and kept fiddling with the clocks in their hands, pretending to be very busy. They didn't even look at the customer who came into the store. However, the visitor didn't get angry, just walked up to the two people with a somewhat inexplicably frivolous pace, and then nodded.
"Sure enough, just like the information, two players."
"Ah, I was just looking for some fine structures and didn't pay attention. This job requires a bit of delicacy... Who are you?"
Are you here to buy a watch?
Pretending to have just discovered something, the player of the theory of small happiness raised his head with a look of sudden realization.
Looking at the man who walked in like a ghost, looking the two of them up and down and constantly commenting on them, Player One said with some pride.
"You must have heard about this place that provides accurate clocks from your friends, right? That's right, this shop is the legendary player shop, specializing in selling clocks to correct time disorders. No matter how chaotic time is, there will be the power of players to help correct it. It's a good little prop, right?"
"Hmm? Ah, I don't buy watches."
The man in black robe was stunned, then shook his head.
However, before the two players could show disgusted expressions, the man in black robe looked at the two players and gave a slightly mysterious smile.
"I'm here specifically to find you players. I know what you desire and pursue in your heart. So I'm here to help you fulfill that seemingly unattainable dream. Do you really want power?"
"...Power? You are?"
The player looked at the man in black robe with some hesitation.
“We are the university leaders and we are looking for a group of players to become volunteers.”
The visitor naturally revealed a slightly bookish smile.
"We did a relatively unsuccessful project some time ago, and now we want to make up for it, but we have to find some more suitable players. I think you two should be good choices. Do you want power? As long as you sign a labor contract with our university, then follow our plan, you will soon have power comparable to that of gods..."
"If you had said that just now, I might have thought it was fine. But it's different now."
The players behind shook their heads and sighed.
"I feel that there are many better things in this world than power. For example, warm sunshine, small shops, and customers'--"
"I agree."
"????"
The player looked at his happy senior with a look as if he had seen a ghost.
Didn’t you say you didn’t want such a boring life?
Looking at his companion who reached out to the man in black robe without hesitation, the player employee who stayed where he was was stunned for a while, then smashed the clock to the ground.
"I'm going too!"
Then he followed behind the first player.
Faced with this queue-jumping behavior, the black-robed man just smiled mysteriously, without any sarcasm or anything, and slowly walked in front, motioning the players to follow. The players didn't care what was going on in the store, they just looked at each other and followed.
Because the players had a hunch that they might be involved in a great event like those lucky people who often appeared in the forum. As for some dark conspiracy involved, the two watch shop players never thought about it. Who would deliberately trick two players? It's meaningless. At worst, they can delete their accounts and start over, and they will be heroes again in a few minutes. I don't know how many NPCs have been assassinated by the heroes who came back, so they don't care about this.
With the joy of the adventure and the anxiety about the possible future, the players finally gave up their little obsessions and ideas in their hearts. They followed their own hearts and intuitions in a daze, and finally walked on another path that was completely different from their past behavior.
