To ascend, I had no choice but to create games

Chapter 461: Chapter 273 The Secret of the World (Third Update)_1

“Despicable outsiders…”

The Minotaur lay on the ground, one of its horns broken, more than a dozen ribs shattered, its body a gory mess, yet it still clung to life.

Opposite him, Xiemen Waidao sat on the ground, gasping for breath and wiping sweat from his face, saying, “What a great opponent.”

“You’d better take off your equipment first,” said Mukuai 1234, expressionless, as she was held in Xiemen Waidao’s hand, “and you’re really despicable.”

She had considered fighting side by side with Xiemen Waidao, but definitely not like this.

If one could hold expectations for such a guy, there must be something wrong with their brain.

...

Not just the Minotaur, Liuzi, who was watching the battle, covered her face and muttered to herself, “Why do I know such a despicable scum.”

“It’s not your fault,” the Goddess of Art comforted Liuzi, patting her on the shoulder, “Who hasn’t run into a few jerks when they were young?”

“Hey, you two, I can hear you!” Xiemen Waidao protested discontentedly, “A win is a win, who cares so much about the details!”

“But it’s too despicable!”

In the end, it was the Minotaur who propped himself up, sat on the ground, and said to Xiemen Waidao, “Despicable indeed, but a loss is a loss. Kill me, and then deal with this dungeon. Don’t worry, I have no grudge against you, we’re just pitiful people played by the world.”

Smelling the scent of a hidden quest, Xiemen Waidao leaned in and asked, “Why do you say that?”

“Actually, I have no intention of being enemies with you adventurers, but the world has arranged for me to act this way. Even if we restrain ourselves, when the blood moon rises, we still won’t be able to control ourselves and will launch an attack on your camps.”

After a long sigh, the Minotaur lamented, “I really want to see my parents back home.”

“Isn’t your homeland here?”

“…No, it’s the homeland in my memories. We conscious monsters are confused by inexplicable memories. And in my memories, there are memories of home. I lived in Wheat Field Village, my father’s name is Reinhardt, my mother’s name is Elyan, I had a dog, and the dog’s name was Herietta Stanton Trian Yabe…”

“Wait, why is the dog’s name so long? Does your family let the dog make all the decisions?”

“Enough talk, get on with it.”

Looking at the Minotaur awaiting his death, Xiemen Waidao, holding Mukuai 1234, whispered to his companion, “I smell the scent of a hidden storyline.”

“What a coincidence, so do I. It seems what the other party says is true.”

“It feels like this has something to do with the hidden lore of the world, shall we investigate further?”

“Agreed.”

“Take off your equipment first!”

Having reached a consensus, Xiemen Waidao walked over to the Minotaur and extended his hand.

Facing the Minotaur’s confused gaze, Xiemen Waidao said, “I know you must be full of doubts, but I feel there must be many secrets here. Would you like to join us in investigating why?”

“But, I’m a monster.”

“When a monster upholds honor and defends its glory with flesh and blood, it’s no longer merely a monster, but a person. Do you want to die holding on to the yearning for your homeland?”

Xiemen Waidao’s words moved the Minotaur.

He gripped Xiemen Waidao’s hand and said earnestly, “Alright, I believe you. I am willing to cooperate with you to study the origin of my memories.”

“Hmm.”

New weapons acquired, Minotaur in hand!

Holding the new weapon as he left the dungeon, Xiemen Waidao gazed at the three meters long, gleaming Minotaur weapon, clearly smitten.

“What a great piece of equipment. From now on, you’re mine.”

Looking at the infatuated Xiemen Waidao, the Goddess of Art pulled Liuzi aside, “You should play with him less from now on.”

“Don’t worry, I definitely will.”

Although Xiemen Waidao offered to help with the research, he and Liuzi could fight, but were not really cut out for exploration and research.

But that was okay, they had backup.

After all, the Morals Aid Group was full of talented individuals. They had everything except morality.

And the best external help for research was none other than Black Tech.

He entered the game as soon as the server was up, but he didn’t go into dungeons for gear. Instead, he set up a stall in the temple and began to buy magic books and scrolls for cash.

Third-tier dungeons had a chance to drop magic books and scrolls, which were necessary for changing one’s job to become a magician. However, the changing process was too complicated, and not many had succeeded so far.

Normal job upgrades only granted growth in attributes, but magicians would also randomly learn spells, making it a rare but potent profession.

However, to change jobs, one needed to learn a vast number of magic books and comprehend the theories within them like studying textbooks, before one could have a sudden realization and acquire the magician profession.

Thus, this profession was also known as the bookworm job, not suitable for ordinary people to play.

And Black Tech was just the character with a top student’s caliber.

When Black Tech walked out of the temple, there was still a lazy smile on his face.

After learning why Xiemen Waidao was looking for him, he peered with interest at the Minotaur in his hand and said, “Interesting, it’s my first time seeing someone bring a boss out of a dungeon. Mind if I cast a few spells on you?”

“Are you a mage?” the Minotaur asked in surprise.

“Hmm, what they call magic textbooks are actually just advanced mathematics and topology. Study them a bit, and you’ll understand.”

Liuzi looked at the nonchalant Black Tech and felt the world of a top student was indeed different from his own.

Xiemen Waidao, meanwhile, watched excitedly and asked Black Tech, “What exactly is magic in this world?”

“Magic is a loophole. This world is full of loopholes, and mages are those who draw power from these loopholes and solidify them. The City of Judgment is especially full of these loopholes, which is why mages can advance so easily here. That’s also why this city must be protected at all costs—mages need the city’s loopholes to help them ascend.”

Watching squint-eyed Black Tech, Xiemen Waidao felt that the other really had the vibe of a mage.

Leading the group into his little shop, they discovered that Black Tech had already managed it quite well.

The store was small, but it was filled with various books and magical items that may seem useless in the eyes of other players. In Black Tech’s hands, however, they were priceless treasures.

The Goddess of Art looked around and was soon attracted by some exquisitely crafted items, gazing intently at them.

Liuzi also looked for a while, then asked, “Must have cost a pretty penny to collect all these items, huh?”

“No worries, I sold a few patents a while ago and had some spare cash. I like to collect things I fancy; I even tip streamers I like quite generously.”

Because the shop was small, only the Minotaur’s head could poke in, while Black Tech took out a crystal ball and placed it in front of the Minotaur, wiping it down as he spoke, “Most magic requires a medium. These mediums are magical items that communicate with certain loopholes. Mages can use these magical items to find loopholes, then cast magic through them. Alright, Mr. Minotaur, could you describe your memories in more detail?”

“Hmm.”

As he recounted his memories again in detail, Black Tech listened and nodded, continuing to wipe the crystal in front of him.

After a while, he signaled for the Minotaur to stop talking. Instead, he lifted his head, listening for something.

Finally, he nodded and said, “Confirmed, your previous life was that of an ordinary villager from Wheat Field Village. Later, to marry your childhood sweetheart, you came to the City of Judgment to carve out a future. However, during the blood moon, you were killed by a monster, devoured by it, and ultimately reincarnated as a Minotaur. Interesting—let me take another look.”

“Wait, what did you see?” Xiemen Waidao asked, puzzled.

“It’s one of a mage’s abilities, allowing me to see some truths that you can’t. Alright, let me continue looking—who was the real cause of your tragedy?”

Activating the mage’s abilities again, Black Tech felt his consciousness sinking continuously. The game pod simulated the sensation of sinking in water brilliantly, driving him deeper and deeper, and then still deeper.

At last, he saw it.

At the complex depths of the magical laws, a terrifying and colossal entity lurked deep within the world.

He hid so profoundly and possessed such terrifying power that even a mere afterimage he left behind had incomparable might.

Everything in the world was his arrangement, including the existence of dungeons.

The dungeons kept multiplying and spreading, tools he used to stimulate the adventurers’ greed, enhancing their avarice with plenty of items and treasures to keep them exploring, hence providing him with power.

His name surfaced—Greed Demon Lord. His title thundered in Black Tech’s ears, informing him of who the ultimate boss of this game was.

Just as he sensed the other’s existence, the afterimage lurking deep within the laws sensed Black Tech’s as well, casting a glance his way.

Though it was just a glance, it burned like the sun, vaporizing Black Tech instantly.

Under Xiemen Waidao’s gaze, Black Tech turned into a wisp of green smoke, disappearing without a trace.

But a few minutes later, Black Tech walked out of the temple again.

He brushed away the ash left by his previous body, and scratching his head, said, “I got it, I’ve seen the ultimate boss.”

“No way!” Xiemen Waidao asked incredulously.

“That’s mages for you, always incredible. Now, the good news is that if we defeat him, we would have cleared the game. But the bad news is, we can’t beat him. I bet he is in the depths of some level nine dungeon, so it looks like we’ll have to work a lot harder.”

After hearing Black Tech’s description, Liuzi and Xiemen Waidao were excited.

They thought it was just a game about grinding, but there turned out to be a deeper story, making their dungeon runs even more motivating.

After thanking the mage, the two players set off on their journey, continuing their dungeon grinding.

Meanwhile, in a remote mountain village, a group of mages awoke from their meditation.

Someone had recklessly disturbed the Demon God’s long slumber; a terrifying calamity was about to descend, one that would destroy the world.

Even the Goddess of Mercy was no match for that Demon Lord; a great catastrophe was once again upon the world, ready to destroy everything. @@novelbin@@

To prevent this apocalypse, more sacrifices would need to be made to the Demon Lord.

After a long silence, an ethereal voice said, “Increase the intensity of this blood moon. Let the Angel Envoy and the people of the City of Judgment become the Demon God’s bait.”