There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game

Xu Shuo, though sometimes reckless, had a clear understanding of his own capabilities.

He very well knew he couldn't beat the mutated Changying, nor the dancer in the red dress, not even the Capital Commandant who could rival a tank in strength, and definitely not the Little Ghost on the train!

He should be able to fight on par with Qing, though.

Therefore, instead of personally challenging these adversaries, Xu Shuo preferred to have others solve them for him.

Now, looking at the mission on the task list that read "Slay High Rank Abyss Creatures 0/10" and then at the blood-eyed monsters currently smashing the city walls, Xu Shuo fell into contemplation.

Fortunately, Wei Li quickly explained, "The High Rank creatures in this world are like vines. They possess a certain level of intelligence, and most of the time, they're the ones commanding the monsters to attack at night. They are also considered the highest-level creatures in this world."

As for the creatures presently smashing the city walls, Wei Li was seeing them for the first time in two days.

These beings had already grown over ten meters tall, with such high attack and defensive power that if they had jumping abilities, they might leap over the city walls and slaughter a bunch of players in one go!

Although these creatures still lacked the ability to climb over the city walls, the faint motions occasionally transmitted from the walls still filled the players with worry and fear.

Some players, overwhelmed by the situation, chose to turn around and head back to the city.

They had always heard that Punishment Tasks were very dangerous, but never imagined they could be this perilous!

Running away wasn't fitting of a warrior, but these players were not systematically trained soldiers to begin with; they were merely gathered to fill numbers and take on Punishment Tasks.

Like Xu Shuo.

Watching those players abandoning the walls, Xu Shuo curiously asked, "What happens if we don't complete the Punishment Task?"

Wei Li, hearing his question, looked at him warily and said, "You'll stay here until the task is complete. In addition to the mandatory mission of defending the fortress for three days, we also receive objectives to slay varying numbers and degrees of monsters."

To complete the slaughtering missions, one inevitably had to fight.

Xu Shuo, thoughtful, nodded, "And what's your mission?"
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"Slay a thousand Low Rank Abyss Creatures," Wei Li answered without deceit. "Just staying in the fortress for three days won't get it done because everyone is competing for the kills, so we choose to leave the fortress and grind in the desert during the day."

"Now it could be done in an hour," said Lin En from across, a sardonic smile on his lips at their conversation.

"Those who give up resisting are fools. If the city walls truly fall, the defense of Giant Fortress will collapse sooner or later, and those left here will not escape a miserable death," Solunya stated coldly.

Their fate was tied to Giant Fortress's survival or demise!

To flee now was merely to grasp at a fleeting chance at life, leaving gaps in the city wall's defenses and placing their own safety in even greater peril!

Sometimes, there was no choice but to fight with all you've got!

Boom!

The city wall suddenly trembled lightly once more.

The glow of the barrier's surface circulated, faintly brighter than before, as if struggling valiantly against the battering of the Abyss Creatures.

A flare shot up into the sky from North Tower No. 5.

The strength of the monsters by the North City Gate was far more formidable than elsewhere; the forces here were too strained to defend on their own, made worse by the number of players scared off, leaving them no choice but to seek support from other gates.

Another monster with sharp hook claws fell onto the Watchtower, and as Xu Shuo dodged its wing assaults, he swung his staff and exploded its head!

Whoosh—

Dozens of dark flying creatures hovered in the air, almost completely shrouding the airspace above North Tower No. 1 in black.

Solunya and Wei Li had initially been shooting from the edge of the tower platform, but as too many monsters swooped in, they had to retreat to the center of the Watchtower. Lin En fought with his fists, blasting those creatures trying to squeeze into the Watchtower back at the periphery!

Down at the city wall, countless more creatures were climbing up, shaking off pursuing players and continuing up the stairs towards the Watchtower.

The dense gunfire mixed with the monsters' shrieks, Wei Li pouring sweat as he continuously fired at the creatures surrounding the Watchtower, never resting his eyes or the finger pulling the trigger.

"Isn't this too much?!"

"What's going on with those below, why are other creatures also climbing up here?"

Logically, the creatures that made it over the city walls wouldn't continue to climb the Watchtower since their target was the Tall Tower at the city's center!

The power emanating from the tall tower naturally drew them to destroy it!

But now, the monsters that had overrun the North City Gate were partly surging towards the tower within the city, while a continuous stream was mounting an assault on North Tower No.1!

From a distance, the densely packed dark monsters coiled around the tower's staircase, with hundreds of ferocious, tusked birds circling in the sky, the color black nearly submerging the entire watchtower!

Inside the watchtower, the living space for four people was getting increasingly cramped.

Solunya had no more strength to spend; he was pale and had fashioned his bow into dual blades, which he now held in his hands.

All three were injured to varying degrees, with Lin En having even been maimed in one arm during the onslaught.

If this continued, they would all be doomed sooner or later!

Xu Shuo looked around, his fingertips brushing over his staff before putting it away.

"Forget it, I'll go down," he said indifferently.

"Huh?" Wei Li was taken aback.

"Bro, even if you wanted to escape now, you can't," Lin En said, shaking his head helplessly.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he saw Xu Shuo step into his shadow and instantly merge with it, disappearing right in front of them.

Lin En choked up...

Although the other party had demonstrated this ability, he had not seen it being used in the battle just now, so he had forgotten about it.

But now...

That guy had actually abandoned them and run away!!

The remaining three in the watchtower were silent.

However, the very next moment, they saw the monsters that were tightly besieging the watchtower and repeatedly attacking and biting, begin to disperse!

After Wei Li and Solunya repelled the latest wave of monsters, no new creatures continued to assault them from outside, and even the monsters climbing up the stairs were dropping down by themselves, significantly reducing their pressure.

Lin En, clutching his severely injured arm, watched the scene in stunned silence.

Solunya's gaze flickered, his tone certain: "These monsters were attracted here by him."

As for the sea beneath the city walls... that remained unknown.

…

Xu Shuo's figure appeared in a corner by the North City Gate.

'Dark Stealth' ability, after an upgrade, could travel to any dark place, not just within a person's shadow.

The reason he left was that staying in that tower was futile; those people wouldn't be able to hold out for long, and a narrow space always limited their capabilities.

The dark wave had only charged halfway; the fighting on the city walls was intense, and even more intense inside the city!

Beyond that, even more powerful monsters awaited!

The players deployed in this world could not resist at all; as time passed, the fall of this fortress was probably just a matter of time.

After all, just the bombardment from a few Blood-eyed Monsters had already started to shake the city walls, and they had to face an endless onslaught of monsters constantly; the mere sea of creatures would likely overwhelm these players!

How much longer could they hold on?

Xu Shuo calmly opened the Player's Handbook.

Just as he was about to use the 'Qiuzi Character Card,' a refreshing fragrance suddenly wafted over from nearby, carrying a familiar scent.

Thus, a sense of shame halted his intent to click 'use'!

Hong Rao asked with a smile brimming with amusement, "Are you not fighting anymore?"

Xu Shuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at her when suddenly an idea struck him: "Do you know how to fly a kite?"

…