Chapter 383- Infinite Online Game (03)
Mu Jin couldn’t help glancing at the man inspecting his weapons out of the corner of his eye. Broad shoulders, narrow hips, a tall and strong figure, strikingly handsome features, exceptional combat skills, and a thoughtful, caring personality—such a perfect man was someone anyone could easily fall for. So, his earlier reaction was perfectly normal, wasn’t it?
Mu Jin tried to reassure himself. He felt truly lucky to receive such a person’s help and friendship and decided not to entertain any unrealistic thoughts. But he couldn’t help wondering: who would be the lucky one to win the heart of such a perfect man in the future?
After a brief rest, the team set out on their journey again. Mu Jin noticed that his teammates seemed unusually excited. Along the way, they had defeated many monsters and members of the opposing faction.
However, as the number of participants dwindled, it became clear that the remaining players were the strongest and most skilled. The closer they got to the end of the competition, the harder the battles would undoubtedly become. After all, anyone who had survived this long was undeniably formidable.
After taking down another Zerg team equipped with advanced weapons, the group was left in a sorry state. Their previously abundant supplies were almost depleted, and their equipment was badly damaged. Without timely repairs, much of it had turned into a pile of scrap metal.
The potions in Mu Jin’s inventory were now down to a few bottles, and most of their teammates were either severely injured or already dead. It was clear that their team wasn’t in any condition to engage in another fight right away. As the team leader, Brother Qi suggested they take a break and search the surrounding area for more supplies.
Unfortunately, plans rarely go as expected. Just as everyone had taken their potions, regained some energy, and prepared to hunt for resources, another heavily armed Zerg team appeared.
Unlike their team, the Zerg squad hadn’t just fought a grueling battle. They looked much better prepared. Worse yet, the disparity in numbers and weaponry was glaring. It was clear that engaging in combat under such circumstances would not be a wise choice.
The enemy charged at them with incredible speed, leaving no time for escape. With no other choice, Mu Jin’s team could only engage them head-on, hoping that by fighting with all their might, they might still have a slim chance of survival.
One by one, their teammates fell. Their weapons and ammunition were running critically low, and the situation was growing increasingly desperate. After downing his last potion, the man’s face hardened with determination.
He knew the odds were stacked against them. He had been reduced to the level of an ordinary person and could do little under such circumstances. However, if he were to escape alone with Mu Jin, there was still a chance. After all, his true goal had never been about winning the competition—it was to protect the person beside him.
Just as he prepared to make his move, a man dressed entirely in black suddenly appeared out of nowhere. His short, fiery red hair stood out strikingly against his dark attire.
The newcomer moved with astonishing speed, wielding an unknown weapon. To Mu Jin, it seemed as though the man moved at the speed of light, weaving swiftly through the enemy ranks. Everywhere he went, the enemies were struck with devastating, fatal attacks, their bodies disintegrating and breaking apart before Mu Jin’s eyes.
The orc team quickly took advantage of the unexpected ally’s arrival, coordinating their efforts to attack the remaining Zerg squad. With the black-clad man’s assistance, the tide of battle shifted rapidly, and they managed to annihilate the entire Zerg team in a short amount of time.
When the black-clad man dispatched the last enemy and finally stopped moving, he turned to face them. It was then that Mu Jin noticed his fiery red eyes, matching the color of his hair. However, there was no sign of an orc tribe marking on his forehead, and his appearance offered no clue as to what kind of species he belonged to.
The man’s face was rugged and resolute, his build tall and imposing. Unlike the natural aura of dominance emanating from Brother Qi, this man exuded a different kind of power—strong, yet cold and indifferent.
There was also a faint sense of familiarity about him that Mu Jin couldn’t ignore, though no matter how hard he tried to recall, he couldn’t find any trace of this person in his memories.
Faced with the sudden appearance of this powerful figure, all the team members looked at him with awe and excitement. However, the man remained expressionless as he approached, set down a package in front of them, and quickly left. His speed was astonishing; they didn’t even have time to thank him before his figure disappeared entirely.
After confirming that the man was gone, one of Mu Jin’s teammates hurried over to open the package. Inside, they found a large cache of top-tier weapons and dozens of advanced potions. At this critical juncture, it was akin to receiving a “treasure trove,” and everyone couldn’t help but cheer in excitement.
They began speculating about the mysterious man, calling him a savior who had seemingly descended from the heavens. Mu Jin, too, felt curious, but seeing that no one around him seemed to know who the man was, he decided not to press the matter.
Only Borther Qi, standing quietly at the back of the group, frowned slightly. His gaze lingered on the weapons and potions inside the package as he clenched his fists, his expression shadowed and unreadable.
With the advanced potions, their recovery rate improved significantly. Coupled with the top-tier weapons, even though their numbers had been reduced, their overall combat strength had actually increased.
Thanks to these new supplies, the team managed to endure for many more days. They never again faced the dire circumstances of being surrounded by the Zerg squad. However, they also didn’t encounter the black-clad, red-haired man again.
After they once again annihilated a Zerg squad, the familiar alarm sounds echoed all around. However, this time, there wasn’t the overwhelming white light that usually followed. Instead, everyone received a message from the central system. On the massive public screen of the world, their new mission was displayed.
From this world onward, new rules would be introduced. The central system issued an instruction: [Starting now, each world would feature an ultimate boss.]
At the end of every world, the top 100 individuals on the leaderboard for that world would be transported near the world boss. Each encounter with the boss would have a fixed duration of two hours.
Within the allotted time, they must defeat the boss. If they failed or succeeded, all participants would still be forcibly transferred to a new world after the two-hour limit. However, the most important and attention-grabbing detail was this: the person who delivered the fatal blow to the boss would receive 100,000 points.
One hundred thousand points—an astronomical figure. In this competition, killing a single monster only yielded between 1 to 5 points, and defeating an opponent from the rival faction awarded just 10 points. Therefore, securing the kill on the boss and earning 100,000 points would undoubtedly crown the victor of the tournament.
Upon hearing this announcement, expressions of excitement spread across everyone’s faces. They realized that slaying the boss was essentially a shortcut to becoming the competition’s champion. Even those who previously had low individual scores rekindled their hopes.
If they were willing to fight hard in just one world, they would have the chance to make it into the top 100. And if they reached the top 100, they might become the one to deliver the final blow to the boss.
As everyone gradually processed this game-changing directive, a white light finally began to spread across the world. In an instant, all their minds went blank.
When they opened their eyes again, all of them found themselves in an unfamiliar place. Mu Jin noticed that six people from his team, including Brother Qi, had been transported to this location. Judging by the architectural style of the surroundings and their attire, it was clear they hadn’t switched to a new world.
Soon, more people began to appear around them one after another. The newly arrived individuals scanned the crowd and showed excited expressions. Mu Jin guessed these people must be the top 100 scorers in the current world, as mentioned earlier by the central system.
What surprised him, however, was that he was among the top 100. Given his stats and abilities, it seemed impossible for him to reach that ranking.
It must be because he had teamed up with Brother Qi. By supporting Brother Qi with buffs, some of the points Brother Qi earned from defeating enemies must have been shared with him. Thinking this, Mu Jin glanced gratefully at the man beside him.
In front of them stood a magnificent building. Mu Jin speculated that the world boss was likely hidden inside. However, they had no idea where the boss was or how to access the building, as there seemed to be no way to enter.
Since the central system had stated that each world would feature a boss, they realized this scenario would likely repeat in subsequent worlds. If someone managed to gain multiple opportunities to land the final blow on a boss across different worlds, the ultimate winner of the competition would remain uncertain.
It was clear that those present, eligible to participate in this boss hunt, were brimming with excitement and ready to act. However, just as someone reached out to touch the building in front of them, it suddenly collapsed with a thunderous crash.
The scene before them was now fully exposed. Since they had surrounded the building, there was nothing obstructing their view. But despite the building’s disappearance, they still couldn’t see any sign of the so-called boss.