The beam of light intensified, captivating the attention of over 10,000 players who gazed up at the sky in awe.
This instance felt distant, and many players were unable to reach it.
As the light column grew more exaggerated, a second full moon appeared faintly above, casting a massive shadow within the beam. It seemed to sit cross-legged, motionless, yet an overwhelming sense of oppression surged through the players, quickening their blood flow.
Exchanging glances, they realized that Ivanovich appeared even more powerful than the previous two bosses.
Xiahou Fuxing felt the blood drain from his face, fear gripping his entire being. His sanity plunged from a hundred to seventy in mere moments.
Panic surged through him, and without a second thought, he drew his Junlin and blew into it.
"Beep, beep, beep!"
A tremendous will surged through the players' hearts.
The panel chimed again:
[Your morale +30%. Your morale is high; temporarily exempt from sanity deduction.]
Breathing heavily, a mix of fear and fighting spirit enveloped the players. With a rallying cry, they surged towards Ivanovich, shouting words of defiance like "kill the boss!"
Wei Lu watched the unfolding chaos with a contemplative gaze. He raised his head to the sky, sensing that reality and this small town were on the brink of merging.
The moonlight outside grew brighter, while the original moonlight in the secret realm dimmed. The sun and moon in this world operated under mystical rules, vastly different from those of the Blue Planet.
For instance, despite there being only one sun, every corner of the land basked in daylight, illuminating even the darkest areas. The Federation's diameter of 80,000 kilometers allowed for a unique experience of simultaneous sunrises in distant cities, a phenomenon no one had yet explained.
Wei Lu noted his observations among the players, documenting his thoughts on the secret realm. While he wasn't sure if players cared about the background of a dungeon, he was deeply intrigued. Regardless of their interest, he would record everything, hoping to compile a history that belonged to the players.
Suddenly, a peculiar wave rippled through the air, causing nearby players to mutate, their eyes turning scarlet.
In a frenzy, they turned and attacked their companions, transforming into monsters.
"Fuck! Brothers, we know how to handle them! Cut them down!" a player shouted as the battle between unaffected players and the mutated ones erupted, a tragic clash of friends turned foes.
Wei Lu continued to document the unfolding events, moving steadily toward the beam of light.
The conflict didn't last long. All players, save for the Guards, froze momentarily before their eyes gradually turned scarlet.
In that beam of light, the old figure opened a pair of dark blue eyes, surveying the scene with confusion, as if perplexed by the soullessness of the players.
It shifted its gaze toward a lone figure untouched by the Netherworld Aura.
A frail night elf approached, gliding with grace. This individual was cleverly hiding in a subspace, evading the mutation.
Slowly rising, the old figure believed it could capture this strange little one.
Wei Lu, a hidden class Space-Time Assassin, knew he had limited time as he prepared to speak. "Ivanovich."
His voice echoed from another dimension, causing the old figure to pause. The dark blue in its eyes shimmered with golden light, then quickly returned to blue.
Understanding dawned on Wei Lu. He glanced at the sky; in two minutes, reality would fully overlap with this realm. He felt an urgency gripping him.
"Ivanovich, king of Lingyang Kingdom two thousand years ago, do you remember who you are? Your kingdom is gone. Look around—corpse ghosts have overtaken it. After your death, no one survived in Lingyang.
Your history has been buried. I believe you were great, but look at you now. Where is the king? I need your help. Stay here quietly. The ghosts you couldn't eliminate back then—now you have a chance. Wait, and your epic will be remembered."
Ivanovich hesitated, the golden light flickering in his eyes as he battled within himself.
The ghost and the king struggled for dominance in the old body.
The Guards advanced, capturing every emotion on the king's face: pain, anger, confusion.
For two thousand years, they had fought without a victor.
A wisp of black smoke flickered in his eyes as the faint blue light began to prevail.
Wei Lu frowned, looking up. The bright moon remained, but time was running short. Only words seemed capable of reigniting the fight that had persisted for two millennia.
Why had the king lost consciousness so suddenly?
The ghost seemed equally bewildered.
Buzz—an even more powerful energy surged from the ghost into the sky, illuminating the night and merging this world with the outside.
The ghost sensed a change, memories flooding in. Its power transformed as Ivanovich's unwavering will began to yield.
The ghost marveled at its own body, realizing the grave mistake of invading the old man's soul.
It became clear that some wills were immeasurably strong.
The ghost reached out, bathed in the beam of light.
Puff—Wei Lu watched, stunned, as a dry, aged hand grasped his heart.
His eyes widened in confusion. "It shouldn't be like this. You shouldn't be able to break free from Ivanovich's hold. What power helped you?"
Puff—the old hand tightened, and Wei Lu felt his heart explode as his vision faded to gray.
Around him, players succumbed, their bodies bursting, blood and flesh coalescing towards the ghost.
The sky darkened, the bright moon obscured, plunging the earth into its darkest hour.
A faint blue light flickered, hinting at a terrifying presence from another dimension.
Bai Yi sat on a mechanical throne, holding Diane's hand tightly, his expression grave.
This was indeed a legend! He recalled the whispers of the Soul Tower Guards before their demise, foretelling the nature of this instance—one that would occasionally close, allowing players to confront the king and the ghost in an eternal battle.
When the king regained control, the dungeon would vanish; when the ghost took over, it would reappear, a cycle of death and rebirth.
Yet now, that balance had shattered, and the ghost was advancing toward legendary status.
Diane turned to Bai Yi, kissing him softly. "Don't worry; it's just a first-level legend."
But as she spoke, the aura intensified, and her expression turned serious, sensing a second-level legend approaching.
Mithras, too, adopted a somber demeanor. "The space is about to overlap with reality. You all know the characteristics of ghosts, right?"
"Yes," they replied in unison.
Bai Yi stood, determination in his voice. "The ghost's invasion is dangerous. Diane must leave for safety."
"No, I can't abandon you!" she protested, her purple eyes reflecting the surge of death surrounding them.
"I can protect you. I'm only facing a second-level legend. Just wait."
Buzz—level three legend! A terrifying power loomed.
Diane fell silent, feeling slightly aggrieved. "Why does he always break through when I mention his level?"
Bai Yi smiled gently, ruffling her hair. "Don't worry. I'm not alone in this. I am the lord of Border Town."
Mithras, sensing the urgency, prepared to speak when a shrill voice interrupted.
"My dear friend, the items you requested have arrived. I must return quickly; without the East City Wall, I feel vulnerable. Lord City Lord, please bring back my city gate."
Sabo's voice faded, and a colossal monster over 300 meters tall descended with a thunderous crash.
The ground shook, cracks spreading beneath the weight.
Diane gasped, eyes wide with disbelief. "What is that?"
Mithras, sensing her curiosity, explained, "These were brought back by the Sword Saint from the Star Federation. They serve as defenses for our border cities."
As the defense mecha activated, projections of the Dawn Council appeared, voices filled with urgency.
"What's happening? The mecha of Dongwu City is online?"
Dense chatter filled the air as meteors streaked across the sky, aiming directly for the mysterious town that was about to merge with reality.
Flames erupted into the night, mushroom clouds rising as destruction unfolded.
Bai Yi's thoughts lingered on the Soul Tower, but he knew he had to face this trial first.
"Don't worry; this is the work of the Alchemist Sage of the Star Federation. Mithras, take Diane back. I'll return with news of the city that will one day be yours."
He kissed her gently before launching toward the city-guarding mecha.
As the bone dragon flapped its wings, a protective shield enveloped them, disappearing with Diane and Mithras.
At that moment, the mysterious town fully integrated with reality.
A missile, traveling at Mach 30, was now invisible to the eye.
The earth trembled, flames consuming everything in their path, as the missile struck the legendary target.