Serial Player
Chapter 278: Humming a Tune, Entering Military Arts (Three-in-One Big - )_2

Chapter 278: Humming a Tune, Entering Military Arts (Three-in-One Big Chapter)_2

The creature was unrecognizable: its limbs indistinguishable, no hair on its head, and only a pulsating mass of flesh left which could barely pass for a head. It vaguely had an eye and a row of irregular teeth embedded in its lumpy flesh.

Amongst those teeth, a golden one shimmered in the torchlight.

Suppressing her fear, the girl drew closer to this grotesque creature, her short sword in her hand. Her voice shaking, she asked, "Gold Tooth, is that you?"

"&...￥%￥" The tumors quivered slightly upon hearing her voice. With great effort, it uttered a word, "Run!"

It was Gold Tooth!

How did he turn into something like this?

Fear made the girl turn as pale as a sheet. She tried to reach out for Gold Tooth’s arm, wanting to pull him up.

But the task was too daunting for a girl with injured arms.

"Ah, you’re awake? Human girl, I’ve been waiting for you." Within the room, an authoritative yet mirthful voice echoed.

The room started to brighten gradually. Oillamps on the walls flared like pillars of flame.

Slowly turning her head, the girl saw countless lumps of flesh molded into human forms scattered around her.

They must be the human [Players] who entered the Magic Tower.

Including Gold Tooth, there were nine in total, and she was the last challenger.

Then, in the deepest part of the room, she saw that colossal shadow.

An enormous, humanoid black lion sat on a stone throne, watching the girl.

"Such an interesting soul, so very greedy."

The black lion erupted into a deafeningly loud laugh, "This is humanity. Greed. Selfishness. Wanting to hold everything in their hands."

"Some yearn for their fallen comrades. And I take from them their friendships."

"Some yearn for their family back home. And I take from them their love and affection."

"Some yearn for their homeland. And I take from them their loyalty."

"And you, you are the greediest of all. Worthy of my collection!"

"Let’s gamble! Human girl, if you win, you will receive my strength. But if I win, you will surrender your precious greed and live aimlessly upon this earth."

The black lion roared with laughter. Its dark mane shook with every chuckle. Its tsunami-like aura made the girl’s legs feel weak.

A black lion... is this the Demon God Ba’al? The original owner of the [Special Ability]?

A thought ran across Li Changhe’s mind.

How did he transform into that demonic armor? Or is that just a shameless lion?

"Don’t be afraid, lass. Isn’t this like the lions in the circus?" Li Changhe muttered to himself, offering words of encouragement.

Ironically, Li Changhe had never been to a circus...

It was all futile anyway; the girl was still petrified.

Her only goal was to return home.

All she had to do was regroup with her team and wait for the other [Players] to either succeed or fail, and the [Task] would be completed.

She didn’t crave power, nor was she after the benefits of any organization.

She truly yearned to return home as the world of the [Players] was too dangerous for her.

Unfortunately, she was first besieged in [Black Palace], then got held captive in the Magic Tower.

In the end, her fate brought her before the Demon God Ba’al.

No wonder, they said she was the child of fate. It was indeed predestined...

Li Changhe let his mind wander aimlessly as the malicious thoughts in his head began to stir. He tried to keep them under control.

Perhaps the girl hadn’t encountered any danger yet which is why the malicious voice stayed quiet, not causing Li Changhe to hallucinate.

At the same time, through his mental perspective, he understood the bet proposed by the lion.

The ceiling began to light up, and one by one, stone statues emerged and slowly descended.

Grids appeared on the floor, instantly forming a chessboard.

Is this... standard chess? Is this the lions’ game? Doesn’t he worry that a chess master will easily defeat him?

Seeing this, Li Changhe felt relieved. Yanyun wasn’t known as the talented woman for nothing.

If the lion had brought out a pair of dice, the situation would’ve been quite difficult.

Bain leaned forward, his fangs bared, "Well then... let’s begin! We’ll do it according to your human norms."

Perhaps to establish better communication, his body gradually shrank, transforming into human form that eventually looked like Xiao Nan in his Demon Armor.

Striding over casually, his aura stronger than ever, Bain—now in the Queen’s State—flaunted a mocking smile. "Do you see? This is what you’ll have upon defeating me: immense power. But if you lose, you’ll end up like them, becoming a slave to the Magic Tower. Although... the good news is that you’ll live for a very, very long time. Longer than any humanly conceivable time."

Gazing at Bain who was ridiculing and provoking them while wearing Xiao Nan’s face, Li Changhe felt odd. Yeah, this guy needs some... discipline.

"This can’t be normal chess. There must be a deeper connection," the girl thought to herself. She wasn’t interested in power; she simply wanted to survive.

Since the challenge was chess, there was still hope for her to win.

Li Changhe nodded silently. He didn’t know how to play chess.

But from the state of Gold Tooth and the others, it was clear that they weren’t dealing with anything ordinary.

Are there rules? Would losing turn them into something like that?

From what Yang Dong had said earlier, it was clear that [Great Wall] didn’t have any tactics to defeat the Demon God. All they knew was that each of their trials was unique. They initially planned to gather strategies based on the text outside the Magic Tower.

Did Xiao Nan just get lucky, encountering a Demon God who doesn’t use physical force? That was fortunate amongst the unfortunate.

"Pawn D4," Bain called out, looking at the giant chessboard.