Chapter 46: Why the Rush?

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Why the Rush?

[You have inhaled a certain amount of Blood Red Mist. Infection +1. Your current Infection level is: 1]

[You have received a debuff: Physical Attack and Magic Attack -1%]

"There’s no need to tell me about the debuff!" he complained inwardly.

Looking at the text popping up before his eyes, Yu Zhun couldn’t help but look up above his head. Below his health and mana bars, a new white status bar had appeared. At the very end of this status bar, a tiny speck of red had emerged.

This status bar was known as the Infection bar.

Different Dungeons had different rules. The [Bloody City] Dungeon was filled with Blood Red Mist. This mist turned all the living humans in the city into walking corpses known as Blood Corpses. Similarly, it eroded the players who entered the Dungeon. For every minute spent in the [Bloody City] Dungeon, Infection would increase by 1 point, and the player’s Physical Attack and Magic Attack would decrease by 1%.

When Infection reached 100, the bar would turn completely red. In 1A and 2A Dungeons, this meant the player’s run would be terminated. But in a 3A Dungeon, the player would turn into a mindless walking monster just like the Blood Corpses, permanently erased from the Divine Revelation World.

Therefore, this was a time-limited Dungeon. The sooner one finished it, the easier it was to clear.

To Yu Zhun, the decrease in Physical Attack didn’t matter much. However, he still needed to be careful not to let his Infection reach 100. So, Yu Zhun calmly fished a bottle of blood out of his inventory and smashed it directly onto the ground. Then, he pulled out a megaphone and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"I’m in a hurry, so just come out!"

Soon, zombie-like monsters staggered out from every corner of the street. Their skin was an eerie blood-red, and their eyes were consumed by the same Crimson hue. Drool slipped from their mouths, devoid of any reason.

[Normal Blood Corpse (Lv15)]

[Attributes:

Health: 20000

Mana: 600

Physical Attack: 1000

Magic Attack: 0

Physical Defense: 300

Magic Defense: 300]

"Only 1000 points of Physical Attack..." Yu Zhun held up the megaphone, watching the horde of Blood Corpses shambling out. "Listen up, all of you!

"My name is Yu Zhun, and I’m here to kill you today!

"Got it?

"Since you’re not speaking, I’ll take that as a yes!"

Finishing his "chant," Yu Zhun hefted [Nether’s Sigh] and calmly walked toward the Blood Corpse horde. The moment the two sides entered combat range, the Armor Equipment effect [Watch] activated. Yu Zhun’s health bar of nearly ten thousand instantly halved, the missing portion replaced by a shield equal in length to his remaining health.

"Our health pools are about the same, so don’t say I’m bullying you." Yu Zhun chuckled, thrusting his weapon into the nearest Blood Corpse.

[Health -20,000]

Weapon Equipment effect [Blood Drinking] triggered!

[Health +4,000]

As the first Blood Corpse fell, green Healing text popped up above Yu Zhun’s head.

Armor Equipment effect [Pure Land] triggered!

His shield capacity instantly skyrocketed, viciously compressing the survival space of his health bar like a ferocious beast. At that exact moment, a Crimson claw lashed out fiercely. The astonishing speed was accompanied by a sharp sonic boom. Its terrifying sharpness seemed ready to slice through the void as it tore heavily into his paper-thin shield!

[Health +1,000]

Seeing the green text pop up above Yu Zhun’s head, the attacking Blood Corpse froze. It tilted its head. Its mindless face currently displayed a hint of human-like confusion.

It wondered, "I’m a Blood Corpse, not colorblind, right? Why is the text green? Holy crap, he’s hacking!"

Belatedly, Yu Zhun turned his head and looked at the dumbfounded Blood Corpse. The moment their eyes met, a helpless expression crossed his face.

"Why are you in such a rush?"

[Health -20,000]

Cleanly ending the bewildered Blood Corpse’s life, Yu Zhun looked at the horde pressing toward him and smiled. He thought, "With the Accessory Equipment effect [Deep Embrace] active, my shield only gets thicker the more I fight. Are you scared yet?"

"One at a time, don’t push.

"Hey, you, the Abnormal over there, I’m talking to you!"

SQUELCH!

Having cleanly finished off the last Blood Corpse on the street, the Light of leveling up opportunely erupted from Yu Zhun’s body.

[Congratulations, your level has increased to Lv17!]

Originally needing less than ten thousand experience points to level up, he successfully advanced after slaughtering the pile of Blood Corpses.

[Level: Lv17 (20/50200)]

"I wonder if clearing this Dungeon will be enough to reach Lv18," Yu Zhun sighed, walking deeper into the street. Leveling up was truly difficult. While he gained all the experience by running the Dungeon solo, a typical party would have to split it among several members.

"After leveling up once, my health has surpassed ten thousand. Now I’m a genuine ten-thousand-health tank." Yu Zhun instinctively glanced above his head, and then his body jolted. "Holy shit! Where’s my health bar?"

Compressed by a shield dozens of times its size, his health bar was trembling in the corner like a bullied child.

"Oh, health bar, you’ve been wronged."

As he remained out of combat for ten seconds, the shield enveloping his body vanished in an instant. His health bar bounced back from rock bottom and sprang back to life. Yu Zhun stopped in his tracks, looking at a shop ahead. Unlike the surrounding abandoned shops, this one looked exceptionally tidy, as if someone cleaned it every day.

The [Bloody City] Dungeon was divided into three story segments: [Chaotic District], [Mall Horror], and [Cursed Execution Platform]. Each segment featured a wave of monsters. After killing the monsters in the first two segments, an important clue would appear, while the final segment was a Boss fight.

And the tidy shop right before him was the location of the first clue. This shop seemed to be protected by a mysterious Sanctuary. The owner inside hadn’t been corrupted by the Blood Red Mist, and players who entered wouldn’t suffer further Infection, allowing them to rest temporarily.

Not only that, but upon entering, the shop owner would pour the player a glass of water. Drinking that water reduced Infection by 20 points. It was the only item in the Dungeon capable of lowering Infection.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Yu Zhun stepped forward and tapped gently on the shop’s doorframe.

"Coming~" An elderly voice called out from inside. Soon, an old woman slowly walked out. She wiped her hands on her apron and took Yu Zhun’s hand.

"It’s truly been a long time since we had a customer here.

"Come in, child." ℴ

"Thank you," Yu Zhun replied casually, walking in and finding a seat.

"You must be thirsty from the journey, right? I’ll go pour you a glass of water." The old woman smiled, turning and heading into the backyard.

Taking advantage of her absence, Yu Zhun curiously looked around. The old woman’s shop sold clothes. In the corner sat a sewing machine with a mostly finished garment draped over it. It looked like it was tailored for a four- or five-year-old child.

Before Yu Zhun could observe further, the old woman returned from the backyard. "Sorry for the wait, have a taste!

"It’s well water from my backyard. It’s very sweet!"