Chapter 408: Your Scripted-Kill World Boss is Now Online
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 408: Your Scripted-Kill World Boss is Now Online
As the Secret Diggers clashed with the members of the so-called Real Protection Association, a dazzling array of weapons exchanged fire. Explosions and roars became the sole melody of the district.
Their fingers danced across virtual panels, meticulously controlling every detail at their command as rifles and cannons spat continuous tongues of fire.
Every macro-adjustment represented a high-level tactical gambit, while combat-assist AIs calculated the precise impact points of every bullet and shell.
This was more than just a clash of human reaction limits; it was a collision of combat power, financial resources, and visual effects.
Amidst the forest of skyscrapers, the only cover to be found was the buildings themselves. The vast urban architecture became the primary battlefield for these two factions.
Countless ordinary people were caught in the crossfire. Inside the high-rises, alarms blared incessantly, a grim reminder for those trapped within to pray for their lives.
"Damn it! Are you insane?! Your target is me, not those buildings! Do you have any idea how many people will die from that one shell?"
"What? Getting worked up over the deaths of some NPCs? If you're so saintly, why don't you use your own body to shield them!" As he spoke, he unleashed a barrage of fire, peppering every building within his line of sight. He didn't care how many he killed; as long as it provoked his opponents, it was worth it.
In the eyes of the Secret Diggers, these people from the Real Protection Association were nothing but brain-dead idiots with too much time on their hands. To play a game and actually develop feelings for the characters—to believe they were living beings that shouldn't be slaughtered—was absurd.
The high-ranking members of the Real Protection Association were even more delusional. They believed the games on the Terminal of Myriad Worlds were actually real worlds, and the inhabitants were flesh-and-blood people.
Their justifications were always so high-minded. They went to any lengths to "prove" that the Terminal and the authorities were hiding the truth, obsessed with making it public.
By now, the Real Protection Association was treated like a rat in the street. Their ideology was seen as a dangerous delusion, and in the eyes of the international community, they were regarded as little more than a terrorist organization or a cult.
Just as their battle reached a fever pitch, a terrifying roar—distinct from the explosion of any conventional weapon—echoed from high above.
Suddenly, violent flames erupted outward from the shattered glass curtain wall of a skyscraper. The intense heat was so great that the metal frames of the wall began to warp and melt.
Both sides instinctively froze. This terrifying fire was on a completely different level from the smoke and dust generated by their own explosive tools.
In their understanding, the more spectacular the visual effect, the greater the power. This horrific inferno was far more potent than any incendiary bomb or wall of fire they had ever seen.
While they stood dazed, a figure stepped out from the flames, treading upon the air. She stood high above the world, draped in crimson fire that served as her raiment. Her original clothing had been entirely consumed and replaced by the blaze.
At this moment, she looked like a Queen of Fire, every gesture commanding the flames to bow before her.
What finally snapped the onlookers out of their daze was her cold gaze. As her eyes swept over everyone present, they all instinctively shuddered.
Feeling the weight of that overwhelming, supernatural fire, even the Pay-to-Win Big Shot couldn't help but swallow hard, his face turning pale.
Conversely, the members of the Real Protection Association grew ecstatic, looking at this powerful being as if she were an ally.
Just as they were about to call out to catch her attention, the flaming figure in the sky suddenly paused. An even more terrifying mass of fire began to condense.
If the previous pillar of fire had been a visual feast, this was a formal invitation to a scorching hell.
Colorless flames began to burn, and a horrific heatwave rippled outward from her figure. The surrounding temperature instantly spiked to levels incompatible with life. The greenery on the ground withered and turned to ash, and the facades of nearby buildings began to crack and crumble.
The Secret Diggers who lacked full-body armor or thermal insulation let out shrill screams, scrambling and crawling in a desperate attempt to flee the heat. The thermal waves baked their bodies, singeing the very hair off their skin.
Even those with high-end equipment received urgent warnings from their AI systems: Abnormal rise in external temperature detected. Please vacate the area immediately.
And this was merely the collateral effect. They looked up in disbelief at the figure above. The intense flames had gathered in the sky to create a magnificent, terrifying spectacle—fire churning like storm clouds.
Then, the flames coalesced into a humanoid shape. It was the phantom of an elf, eyes narrowed and arms folded, as if bestowing a blessing upon the figure.
"This... damn it..."
Witnessing this cataclysmic display of power, a sense of utter hopelessness took root in the hearts of every Secret Digger.
Even the members of the Real Protection Association swallowed nervously. This wasn't going according to their expectations.
What kind of hornet's nest had these guys kicked?
Did they just stab the game's main artery and summon the final boss?!
There was no time left for thought. The figure was already diving toward them.
As she accelerated, the sky full of fire transformed into wings of pure flame behind her. Every beat of those wings sent a crushing wave of heat toward them.
As she drew closer, they finally saw her clearly. Amidst the raging fire, a brilliant, dazzling crown condensed in the air, and the elven phantom placed it upon her head.
She reached out, and fire condensed in her palm into a spear of flame. With a throwing motion, the spear drew the fire from the sky down like a funnel, fueling its flight.
Those watching from a distance felt a sense of impending doom. Their cold sweat evaporated instantly in the heat.
"Run!" In the face of such a crisis, the Secret Diggers could only scream that one word as they fled for their lives.
Yet, amidst the fleeing crowd, one figure moved in the opposite direction, heading straight toward the person every other player was terrified of.
"President! Don't go!"
"President! That Calamity Witch clearly thinks we're with those guys! Don't go to your death!"
"Don't worry about me! Guard my equipment and assets! This... this level of power... she is absolutely worth the risk!" The man called "President" was a branch leader of the Real Protection Association.
He ignored their protests and charged toward her. Even though he knew the odds were slim, he felt this was the Association's only chance. If they missed this, contacting this Witch in the future would be nearly impossible.
Therefore, their initial stance had to be perfect, even if it cost him a life.
His only worry was that this woman might not just kill him, but delete his account. He remembered the guy who posted the strategy guide—he had been killed by this Witch and lost his account entirely, which was why he had posted the guide out of spite.
He was convinced: this Witch was the proof the Real Protection Association needed to show that these open-world games were actually real worlds!
Everyone else was wrong!
* * *
At that moment...
I felt the surge of this immense power. Was this really just the Blessing of the Elemental Spirit as I knew it?
Or was it that even Ninglan New City was suppressed by the Great Weakening Spell to some extent? After all, Ninglan New City was still part of the Main World.
But here... this was another world entirely, truly separated from the Main World!
This feeling—where transcendent power moved at a mere whim—was incredibly addictive. Commanding the fire elements made everything look like ants. It gave me the illusion that I could easily destroy this entire city. In fact, it might not even be an illusion.
Back then, Tan Han's Ancient Remnant Ice transformation was probably something like this, wasn't it?
And this was just the result of a double-digit cost Flame Fairy Transformation combined with a triple-digit cost Blessing of the Elemental Spirit.
The Main World really does suppress transcendence too harshly.
The Senior Sisters at the Witch Academy probably don't even realize that their strength is enough to be world-ending entities in other realms.
Thinking about how peaceful the Main World is... it's a miracle. If even one person with this kind of power had a screw loose, the Main World would never know a moment's peace.
After I hurled the fire spear, I saw a figure moving against the crowd, coming toward me.
Such an anomaly naturally made me wary. People like that were either suicidal or idiots.
He had flight equipment and was racing toward me at high speed.
In the distance, the fire spear struck, detonating with the force of a cataclysm. Terrifying fire elements rippled outward, its power no less than a small tactical nuke. It leveled everything in its path—buildings, streets, greenery. In such a short time, they couldn't have run far, even with flight. A massive shockwave rolled toward me, but with a wave of my hand, I neutralized it, assimilating the agitated fire elements into my own.
The man rushing toward me instinctively turned to look at the explosion. The bursting fire elements had obliterated the core impact zone, and the resulting debris and heat formed a terrifying mushroom cloud.
It was clear those Secret Diggers were dead as doornails. This was my first time committing slaughter on such a scale, and my first time truly understanding my current combat potential.
But I felt no pity. Even though I knew that more ordinary people had died in that blast than Secret Diggers.
Human life... it really is a fragile thing.
"What is your purpose?" I looked at the man still approaching. He carried no weapons, only a suit of armor that protected him from the flames and heat.
Given the infighting I saw earlier... is he trying to defect to my side?
"Stop! Please, have mercy! I mean no ill will!" His voice came through a loudspeaker, distorted and crackling because the volume was turned up too high.
"State your intent," I said, keeping it brief.
A wall of fire separated him from me. The searing heat made it impossible for him to advance further. I didn't know if he had a trump card or if he was on a suicide mission, and I had no intention of dying with him.
The more powerful I became, the more cautious I had to be. I wasn't blinded by the strength I currently held; I knew that this level of power was still not enough. Not nearly enough.
"I am from the Real Protection Association! Our goal is to protect non-player civilians! As long as we exist, we will resist those reckless players to the end!"
"Interesting..." My eyes narrowed. He was the first person I'd met who could say the word "player" without it being censored!
That alone marked him as different from the others.
"Then, since I just killed so many ordinary people, will you resist me as well?"
"I..." The sudden, pointed question clearly caught him off guard. "No! You aren't a player... We only oppose those like us who recklessly treat this real world like a game. Your actions do not contradict our philosophy..."
I listened to him stammer. It seemed the pressure I was exerting was a bit too much for him.
My real concern, however, was whether this self-proclaimed member of the Real Protection Association was trustworthy, and what role he played in his original world.
Was he a seeker of truth, a rebel against evil? Or just a "Saint Mother" type using this as an excuse to build influence and make money in their world?
Regardless, this was an opportunity—a chance for me to understand them.
"Enough. Give me one reason not to kill you!" I interrupted him.
I didn't want to hear any more of his rhetoric. I was signaling him to give me something important, something that would interest me. Wasn't his long speech just an attempt to leverage my power or influence?
I was giving him a chance to impress me. If he failed, he would die. I knew that death for them was just logging off, and even if I destroyed his body, he might just return in another shell.
"You... I..." He was taken aback. Hearing my tone, he realized his previous speech had been a waste of breath. This was the chasm created by a difference in power; to have a conversation on equal footing, one had to pay a sufficient price.
"I can tell you... everything... about our world... as long as... I am permitted to speak it..." Under the crushing pressure, he made a difficult promise.
"Good!"
A smile played across my lips, and I agreed readily. Isn't this just a traitor from another world? I like it.