Absolute Death Game

"Cannibal Huang Jie, the Rioting Prisoner Leader," groaned, "Ahh, fresh meat has arrived again!" As he spoke, he thumped down from the table and shakily made his way toward the group.

This Cannibal Huang Jie was a high-ranking elite with a deep blue name. However, compared to those previously encountered that seemed lethargic, this guy appeared much fiercer—probably a BOSS-level monster.

Upon casting Mind Revelation, Xiao Buli discovered the BOSS had more than 3000 health points—an exceptionally high amount for the leader of a white-difficulty five-person dungeon.

Given past experiences, this might have been somewhat challenging, but now everyone had improved in strength, and the BOSS didn't seem daunting anymore.

Wanting to test everyone's abilities, Xiao Buli stated, "Seems like we've got a slow BOSS here. I won't heal, so just be careful not to get hit. Let's all attack and finish this quickly!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than everyone eagerly commenced their assault. Wu Tao chose to go toe-to-toe, activating his Qi-Protecting Aura along with the defense boost from his Iron Cloth Shirt. The BOSS's hits did little to hurt him. Moreover, he could even heal himself with Qi Healing Skills, his health bar barely decreasing after several exchanges.

Wu Tao's attacks were still punches and kicks, which now packed a considerable punch imbued with Internal Energy, raining thudding blows onto the BOSS's fatty flesh.

Bai Yunfei, standing at a distance, hurled one Ghost Fire Skill after another toward the BOSS. Each attack caused twenty to thirty points of Yin Fire double attribute damage. Not only that, the green flames seemed to possess a penetrating power that drilled into bones, followed by continuous damage; though minor, its stacking effect amounted to significant harm.

Liu Xing ferociously slashed at the side of the BOSS. Despite the BOSS's high health, its defense was practically non-existent. Under his onslaught, blood sprayed wildly, the health dropping by tens and hundreds.

Yaoyao ran to the BOSS's back, relying on her speed advantage to continuously deliver Backstabs. Her Enhanced Backstab inflicted damage worth four times a regular attack. Coupled with a silver-grade dagger, her damage wasn't as terrifying as Wu Min'er's, but it was still considerable, each Backstab resulting in two or three hundred points of damage.

Seeing this, Xiao Buli nodded to himself, noting everyone's steady improvement. He too didn't want to be left behind and buffed himself with Fire Blade Skills. Turning on Internal Energy Infusion and Gale Sword Skills, he slashed furiously at the BOSS bloated with fat.

Although his base damage was low, the double effect of Internal Energy and the Spell on his weapon ensured his damage was far from weak.

In less than a minute, Cannibal Huang Jie crumpled under the group's relentless beating.

The BOSS fight was so effortless that the group didn't even feel like cheering afterward.0

"This BOSS might look fierce, but it's honestly nothing special. Didn't even Transform," Wu Tao said, giving the BOSS's corpse a couple of kicks.

Xiao Buli responded, "A white-difficulty dungeon's first BOSS—how tough can it be? Let's loot and move on to the next." He then opened the corpse. True to expectations, the drop rate in this dungeon was dismal. Even though it was a BOSS, it dropped only two items, one of which was just a key used for unlocking doors.

Strictly speaking, there was only one true piece of loot—a light blue quality necklace.

Jailor Bone Tooth Necklace: Luck -1, Strength +4.

Equipment Description: A necklace strung with human teeth, it has been tempered with Dark Magic and seems to contain a strange power.

Xiao Buli immediately dismissed it upon seeing it reduced Luck, casually asking, "Who wants this thing?"

The boost of four points in Strength was still powerful, and the slight decrease in Luck didn't seem detrimental, but Wu Tao was the only one with a need for Strength.

"Give it to me," Wu Tao said. "My Luck is high enough, losing a point won't matter."

This time, Xiao Buli did not object; after all, the Attributes were plainly listed, and it couldn't possibly be that they'd run into another growth item so soon.

After distributing the loot, the party arrived at the entrance to the dungeon. With the key inserted, the iron gate of the dungeon slowly opened.

Suddenly, a chill wind gusted out from the dungeon, causing several torches mounted on the surrounding walls to flicker and dim, creating a haunting atmosphere.

"Damn, something feels off here. It's like we're in a horror movie. Hey, does anyone else hear that creepy background music?" Wu Tao asked, startled.

Bai Yunfei's expression turned serious, "That's not background music. It's coming from inside the dungeon."

Everyone perked up their ears to listen, and indeed, the music faintly emanated from within, reminiscent of a funeral dirge, chilling to the core.

"It's too, too terrifying, I quit!" An NPC named Zheng Zha suddenly got scared, threw away his weapon, and turned to run, but another NPC named Liu Zhonglin suddenly blocked his way.

Zheng Zha: "What, what are you doing, Liu Zhonglin?"

The NPC named Liu Zhonglin said with a devout face, "We once swore an oath to protect this city with our lives, for the glory of the legion, pick up your weapon, soldier."

Zheng Zha: "Are you kidding me? Two months ago I was just a farmer, and I had to come to the city to make a living because my village was destroyed by monsters. I'm not about to lose my life for empty glory. Step aside, I'm quitting the legion!"

But Liu Zhonglin did not step aside and said with measured emphasis, "Do you still remember the oath of the Golden Dragon Legion? You either return with glory or as a corpse to wash away the shame. Since you've abandoned glory, you'll get your wish." As he finished speaking, he thrust his sword into Zheng Zha's chest, and with a squelch, the full health points were instantly emptied.

Zheng Zha: "No... why... I don't want to die... Ah!!!" He struggled for a while but eventually breathed his last.

Liu Zhonglin wiped the blood from his sword, glanced at the few people beside him who were shocked, and calmly said, "Now let's complete the remaining tasks."

This sudden incident truly shocked everyone present. They didn't expect NPCs to have such personality. Previously, these two NPC soldiers hadn't shown much fighting power and were basically just shouting from outside the ring. It was at this moment that Xiao Buli realized that the NPCs in the game were far more than mere bystanders.

He didn't rush down but asked Liu Zhonglin, "What do you know about the dungeon in the prison?"
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Liu Zhonglin replied indifferently, "Not much, but I do know that the prisoners confined in the dungeon are all the most dangerous criminals, not a single one must be allowed to escape."

Xiao Buli thought to himself he didn't need to be told that, but although the atmosphere was creepy and scary, Xiao Buli wasn't too frightened. The difficulty of a boss in a dungeon was related to the color of the dungeon, and no matter how intimidating, it shouldn't be that a white dungeon has a dark tier boss.

Moreover, he had seen plenty of ghosts and goblins in the game; he wouldn't be scared off by a bit of music.

"Stop overthinking, everyone head down. Old Bai, have your 'baby' scout ahead."

The 'baby' referred to as the Blood Corpse looked nothing like a baby. Receiving orders from Bai Yunfei, it staggered into the dungeon, followed by the rest of the group. As they went deeper, the sound of music became increasingly clearer.

Firstly, they discovered many cells on both sides of the corridor, but all the doors to these cells were open, and they were empty.

Only in one cell was a half-dead man confined, named Gao Bainame (A Blackhearted Trader). Seeing people walk by, he immediately rushed to the door. "Save me, get me out, the guards—they've gone mad!"

Gao Bainame looked thin and shriveled, with a head of messy grey-white hair, but his eyes were alarmingly bright, giving him the appearance of a lunatic rather than a prisoner. And hadn't all the prison guards been dealt with?

The group thought to themselves and, without giving it too much thought, continued to venture deeper.

As they went further in, they found a large bonfire burning in the middle of an open area deep inside the dungeon. The bonfire was surrounded by bizarre runes drawn in blood, and dozens of bodies clothed in prison uniforms were arranged in a circle around the flames, resembling a grand ritual of some evil cult.

A few individuals dressed in jailor's attire were praying and bowing towards the bonfire. One character, who was wearing a robe soaked in blood and gesturing wildly, chanted the prayer with a melodic intonation. This NPC had only a light blue name, but the name was somewhat surprising.

Evil Cult Priest (Prison Warden), and those praying individuals were called Evil Cult Follower (Prison Guard)

"What is going on here?" The sight left the group bewildered, it seemed like there was a role reversal going on, wasn't it a prisoner riot? Could there be something else at play here?

Evil Cult Priest (Prison Warden): "You are too late, the ritual is complete! Behold, the great Ancient God!"

The flames suddenly erupted like a volcano and from within slowly ascended a translucent shadow figure that somewhat resembled the Abyssal Flame Demon Lord seen only in pictures. Yet the aura and the majestic appearance were a hundred times more imposing.

The massive phantom looked as imposing as a small mountain; just its head filled the entirety of the dungeon's second floor, and it was even a dark gold-named creature—Zhurong (Ancient God).

"Damn, is this for real? A white dungeon encounter with a dark gold BOSS? That's outrageous!" The group of five stared at the BOSS's name and form and were utterly dumbfounded.

PS: There's another chapter coming soon. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)