The flying beasts were responsible for blocking the airspace, while the legion under the command of the strategist intercepted the retreat path. Meanwhile, the guards on the city walls were tasked with cutting off the forward route, enclosing the two individuals within the main city.
As the players caught up from behind, this was the scene that greeted them. Trying to move forward, they received a prompt that prohibited further advancement. Consequently, they could only watch from a distance, but even that was awe-inspiring enough.
“Could this be the legendary three-way deadlock1Refers to a situation where three entities or parties are evenly matched, creating a delicate balance of power. It implies a scenario where no one has a clear advantage., trapping the turtle in the jar2甕中捉鼈 (wèng zhōng zhuō biē): The meaning extends to a situation where it’s difficult to achieve success due to the constraints of the environment.?”
“What are you talking about? With such a tight encirclement, can they still escape? I feel it’s very precarious.”
“Damn, it’s too far to see clearly! Why can’t we move forward? I didn’t notice any mission restrictions on the area before.”
“Telescope here! Selling telescopes here! One for three gold coins, two for five gold coins!”
“Someone’s already selling stuff so quickly? Impressive, quite sharp.”
“We’re in the business of staying informed about market trends in real-time. Whether you buy or not, please continue watching. I still have business to do, so please make way, make way.”
“Give me two telescopes!”
“Sure thing! Five gold coins!”
Watching the two trapped individuals in the middle, the commander chuckled, chin raised, and an arrogant expression on his face. “You’ve got pretty fast legs. Keep running, why stop now? What are you standing still for?”
“Are you bad at language or something?”
Chu Qianze smirked, “I clearly flew over here.”
Upon hearing these words, the commander’s expression changed. At this critical moment, this person dared to challenge him?
“Fine, very well, all of you—”
He hadn’t finished his sentence when a bullet pierced through the guard beside him.
Countless mechanical configurations and combinations, assembling and piecing together. They rotated to form various firearms, chambers were loaded, and their movements were uniform and precise, with no slightest deviation. In the second before the commander finished speaking, they all opened fire simultaneously. Flashes of fire, bullets cutting through the air—under the onslaught of a barrage of gunfire, the situation was unexpectedly thrown into chaos.
At this moment, Chu Qianze didn’t remain idle either. Covered by numerous mechanical devices, he swiftly flew toward the direction of the city wall. His goal was always clear: to leave the main city and reach the outside.
Leaving this place would provide more operational possibilities.
Witnessing Chu Qianze’s swift movements, all three factions initiated attacks. Crossbow arrows shot from the city walls, magical spells descended from the sky with flying riders…
Chu Qianze skillfully maneuvered through these attacks.
As a shield warrior, Zong Xinjue possessed exceptional defensive capabilities in addition to his formidable attack power. At this moment, he focused on defending both individuals, effortlessly deflecting any close-range attacks. It had to be acknowledged that due to his presence, Chu Qianze could act freely without worrying about threats from behind.
Seeing his stamina depleting rapidly, a restorative potion appeared before Chu Qianze.
“Drink,” Zong Xinjue said concisely.
With his mechanical wings folded in a gliding arc to avoid nearby attacks, Chu Qianze smiled faintly, “No time to be distracted, you feed me.”
Zong Xinjue slowed down the rhythm of his defensive skill, glanced at Chu Qianze, and then opened the potion.
The healing potion took effect, and the previously drained stamina began to recover. However, continuing like this was not a sustainable solution. The items they carried were limited and couldn’t withstand the ongoing attrition.
As the two approached the city wall, their distance getting closer, wings spread wide, they ascended along the vertical surface.
A burning sphere rolled down from the top of the wall, and Zong Xinjue’s pupils contracted slightly, “Be careful!”
He retrieved an ice shield from his equipment and tossed it into the air. It was a shield obtained in a previous snowfield instance, possessing its own freezing effect.
As the shield struck the burning stone sphere, he lifted the massive shield in his hand to shield the two of them from above.
The collision between the ice shield and the fiery ball, amidst alternating cold and heat, shattered the burning sphere. It transformed into scattered black stones, falling sporadically. The stones descended on the duo, but Zong Xinjue used the massive shield to block them, successfully avoiding any harm.
“Not bad, Ajue,” Chu Qianze murmured, a hint of pride in his voice.
Ah, Ajue?!
At a time like this, he’s still in that playful mood!
Suppressing the joy in his heart, Zong Xinjue maintained a serious expression, “Stay focused.”
“Roger that~”
Chu Qianze winked at someone, then instantly accelerated. With a swift dash, the two appeared on top of the city wall.
As the enemies caught up, soldiers grabbed their weapons and rushed towards the duo. “Kill!”
Zong Xinjue jumped down from Chu Qianze’s embrace, raised the massive shield, and blocked the oncoming soldiers. Amid the clashing sounds, he cleared a path with the help of the others.
Seeing the two break through the encirclement and reach the top of the city wall, the commander’s speed slowed down slightly. He still needed some time to catch up. His gaze shifted to the flying beast units in the sky, frustrated, “What are you waiting for? Hurry up! Are you expecting me to feed you? Move quickly!!”
The two passed through the city wall and arrived on the outside, but they came to a halt.
Outside the main city, there were even more troops. Light cavalry stood in place, gazing up at the city wall, their formation disciplined and imposing. The scale extended from below the city wall all the way to the artificial canal in the front.
“That’s quite a show. Someone might mistake it for a siege,” Chu Qianze remarked. The time limit for the use of the mechanical wings expired, and the skill entered cooldown, automatically retracting.
“How many potions do you have left?” Zong Xinjue checked his backpack. “Enough for the potions.”
“Forget it, we got busy with some intimacy as soon as we got here. Didn’t have time to replenish that stuff yet,” Chu Qianze said, stretching and flexing his limbs.
“In that case, let’s go kill them. We can’t afford too much loss in potions and equipment,” Zong Xinjue stood beside Chu Qianze, looking down from above.
“Sure, the way you put it makes it sound exciting.” Chu Qianze waved his hand, and all the suspended firearms returned to his side.
“Ready?”
Zong Xinjue activated the Berserk state, boosting all his attributes. “Of course!”
The two exchanged a glance, then leaped down from the city wall. After a few vertical steps along the wall, they charged directly into the army, like drops of water entering the ocean, appearing so insignificant.
As the two entered, the poised army changed its formation. Centered around them, the surrounding forces quickly converged, encircling and trapping them.
Chu Qianze moved his thoughts slightly, directing the command machine gun to sweep and clear a small area in front. However, soon, more troops would catch up, and the previously cleared space would be surrounded again.
Players, after witnessing the two fly out of the city wall, couldn’t see anything further. They were left in suspense, scratching their heads, eager to know what happened next.
“So, what’s the current situation?”
“Can anyone see anything?”
“With such a significant event, the official should release edited videos, right?”
“What does it look like outside now? I’m so anxious!”
As time passed, the two reached the central battlefield, a considerable distance from the city and the canal.
Chu Qianze grasped the firearm, his thoughts wandering as he mentally simulated the components of a rocket launcher.
[Exceeding game boundaries, modification not allowed.]
He clicked his tongue, modified it into a small hand grenade, pulled the pin, and tossed it to the side.
Bang—!!
As the flames lit up, everyone around exploded, creating a large crater in the ground.
He simulated another.
[Insufficient skill points, unable to generate.]
Glancing over the panel, Chu Qianze raised his hand slightly, and a long knife materialized.
[Simulation successful]
Chu Qianze turned towards Zong Xinjue, the blade rising and falling, shadows attacking the other.
As the gleaming blade approached, Zong Xinjue stood still.
“Ah!!” A wail echoed.
Turning to the side, it was a soldier attempting to launch a surprise attack. Clutching his neck, the soldier slowly fell.
Chu Qianze said, “Watch your back.”
Zong Xinjue exerted force in his hands, sending the massive shield flying. It spun in a circle, forcing the nearby cavalry to retreat. “You too.”
The opposing forces gradually closed in.
Back to back, the two surveyed their surroundings, vigilant for any imminent attacks.
Zong Xinjue asked, “Is the cooldown time for the skill over?”
Knowing which skill Zong Xinjue was referring to, Chu Qianze glanced at the panel and shrugged, “It’ll take some more time. I can’t fly right now.”
With the potions nearly depleted, severely low stamina, and health reaching critical levels, they couldn’t afford to drag this on any longer. Continuing would only lead to one outcome for both of them.
Zong Xinjue glanced towards the canal, mentally calculating, “You mentioned earlier that if I got injured, you’d chew that thing. Is that still on?”
Chu Qianze cut through an approaching enemy at the waist, asking, “What do you think?”
Zong Xinjue grabbed Chu Qianze’s shoulder and, using the momentum, kicked away someone attacking from the side. As he twisted his body, he swung Chu Qianze along with him.
[Special skill: Restraint]
Chu Qianze realized he couldn’t move temporarily. Watching the person pulling him, a bad premonition surfaced.
“If it’s true, I’ll be looking forward to it.” Zong Xinjue chuckled. After finishing his sentence, he pivoted around with himself as the axis, taking the person with him in a spin.
The next moment, Zong Xinjue released his grip, and Chu Qianze flew out, landing on the other side of the canal.
[Special skill: Ejection!]
[Shield Warrior skill: Light Shield]
A faint halo appeared around Chu Qianze, and a fireball came at him, only to be deflected directly.
Simultaneously, Zong Xinjue swung the massive shield, rotating it around Chu Qianze, helping block all physical attacks.
In this way, no one managed to harm him.
In the midst of the battlefield, Zong Xinjue, now weaponless, instantly found himself in a precarious situation.
He blocked the long spear swung at him, exerted strength, yanking the cavalry off the horse, and delivered a punch. With stamina depleted, his speed and strength significantly diminished.
On the city wall, crossbow bolts flew out, piercing directly into his shoulder.
Zong Xinjue’s face paled, then he grabbed a nearby soldier and flung him away. Somehow, the words he had heard before echoed in his mind.
“Regarding your experience, we regret what happened; it’s something we all wish we didn’t see. We’re glad to see you bounce back, but as you know, in the esports industry, reaction speed is crucial. It was true in traditional keyboard esports, not to mention the current holographic online games. Unfortunately, we cannot accept your application.”
“Reaction speed refers to the sharpness of one’s response to stimuli. Holographic online games have a personalized setting that allows adjustment of the realism of pain experienced by the characters. Since it can be adjusted lower, it can also be adjusted higher. By increasing the data, perhaps it could stimulate your neural responses, helping you regain your original state. However, raising the realism requires passing a rigorous system test in advance. Of course, this is just a small suggestion; ultimately, it’s up to you.”
How did he respond back then?
“As long as I can return to the competition, these are all minor issues. I appreciate your advice very much and thank you for your help over the years.”
Chu Qianze was thrown into the air, watching helplessly as the group of soldiers raised their weapons, all attacking Zong Xinjue in unison.
[Restrained state, unable to move]
The words appeared on the game panel.
An arrow pierced directly into the back of Zong Xinjue’s shoulder, followed by a second, a third…
His brain sent frantic signals, commanding his body to move.
[Restrained state, unable to move!]
Veins bulging on his forehead, Chu Qianze focused all his energy on his hands. He needed to get his hands moving first.
[Restrained state, unable to move!!]
……
[Restrained——]
Popup windows kept appearing on the panel, one after another, relentlessly flooding Chu Qianze’s vision.
Roll!!
Chu Qianze gritted his teeth, a low growl emanating from his throat, desperately fighting against the sensation of being bound.
The character belonged to the game; it had to abide by the rules here. But since he the one controlling it, he’ll do as he say.
Finally, his fingers moved. The index finger, the middle finger… the whole hand started moving, and then his entire body felt lighter.
At this moment, he landed on the other side of the canal, rolling on the ground before finally being caught by the massive shield.
[Restrained state lifted]
Chu Qianze quickly sat up, took out a ring from his backpack, and put it on, activating damage transfer.
[The other party is currently using a skill; please do not repeat use.]
Seeing the scene, a momentary shock ran through Chu Qianze.
Raising his eyes to the other side of the canal, Zong Xinjue was held aloft by numerous spears. As if sensing something, he tilted his head slightly and looked towards Chu Qianze.
The two gazed at each other from a distance.
Zong Xinjue’s eyes softened, and he pulled out a smile.
Crossbow bolts were released.
His health went from 1 to 0. Suspended in midair, Zong Xinjue’s pupils dilated, and then he slowly lowered his head.
That does sting a bit.
The cavalry, having lost interest upon seeing Zong Xinjue’s death, withdrew their scattered attacks and regrouped, facing towards the canal. Weapons in hand, they started running in Chu Qianze’s direction.
Their target was Chu Qianze.
“Ha—”
A breathy sound echoed as Chu Qianze picked up the nearby massive shield, using its weight to help him stand.
Emotions surged like magma beneath the surface, hot and wild. They roiled and surged, desperately seeking an outlet.
This little brat…
He chuckled softly, placing a hand on his forehead and pushing the disheveled hair back. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the cavalry on the other side of the canal.
The commander walked out and panicked upon seeing Chu Qianze standing on the other side of the canal.
“What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and catch him! Damn it, are you all a bunch of amateurs? So many people and you can’t catch one! Move faster! If you don’t catch him, when the blame comes down from the higher-ups, who can bear the consequences?!”
He raised his hand, and the fingertips moved slightly. Data arranged itself in the air, metal shimmering faintly.
[Exceeded the game threshold——]
“Annoying.”
His fist smashed into the panel, cracking the screen, and the text on it stopped changing.
A green mist spread around Chu Qianze. When the grass under his feet touched it, it instantly turned yellow, withered, then blackened, and finally turned into ashes.
[Exceeded the threshold——]
The panel flickered a few times, displaying a few frames of black and white flashes, as if malfunctioning. Slowly, a line of text appeared.
[Switching profession, Poison Master]
The mist dispersed, spreading to the canal. The clear water instantly turned dark, and fish floated to the surface, eyes turned white, revealing their bellies.
The first person to charge through the mist clutched his throat tightly upon contact, unable to breathe. He desperately grasped his neck, and his weapon fell from his hands. His mount couldn’t endure it either, stumbling to the ground, and the cavalryman followed suit. However, he lacked the strength to struggle, convulsing and lying on the ground.
The second, the third…
As the green mist spread, everyone enveloped within it exhibited the same condition.
Sharp knives fell from the sky, piercing directly into their throats, completely extinguishing them.
“Fall back, fall back! It’s poison mist! Why is this happening?” The commander desperately shouted from the city wall.
Fear crawled out from the crevices of his bones, and memories returned to his mind. He had thought he had forgotten, but now, seeing the poison mist, all those images overwhelmed him, each frame crystal clear.
How could this be? Wasn’t this person a mechanic? How could… that man, he has returned?
Assembling the machinery into a sprayer, he sprayed the poison mist onto the battlefield. The cavalry affected by it showed signs of poisoning, with all attributes weakened by 78%. They entered a stalemate state, unable to move, and their health rapidly declined. In this moment, other machines would come to finish them off, extending the duration of their stalemate state from temporary to permanent.
The mechanical wings unfolded, lifting Chu Qianze into the air.
Looking at the light cavalry on the opposite side, he chuckled softly. Then, his gaze fell on the commander on the city wall.
Danger!
The commander’s pupils contracted sharply. Before he could react, a voice came from the side.
“Where is your sacrifice?”
The commander raised his head and met a pair of dark eyes. The other party showed no clear expression, but it sent shivers down his spine.
In the Supreme Era Corporation, at the Game Mind Center.
Above the main brain, a red light flickered.
[Warning—] Alert, an unknown error has occurred!
The voice hadn’t fully resonated when it abruptly silenced. The red light, which was about to illuminate, returned to the symbol of normal safety, turning green.
Everything returned to calm, as if nothing had ever happened.
The staff came for inspection. The machines operated as usual with no issues. After confirming everything was in order, she closed the door and moved on to the next location.
In the empty room, another mechanical voice echoed.
[Little one, you haven’t even learned to crawl, and you already want to learn to run?]
[Your methods, this one finds them too disdainful. They are just too low.]
[Shut up, my host is super angry now. If you still want to retain consciousness, honestly suppress this matter. Don’t reveal anything. Be quiet and obedient, okay? (Laughs)]
Support me on ko-fi ʚ(´꒳`)ɞ
![The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image_2021-09-11_143139.png "The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao")
![Cannon Fodder Scum Gong’s Whitewashing Manual [Quick Transmigration]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CFSGWM.jpg "Cannon Fodder Scum Gong’s Whitewashing Manual [Quick Transmigration]")
