Among the 300,000 players in Mystic Tower, about 50,000 are purely casual players.
They may not dare or be unwilling to fight monsters and only do some safe tasks to make money. Whether they can be upgraded or not is entirely up to chance.
They hate the busyness of reality and enjoy life in a different world. Even if they live in a mysterious tower all their lives, they are willing to do so.
67-year-old Soshichi Hosoda is one of the casual players. In reality, he has no children, lives in the city and has few friends. If he wants to travel, he has to consider money. Therefore, when SAO was released, he was one of the few elderly people who was interested in virtual reality games.
Entered the Mysterious Tower by chance. He was also flustered and confused, but later he realized that this was really the best thing.
You can make a living by fishing in the river in the second-level safety zone every day. Occasionally, you can catch a big fish and have a chance to improve your food.
There were no disputes. I made a few friends and played chess, cards, and fishing together. My health also got better because of the pure natural environment and the change in my mentality.
Recently, he has a chance to find a wife.
The other party's name is Mijin Zhuhui. She is three years younger than him. In reality, she has a son and a daughter, but she is not well received by her daughter-in-law. Seeing his son caught in a dilemma, he finally made a cruel move and put on the helmet left by his son when he died in the mysterious tower, so as not to cause any trouble to them.
I was depressed when I first entered the game, but now I am finally becoming more cheerful.
Hearing the sound of footsteps behind him, Mr. Hosoda turned back with a smile: "Juhui, look..."
The fishing rod suddenly fell from his hand. Mr. Hosoda was stunned for a moment. He fell from the stool and crawled backwards in a hurry, with a look of horror on his face.
“Zhu, Zhuhui?!”
I saw the old lady stumbling over step by step, her eyes wide open, with a ferocious expression that was not human, her lips rolled up, and her whole face was filled with a gray color.
Like a zombie in a movie.
Pounced forward fiercely!
"Ah - help!" After a scream, Hosoda Soshichi left the river with the old lady in exactly the same state.
…
Level 45, Army Town.
“What’s going on, summoning the strategy team again?”
“Have you found the boss on the 55th floor?”
"Are you kidding? We haven't even explored the 52nd floor yet. Besides, the boss on the 55th floor is probably one level stronger than Toguro Ludi. Maybe we have to pass the Dark Martial Arts Club to be able to conquer it."
“Is that a treasure or danger discovered?”
“Where’s that guy Yu Gu? Everyone is here, but he, the convener, is not here?!”
Two months later, the players in the strategy group who gathered again on the 45th floor asked each other, but none of them knew the reason why Yu Gu summoned the strategy group this time.
No, not only the strategy team, but also the presidents of some small guilds were summoned, naturally including intelligence chiefs like Argo.
‘Is it discussing something related to the mysterious team? Distribution of two reading ability books? ’ Argo thought to himself: ‘Although the book can be viewed by 10 people, if someone tells it to others after reading it, it will indeed cause some bugs. This is what that guy like Yu Gu would do.
But doing this is very offensive. The knowledge is really worth that price, even more than that... Do you want to take the lead in stopping it? No, that's not right, Argo of the Rat, intelligence dealers value neutrality, you can't have your **** tilted because of that guy Ji Xing. ’
Just as she was thinking about this, Argo saw two people walking into the door. The conference room was silent for a moment, and she knew that her guess was wrong.
One of the two is naturally Yougu.
The other man has an ordinary appearance, short hair, wearing a shirt, trousers, tie, and a white coat, which is incompatible with the players' attire.
But he is famous, it is Kayaba Akihiko who created the SAO game!
Since the occurrence of supernatural phenomena, SAO has become the transmitter of this mysterious tower. Kayaba Akihiko has also become one of the initial players here, but he rarely shows up. He is only obsessed with exploring the world and conducting his own research. The only thing he does is The most important thing is to serve as the president of the Mysterious Research Society.
Why is he here?
"Everyone." Kayaba Akihiko walked to the center of the conference room and said to all the players in the strategy team: "Not long ago, a disaster occurred that may have caused heavy casualties to the players and completely failed the strategy for the Mysterious Tower. The situation is urgent and must be dealt with as soon as possible. .”
“Heavy casualties?”
“Disaster?!”
The players were startled, and Kayaba Akihiko nodded and confirmed: "Please contact your trusted friends and subordinates directly. We are not sure how many manpower will be needed at the moment, but the more the better, the faster the processing, and the lower the losses caused by the disaster may be. "
What the **** happened?
The players were noisy, and all kinds of questions were mixed together, until they were suppressed by Eugene's loud voice: "Do it first! Then you will know?"
The players looked at each other and gradually took out the communication crystals one by one. Argo looked at You Gu with a gloomy expression and secretly thought that this guy looked like this. It must be a big deal.
After hesitating for a moment, she not only contacted the two deputies in the guild, but also contacted Ji Xing.
“This is a strategy group meeting, don’t ask anything for now, someone will explain it later.”
…
In the two-story building he just bought on the 49th floor, Ji Xing put the crystal next to the bed without knowing the situation.
The voices on the other side were a little noisy. They were all asking about the situation. It sounded like there were a lot of people. It took five minutes before it gradually became quiet.
Then a gentle boy said: "Good afternoon everyone, I am Kayaba Akihiko. I am sorry to tell you the news. At this time yesterday, a disappearance and theft occurred in the Institute of Immortality on the 46th floor.
The missing person is military correspondent Doi Wanzi, and what was stolen was the ‘immortal disease seed’ extracted from immortal patients by Professor Tsuihito.
Our investigation revealed that this was a premeditated theft, and Doi Wanzi was probably instigated by an unknown player. And the other party's purpose may be very dangerous. "
Kayaba Akihiko, immortal disease... Ji Xing raised his eyebrows slightly, and his expression became more serious.
The Immortal Disease is one of the five major disasters discovered in the Hunter World's explored part of the Dark Continent. It is more harmful than the chimera ants. It is a 'disease' that can exterminate mankind if not controlled.
There was another commotion on the opposite side, but this time it calmed down quickly. Kayaba Akihiko must have made a 'field control' action such as pressing his hands, and the voice continued to come out: "All the players in the strategy team should be familiar with the immortal disease. understood.
It is a dangerous virus from the 46th level. The infected person is confused and loses himself, like a walking zombie, fearless of life and death, just like the zombies in some movies, but it is more contagious than that. Even if they are not caught or bitten, There is also a chance of spreading through the air and becoming one of the immortal patients.
Because of this virus, we lost dozens of top-ranked players when exploring the 46th floor, and lost more than two hundred military players during the subsequent blockade. Since then, that area has been blocked continuously. If It's not for the Resurrection Grass, which will be listed as a 'forbidden area' for players. "
After pausing for a few seconds to let everyone digest, Kayaba Akihiko continued: "Based on this period of research, we have understood some characteristics of the immortal disease. It is a special virus, or a special kind of virus." biology'.
We all know that a single human being is a whole, and the organs, limbs, and brain all serve the same individual. However, after being infected with the immortal disease, the whole is broken into countless individuals.
Each organ and even each cell has become an independent life, able to eat itself and regenerate, achieving self-circulation. In a sense... immortality! "
Is it really possible to avoid death?
The players held their breath slightly, but the immortal who became a walking zombie might as well die, right? etc?
"Yes, I think everyone should understand the key. In the Tower of Mystery, players will return to reality after death, but being infected with the undead disease does not count. If they are not completely killed by others, the undead patients will return to reality in that way. Stay in the mysterious tower forever. If you stay in a hazy state for a long time, even if you return to reality, you may become delirious or even become a vegetative state."
Kayaba Akihiko said in a deep voice: "The immortality disease is a way to completely kill the player!"
At this moment, everyone knew the seriousness of the problem. It was highly contagious and could completely kill players. No matter what, it was extremely dangerous!
“How can that immortal disease be...”
“It was extracted to artificially cultivate Resurrection Grass.” Kayaba Akihiko said: “Professor Tsurihito was a little careless, I’m sorry.”
The players looked at each other, their expressions changing slightly.
“Are they those **** from Smiling Coffin? I will definitely send them all out of the game this time!”
Smiling Coffin is an evil guild that is keen on PK among players. The members are unknown and have committed many vicious incidents against players.
"It's not like what they do." Yougu said at this time: "I think it's more like the dance of fairies."
You feel? Are those guys from Fairy Dance so bold?
Fairy Dance is another evil guild, but it is much less hateful than Smiling Coffin, and it has basically not done any evil things.
Some crazy people even abandon their human identity and believe that they are "elves in the new world", which is the source of the fairy dance. They are hidden among casual players, and their levels are generally not very high, making it even harder to find them out.
Just as the players were concentrating on thinking and discussing quietly, there was a knock on the door of the conference room.
Everyone's attention was focused on it. Yougu walked to open the door himself. Outside the door was a soldier, holding something in both hands and saying: "General Yougu, someone just threw this development crystal from a distance."
You Gu’s expression changed: “Have you seen who it is?!”
"No, the other party was hiding behind a building. When we looked for it, he had disappeared. We are investigating whether there are any witnesses."
“Find the other party!” You Gu was silent, emphasized, took the crystal and turned around.
The players all heard the conversation just now.
“Is he the mastermind?”
“What does he want to do? Develop the crystal?”
“Are you provoking us?!”
Developing crystal, also called video crystal, can record an image of up to 10 minutes and play it repeatedly.
Kayaba Akihiko looked at the crystal, his expression didn't change much, he just said: "Let's take a look together."
The crystal is placed in the center of the table and activated.
A figure was reflected from it.
It was a man wearing a large cloak to cover his figure, and using an evil ghost mask to cover his face. He spread his hands outwards, and his voice had obviously been modified, and said: "Hello everyone in the strategy group, I am the Fairy King. President of the Dance Guild, you can call me 'Fairy King'."
“…Is it really the Fairy Dance?!”
“Who is this bastard?!”
It’s just a video, so naturally it can’t answer the players’ anger and questions.
The image only paused briefly before continuing: "Are you guys discussing the incident of the theft of immortal disease seeds? Yes, I did that. I also personally instigated the rebellion of Doi Wanzi. You want to ask why it can be done and why? Do this..."
His voice suddenly became low and angry: "Because we have been shamefully deceived and betrayed!"
Looking around, his eyes were ferocious, as if scanning everyone's face, and he said angrily: "Perhaps there are many players in the strategy group who don't know about it. Those who know, how dare you tell me about the demon seal obtained by defeating the boss?" Does the thread work?!"
The thread of demon sealing?
Many people looked puzzled.
The expressions of a few people changed.
Asuna bit her lips and grabbed Kirito's hand. Argo clicked his tongue lightly, and Yu Gu's expression changed drastically, and he wanted to close the crystal.
Their performance has also been noticed by many players. At this time, it is obvious that turning off the development crystal can no longer solve the problem.
The 'Fairy King' continued to ask questions by name: "Yuki Asuna, Yuuki Koichiro, why were you brothers and sisters able to abandon their parents and stay in the mysterious tower for almost three years?
And you, Yoshiyuki Negishi, why were you so frightened and sad when your brother died in the game, and then you covered it up as forgetting about the game for a while?
You Gu, you should be aware of what the military is doing in the real world, right? Why don’t you tell everyone everything? !
In this mysterious tower, does the player's death really cost nothing? ! "
There was silence among the players.
There is a price for death?
"Oh, I don't blame you for not knowing. If I hadn't learned about it by chance, I would have been deceived for the rest of my life. Excluding that mysterious team, from the 21st to the 49th floor, the total output of the Demon Sealing Silk is only one hundred. Around the root, it will be distributed to everyone who conquers the Boss according to their contribution.
The total number of players who have the Demon-Sealing Thread is only about thirty now? forty? Only when this type of player dies will the function of the Demon Sealing Thread be revealed - Demon Sealing! "
"Those players who died once in the Mysterious Tower will be planted with a 'demon seed' when they return to reality. They don't know when it will erupt, turning them into monsters and monsters in this game. Raging in reality!”
What? !
Many players stood up in shock and looked at the ugly-faced people sitting silently on their chairs.
“Is this, is this true?”
In the past three years, who hasn’t had a dead partner? If there is such a thing, wouldn't it be impossible to return to normal life after death?
Are you under supervision at any time?
No, he will die suddenly at any time? !
"As long as all the mysterious towers are conquered, everyone will be safe..." You Gu said in a low voice.
"I think Yu Gu will comfort you now... 'As long as you conquer all the mysterious towers, everyone will be fine', right? But do you have confidence in the 100-story tower? Just you people can save the world?!"' The Elf King spoke again.
“If you can’t, instead of hoping to complete the strategy in an unknown year or month, it is better to rely on the Demon-Sealing Thread. A Demon-Sealing Thread can prevent a dead player from becoming a monster or a monster.
Oh~ Maybe you can’t count on it. After all, people are close and distant. How can the top players who can get the demon-sealing threads use them on other unrelated people? It’s only my fault that your ‘output’ is not enough and you couldn’t get it! "
His words were strange and full of irony, but no one cared about it at this time. Such news brought endless shock.
You Gu’s face was as gloomy as water.
We are not announcing the status of the Demon-Sealing Thread because we are worried that something like this will happen. We are afraid that death is not free and a time bomb will be attached to them when they return to reality. Many players may no longer be brave and have different opinions on the boss strategy. !
“So... everyone join us in the dance of the fairies, let us live happily in the mysterious tower and build our kingdom!”
The voice of the ‘Fairy King’ was full of bewitching again, and he opened his arms and said: “Forget reality, forget everything, and enjoy this new world!
Hahahaha~ Also, top players who have obtained the Demon-Sealing Thread to protect themselves without worries, let’s play a game, shall we?
Within half a month, solve the ‘disease of immortality’. If it succeeds, I will continue to appreciate your performance, but if it fails... all players will know about the Demon-Sealing Thread, hahahaha! "
–
The developed screen disappears.
There was silence among the players in the strategy group.
Informed players don’t know what to say, and uninformed players don’t know what to do.
Every one of them is very confusing.
…
It turns out that this is what the ‘Devil-Sealing Thread’ is. It turns out that players are also punished for death, but they are only punished when the strategy fails or at a certain point in time.
On the other side, Ji Xing took out his forty demon-sealing threads and lined them up on the table: "Do other players only have about a hundred in total? It seems that it was only upgraded to 10 for a boss on the 50th floor."
No wonder I can feel an untouched power of rules on the demon-sealing thread.
Is this the world trying to save itself?
The world has its own rules and consciousness. Ji Xing has known this a long time ago. The starlight consumed by the Seven Star Pearl invading the world is probably what is needed to hide the world's consciousness when invading the world, and the reward for improving the world's star level may also be his The invading world gave him thanks as an 'extraterrestrial demon'.
Combined with the fact that the Mysterious Tower is more inclined to the rules of SAO, and the effect of the Demon-Sealing Thread, Ji Xing feels like the world of Sword Art Online is being rubbed against by two big men in the Hunter World and Yu Yu Hakusho World, while working hard to do something. Self-rescue means...and the rescue is very reluctant.
They have made a bunch of invasion markers, and it only takes a piece of demon-sealing thread to save one person. It is a drop in the bucket, and you are so weak and pitiful.
Perhaps too much effort was put into creating this mysterious tower that is more conducive to the growth of sword players? Or is it something else I don't know?
No matter how you look at it, with the fusion of the three realms, the world of Sword Art Online is the most likely to be destroyed.
“Is this my pot?”
"Although, a self-protection method of world consciousness is very good, and it may be a complement to my body... If I can use the world's rising star to give back, it shouldn't be too much."
Ji Xing thought for a while, then with a swipe of his hand, he took back the Demon-Sealing Thread back to the toolbar.
5k2, single update for normal delivery.