Chapter 728 - 454: Re-enactment

Chapter 728: Chapter 454: Re-enactment

’Tang Ling lost contact after entering Gaia Royal City two days ago?’

Zhou Chen’s first reaction was that it was impossible. ’No news for two days? Doesn’t that mean Tang Ling has been fighting the Abyssal Incarnation for two whole days? That’s beyond reason.’

After completing her upgrade, Tang Ling was a Hexagon Super Soldier, pure and simple. Even without the Adaptive Evolution Array, she could make short work of Crowned Kings and Abyss Monarchs. If she activated the Adaptive Evolution Array, the fight would end even faster. A protracted battle against her was out of the question.

According to past combat data from before the Adaptive Evolution Array was perfected, Tang Ling’s average time to kill a Tier Five Abyss Monarch was five minutes. Now that the Matrix was complete, that time should be drastically shorter.

Forget fighting for two days—anyone who could last two hours against her would be considered an unparalleled powerhouse. Of course, the Adaptive Evolution Array wasn’t omnipotent; it had its limits. If faced with an absolute disparity in Power, Tang Ling could be forced into a long battle, but the chances of that were minuscule.

And it was even more impossible on Gaia. Under the influence of the gamified Rules, the Abyssal Incarnation’s Power would be limited. It was just like the final bosses in countless video games: unimaginably powerful in the lore, but for the Players, something that could be beaten blindfolded once they died a few, a dozen, or a hundred times to learn its attack patterns.

They could even beat it blindfolded using only their feet.

Heck, even a trained dog could beat it.

As a super AI, Tang Ling only needed to see a boss’s moves once to memorize them all. A few fights would be more than enough for her to figure out the Abyssal Incarnation’s patterns. The fact that a victor hadn’t emerged after two days was utterly baffling. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

That was why Zhou Chen’s first instinct was that Carol was lying to him. But the facts were laid out before him: Gaia was indeed still in its gamified state, which meant Tang Ling had not yet succeeded.

Carol knew Zhou Chen didn’t trust her. "I’m not lying," she said, her tone sincere. "You can leave the Prison and contact your companions. Everything I’ve said is true."

"Not so fast. Before that, I’m more interested in understanding where you stand."

The multicolored light in Zhou Chen’s hand pulsed, extending into a sharp spearpoint aimed directly at Carol. He stared at her, enunciating every word. "Which side are you really on?"

The swirling cosmos in Carol’s eyes slowly faded, revealing magnificent, Ruby-red pupils. Her expression was earnest and solemn. "I am Carol, sister of the King of Gaia, favored of the stars, guardian of Gaia, queen of the Vast Sea Grassland, Elise of the Dragon Race, Elf Misha, the Knowledge Inheritor, and the Light Chaser. I will eternally stand on the side of Gaia’s people."

"I know my actions have displeased you greatly, but you will soon understand just how right I was."

"Then let’s hear it. We have time," Zhou Chen said coldly.

Carol’s enormous, jellyfish-like body began to shrink as she explained, "We both know that only a Player can clear the game. But there’s a prerequisite: that Player must take up the Sword of Ten Thousand Kings and become the King of Gaia. Without that step, the game cannot be cleared."

"This is a fixed main quest, just like in countless video games. You cannot advance the plot without obtaining a certain key Artifact."

"The Godslaying Weapon lacks this prerequisite, which is why she cannot defeat the Evil God. Under the gamified Rules, no matter how powerful she is, she must abide by this setting."

"You are currently the only Player to have passed the Divine Hall’s trial, defeated Onawaro, and earned the right to wield the Sword of Ten Thousand Kings. You are Gaia’s only hope."

"I have observed you for a long time. I know your character. You do not wish to become the King of Gaia, but when the time comes that you must step forward, you will not hesitate to take up the Sword of Ten Thousand Kings... and I have already foreseen such a time."

"That time is now."

"The Black Sun has not been this active in centuries; it’s clear the Evil God is about to make a major move. After the Godslaying Weapon entered Gaia Royal City, the Abyssal Army erupted, pouring out in full force. This is a war far more terrifying than any before it; even with Gaia’s current Power, we still risk annihilation. When the lives of millions hang in the balance, you will surely take up the Sword of Ten Thousand Kings."

"But by then, it would be too late. The Sword of Ten Thousand Kings carries one final mental trial—the very one you just experienced. You were asleep for five days because of the Song of Valiant. If you hadn’t entered the Song of Valiant, even if you had gone to claim the Sword of Ten Thousand Kings the moment the war broke out two days ago, you would still have fallen into a five-day slumber. During those five days, countless lives would be lost."

"That is why I pulled you into the Song of Valiant—so you could complete the mental trial ahead of time. This way, you can claim the Sword of Ten Thousand Kings at a moment’s notice, without wasting precious time when war is upon us. But... I did not expect the war to come so soon."

Carol’s body gradually transformed into a human shape. She was completely naked, her skin as smooth as porcelain and as pale as moonlight. A thick mane of long, golden hair covered her modesty.

She came to Zhou Chen’s side and knelt on one knee, as if in an audience with a King, offering a sincere and heartfelt plea.

"So, please, save Gaia."

Zhou Chen fell into deep thought.

Carol’s actions were meant to make him pass the mental trial ahead of time so he could immediately wield the Sword of Ten Thousand Kings, kill the Evil God as quickly as possible, and reduce casualties. The logic was sound; during a war, many people could die in five days. If the situation was dire, the casualties could number in the hundreds of thousands, or even millions.