Chapter 384- Infinite Online Game (04)
Just as everyone was feeling increasingly puzzled, a powerful vortex suddenly surged from the center of the destroyed building. This vortex swept up the dust and quickly transformed before their eyes, forming a thick ring of white mist. Within the mist, there appeared to be a humanoid figure shrouded by the dense fog.
The silhouette seemed to exist within a veil of mist, making it impossible for anyone to discern its appearance. However, everyone instinctively understood that this must be the boss. After all, aside from that figure, there was nothing else in sight that could be considered an enemy.
While the crowd exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what to do, someone finally ventured to launch an attack at the shadowy figure. The attack struck the silhouette, causing it to stagger slightly as if caught off guard. This confirmed that the figure could indeed be harmed.
Mu Jin noticed the humanoid shape wobble, as though it was unaccustomed to its current state. A world boss behaving like a newcomer—unfamiliar with the environment and unprepared for sudden attacks—struck Mu Jin as very odd.
However, the others didn’t bother to dwell on it. Following the lead of the first attacker, the crowd quickly raised their weapons and unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks on the shadowy figure.
After being struck several times, the boss seemed to finally realize that the people around it intended to harm it. Without warning, it retaliated, moving with an almost ghostly speed to confront its attackers head-on, systematically eliminating those who had dared to strike it.
The boss was incredibly powerful, and many people couldn’t withstand even a single strike from it. However, it was still vulnerable to attacks, and during moments of intense bombardment, its movements would occasionally falter. Mu Jin speculated that the boss must have been injured, yet even so, those attacking it gained little advantage.
In the chaos of the battle, Mu Jin hesitated, unsure if he should join the fray. Just as he was wavering, the man beside him grabbed his wrist.
Mu Jin turned his head to see Brother Qi leaning close to his ear and whispering softly, “Don’t get near that boss; it’s not something you can handle. If we rush in and anger it, we’ll definitely die. It’s better to stay back while it’s chaotic. If we can hold out for the full two hours, we’ll switch to the next world.”
Hearing this, Mu Jin nodded. He knew his own capabilities weren’t up to par. Facing such a formidable enemy, killing it was obviously beyond his reach. His earlier urge to join the battle was simply a desire to support Brother Qi, as he considered himself a decent support player in this world.
But since Brother Qi had advised against approaching the boss, there was no way Mu Jin would act recklessly. Following the man’s lead, Mu Jin stayed on the outskirts of the battlefield, avoiding the core of the fight. Watching others recklessly charge forward, all vying to be the one to kill the boss, he could only sigh inwardly.
This boss was truly a high-difficulty challenge, killing people as effortlessly as slicing vegetables. Mu Jin suddenly felt that the others were being far too reckless. After all, if they were killed by the boss, their in-game character would face permanent death, eliminating any chance to continue playing.
However, as long as one could ensure survival, there was always a chance to continue participating in the game. Whether it involved killing monsters or eliminating members of the opposing faction in the next world, it was still possible to earn points. These points could later be exchanged for rewards or even converted into real money.
As Mu Jin watched the countdown displayed in the sky ticking down visibly, he noticed that even though the boss was injured, its speed showed no sign of slowing. Clearly, the attacks from the players weren’t dealing significant damage to it.
If there were more players and a longer duration, the sheer numbers might make a difference. But under the current conditions—just one hundred people and only two hours—defeating this boss seemed utterly impossible.
The boss, on the other hand, appeared more than capable of wiping out their group. Mu Jin couldn’t help but suspect that even when the two-hour time limit ended, this world’s boss might still remain undefeated.
At the same time, he felt relieved that he had listened to Brother Qi’s advice. Those who had rushed into direct confrontation with the boss met grim fates, while those who avoided attacking it and kept their distance from the battlefield managed to survive.
When the two-hour hunt finally came to its last second, just as Mu Jin had predicted, the boss was still standing tall before them. It didn’t even appear significantly damaged. The shadowy figure within the mist showed no signs of weariness, while nearly half of their team had perished.
At that moment, the white light swept across the world again. Just before Mu Jin’s mind went blank, he distinctly heard Brother Qi shout, “In the next world, stay in the safe zone and wait for me!”
This time, Mu Jin obediently followed Brother Qi’s instructions and stayed in the safe zone, waiting for him. The two quickly regrouped and formed a new team, recruiting additional allies. Having gone through the first two worlds, Mu Jin had thoroughly familiarized himself with the game’s mechanics and developed a seamless cooperation with Brother Qi.
He also discovered that his own reflexes were quite agile. While he couldn’t achieve the sheer power Brother Qi displayed, he was at least capable of protecting himself. From time to time, he could even assist Brother Qi and the other teammates when needed.
In the worlds they experienced afterward, there were ones filled with ghosts and others set in eras of war and chaos. Brother Qi always stayed by his side, looking after him. Mu Jin knew that without Brother Qi, he wouldn’t have grown as much as he had.
More importantly, he wouldn’t have gained the confidence or the drive to push himself harder—motivated by the simple desire to ensure that Brother Qi wouldn’t regret helping him.
What astonished Mu Jin the most was that almost every time they reached the end of a world, both he and Brother Qi were among the top 100 players and participated in the boss battles.
However, something puzzled Mu Jin: the bosses that appeared in each world seemed almost identical. Shrouded in dense white mist, their forms were impossible to discern, and their speed, attack methods, and incredible strength were always nearly the same. Mu Jin began to suspect that the bosses they faced in each world were, in fact, the same entity.
After every two-hour siege, the boss was never successfully defeated. This made Mu Jin feel that the system’s promise of earning 100,000 points for killing the boss was practically an impossible goal.
What was even more perplexing was how intelligent and precise the boss’s attacks seemed to be. It primarily targeted those who attacked it first. Meanwhile, following Brother Qi’s advice to avoid drawing attention, Mu Jin managed to survive every time by staying out of the thick of battle.
The game’s time flow was different from that of the real world. An hour in reality was equivalent to a full day in the game. The gaming pods were equipped with automated systems, immersing players in a nutrient solution that ensured cleanliness and health. This setup allowed players to remain in the pods for up to a year without compromising their well-being.
Although not much time had passed in the real world, to Mu Jin, it felt like he had lived over a hundred days in the game.
During those hundred days of traversing through various worlds, Mu Jin witnessed all kinds of fascinating and surreal scenes. However, he didn’t find them particularly novel. In fact, many of these environments evoked a strong sense of familiarity.
For instance, there was a dense forest filled with glowing fireflies, and an eerie old mansion haunted by ghostly shadows.
Even though he disliked this intensely competitive, ceaselessly violent game, Mu Jin found that having Brother Qi by his side made it bearable—even enjoyable.
But watching the man effortlessly fend off the opposing team, his blade swift and deadly, Mu Jin hid the emotions flickering in his eyes. He quickly cast a spell to enhance the man’s attacks.
He realized that his experience in this game world had become far more complex than it was in the beginning. Initially, his participation was purely about earning points, gaining rewards, or striving for first place to secure a substantial monetary prize.
Now, however, he carried a secret in his heart: he had fallen for someone. Someone he met in this virtual world. A man whose ruggedly handsome features and resolute demeanor reminded Mu Jin of an unsheathed blade. Yet, when it came to Mu Jin, this same man was gentle and caring, always protecting him like a guardian angel.
“Brother Qi.” After they had wiped out another opposing squad, Mu Jin sat down beside the man and quickly handed him a potion. His face flushed as he struck up a casual conversation, occasionally sneaking glances at him.
He always wanted to know more about the man sitting beside him, to understand him better. Mu Jin knew that his feelings might be inappropriate. After all, Brother Qi had been selflessly helping and taking care of him throughout this journey—treating him almost like a younger brother.