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Chapter 374 - 371: "War God Dragon King Number One Player’s Strong Return

Chapter 374: Chapter 371: "War God Dragon King Number One Player’s Strong Return

...

[You are the great Demon King guarding the castle; engage in a battle to the death with the Brave who will come to challenge you!]

[As the Demon King playing the game of Mortal World, you control the armies of both sides of the world, and you must incite war among them, causing death to gather Sin Value.]

...

"Swoosh."

Su Ming’an opened his eyes.

In front of him, flickering red flames danced within the fireplace, casting a warm glow throughout the room.

The snow and wind slipped in through the lifted curtain at the door, and the blonde youth unfastened his coat and slowly entered.

"You’ve arrived?" Su Ming’an turned around.

The words Noel was about to say were forcefully swallowed back.

"I’ve arrived," he could only say.

"Then let’s plan our next moves," Su Ming’an rolled up the map in his hands.

Wrapped in their thick clothes, Lv Shu and Lin Yin burst in and joined the action plan.

"According to the principle of equivalence, we might encounter some dangers outside the situation, such as deities. Or Sea Monsters," Su Ming’an said.

Lin Yin was puzzled.

"Why does the principle of equivalence exist?" she wondered. "Why does one side become stronger when the other does? That’s completely unrealistic."

...

[He stepped onto this crimson earth and saw a small sand table floating in front of the church’s entrance.]

[Atop the sand table, two armies faced each other, one clad in red armor, the other in blue, both standing still upon the plain as if the battle was paused.]

[——His mission was to manage the war between the two sides to a level where they’re relatively equal so that he could successfully expand "Demon King City" and capture "Resource Points" to resist the Brave.]

...

Su Ming’an responded to Lin Yin with a smile.

"Perhaps it’s the hand of God orchestrating it," he said.

"God? Why would He care about such things?" Lin Yin asked, puzzled.

"...If a deity’s power source," Su Ming’an looked at her, "—were derived from people’s hatred and strife?"

Lin Yin was slightly confused.

But when the rules of the Maritime Banquet were distributed at twelve midnight, they immediately commenced their operation.

At five past midnight, the team quickly left the cabin, "coincidentally" avoiding the attacking party, including Luna, rendering the enemy’s plan for a fire attack futile.

At ten past midnight, Lin Yin, as an Occupier, was the first to reach Second Zone’s common stronghold, and under Sevya’s protection, she began capturing it. Shadow, at Su Ming’an’s command, stood alone at the Sixth Zone stronghold, driving away all approaching Players.

At twenty past midnight, the Second Zone stronghold was successfully captured.

At forty-five past midnight, Lin Yin reached the Fourth Zone stronghold, which was also successfully captured.

At one o’clock, Su Ming’an, accompanied by Archilev, went to the church, searched, touched the mural, obtained Su Rin’s Memory Stone, and accepted the quest "Slay the Brave."

At twenty past one, the Sixth Zone stronghold was successfully captured.

At two o’clock, Lin Yin arrived at the church, and the church’s special stronghold was successfully captured.

At twenty past two, Su Ming’an reached The Great Library at the center, acquired the Divine Language Reference Book, took the treasure from the treasure room, and procured the Sea Monster Antidote needed by Noel.

At forty past two, the Eighth Zone stronghold was successfully captured.

At three o’clock, Su Ming’an reached the underground laboratory beneath the Royal City, released the Players trapped inside the lab from the other side of the passage, and then quickly proceeded up the right underground tunnel to meet the potentially arriving Tulip Princess.

At four o’clock, Su Ming’an emerged from the underground passage and ran into the Tulip Princess, who was just about to enter with a lantern, and the Knight of Light following her.

At this moment, his Perfect Completion Progress and Exploration Degree had soared to 80%.

The quest "Kill the Brave" automatically became void, suggesting that he had taken a different route to a Perfect Pass.

From midnight to four in the morning, his entire operation ran incredibly smoothly, like the return of the War God Dragon King, leaving the audience staring at the screens in amazement.

The crisp early morning air flowed from above the passage, and the moment he saw the Tulip Princess, Su Ming’an felt as if he were seeing a familiar old friend.

Her soul was decaying rapidly in pleasure, yet her past words still echoed in his ears.

...

[Jin Qiangwei: Destiny is blind, and I bear these burdens.

——I’ll continue to live, watching everything, so that they may regain their dignity.]

...

"I issue you a High Tower Invitation," Su Ming’an immediately spoke.

In an instant, the figure of the SS-level Black Hat Soul Hunter appeared beside the princess, but his black chains had barely emerged when they were violently pushed away by the blue shield of the High Tower Invitation.

Su Ming’an stepped forward swiftly, grabbing the princess who was now face to face with him.

In that instant, the fragile neck of Pulaya’s supreme Ruler was in his hands.

The princess’s eyes, brimming with the blue soul of a Sea Monster, were filled with incredulity. She couldn’t for the life of her understand how Su Rin could appear, at this time, on her necessary path.

"—Su Rin, you—" the Princess’s face was a picture of sheer panic: "Stop— I am the blessed Princess Pulaya, you cannot kill me—"

Su Ming’an pressed down on her neck, her beautiful face that had been nourished by countless lives slowly started to redden.

...

["Oh most dazzling and mighty Demon King,"]

[Jin Qiangwei spoke out, her voice somewhat mechanical: "From this day forth, I shall serve You, assist in Your sinfully grand and supreme endeavors. Should You have any commands, please order me at any time..."]

...

The Princess struggled.

Her hands were clawing at Su Ming’an’s hand, but she couldn’t fend off the terrifying Strength Value in his Bright State, barely spitting out her broken words from her throat:

"You can’t kill me—not kill me—my body bears the soul of a Sea Monster, if you kill me, the surrounding Sea Monsters will go berserk—"

"Su Rin! You mustn’t kill the Princess, have you forgotten the Oracle of the Supreme God?" Black Pike was blocked outside the Shield, unable to break through. His ever-calm face finally changed, even with his Combat Power of 3500, the prospect of the Princess possibly dying brought fear to him.

...

[Black Devotee: There’s no need to discuss these matters with me.

I will ensure Jin Qiangwei’s safety, the Heir can rest assured.]

...

"Black Devotee." Su Ming’an turned his head, looking at Black Pike, whose face was filled with worry and anger: "You really would protect your dear ’Jin Qiangwei,’ eh— Is it because she once begged the God to save you?"

Black Pike was taken aback by Su Ming’an’s words; he didn’t understand what Su Ming’an was talking about.

Su Ming’an laughed, his laughter tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

...

[Su Ming’an remembered one way to earn Resource Points was to fulfill the wishes of his subordinates.]

[He turned his head towards Jin Qiangwei: "Do you have a wish?"]

[—Oh great Demon King, during my travels in the Mortal World, I came across a steadfast and courageous soldier of the Human Race. He is now at death’s door, and I wish to save his life. May I ask for your permission?]

...

[Su Ming’an chose "Yes."]

[Next moment, a beam of white light flashed, and a black puppet appeared next to Jin Qiangwei. Floating above its head were the words "Black Devotee," signifying its name.]

...

Su Ming’an extended his hand.

"Click"

Upon hearing this crisp sound, the Princess turned deathly pale for a moment, believing it to be the sound of her throat bone snapping from her own neck.

However, when Su Ming’an released his grip and violently threw her onto the ground, the Princess realized something else had been affixed to her neck.

It was a blood-red necklace.

The deep red, like a beating heart, the gemstone hung at the bottom of the chain, glimmering faintly in the dizzying light.

She looked at the necklace around her neck with some shock, trying to pull it off, only to find it starting to shine brightly.

An extreme sense of danger warned her that this item could truly threaten her life.

This was Su Ming’an’s method of controlling her.

He indeed had no intention of killing the Princess.

The Princess is key to the entire instance, and according to the information he had acquired about the "incubator," if someone killed the last successful incubator, they might become the last generation themselves.

If he killed the Princess, he might instantaneously become the Princess himself, or become instantaneously metamorphosed.

This was a very dangerous trap, one that he had discerned, and the Princess absolutely must not be killed.

But he had other methods of control.

...

[Dong Xue’s Ruby Pendant (Red Level): A one-time prop, you can gift it to an NPC or player. Once worn, this pendant will have a controllable explosive effect, removable only by using a secret latch.]

...

"You, you... Su Rin! How dare you make me wear this... I tell you, if I die before the next ’incubator’ grows out, the Sea Monsters suppressed by the soul within me will go berserk—"

"You once said that Pulaya does not need a second ruler, that I should not come back." Su Ming’an looked at her: "But now, it is you who is no longer needed."

"My body carries the soul that suppresses the Sea Monsters in the vicinity—" the Princess angrily said.

Su Ming’an didn’t respond.

He didn’t tell the Princess, unfortunately for her, he also bore one, and it was the complete version.

He had thought the Princess knew this information, but now it seemed, only players like Boris who were engrossed in unearthing old tales were aware.

He wondered where Boris had found the old sailor who knew about it.

Facing the Princess who was so angry she lost her composure, Su Ming’an pinched the air with his fingers, and the pendant on the Princess’ neck started glowing.

She immediately lowered her hands, scared witless that it might explode.

Black Pike, on the other hand, dreaded damaging what he couldn’t afford to lose and dared not move a muscle.

"What... What do you want..." The Princess’s tone instantly weakened: "Su Rin, I’m telling you, you are still a participant in the Maritime Banquet. If you attempt to directly rule over Pulaya and eliminate the conflict between humans and the Soul Clan, the deities will never forgive you..."

"Deities?" Su Ming’an retorted: "Are there actually deities in this world who feed on the hatred and struggle between lives, stirring up wars like ’Demon Kings,’ deliberately maintaining the balance of war? Have the sources of a deity’s power become this filthy?"

...

[Su Ming’an remembered that one important way to acquire Resource Points was to "maintain the balance of war."]

[He immediately thought about investing Resource Points to help the Red army, but then he saw a prompt appear next to the panel:]

[You can assign your soldiers to carry out special operations to influence the situation. At the same time, your soldiers will automatically develop other soldiers, thereby strengthening your troops.]

...

[The Red and Blue sides.]

[Humans and the Soul Clan.]

[The Red and Blue rulers who deliberately maintain the balance of war... and the "Demon King" who draws power from people’s hatred and struggle.]

...

"Prepare the succession ceremony." Su Ming’an let go, and the Ruby Pendant on the Princess’s neck calmed down.

"Today, I want all of Pulaya to hear the news of a new king’s ascension," he said.

"Do you want me to ascend to the throne, to become your puppet?" The Princess’s complexion improved slightly, her clenched fist loosening a bit.

As long as she was not killed, everything else could be discussed.

Even if she were to ascend to the throne and become Su Rin’s puppet, she could still accumulate strength, slowly find a way to remove the necklace, or quickly find the next vessel to transfer her body and seize an opportunity for a counterattack.

This was merely a stalling tactic... She could temporarily follow his orders.

As long as she became Queen, her chances of victory were even greater.

"It’s not about pushing you to power," Su Ming’an glanced at her.

"Not me? Could it be you? I am the only one of the royal bloodline, you are not worthy of ascending to the throne..." The Princess was so incensed she laughed, even daring to scoff in the face of danger.

"—’Do princes and generals have a family?’" Archilev, looking every bit the English gentleman, interjected.

Su Ming’an punched the Princess in the face, then turned to Archilev: "Well said, who taught you that?"

"Miss Lin Yin," Archilev smiled: "She truly is a wise woman. However... as I have followed you, I’ve gradually realized that, Father, you are also worthy of my loyalty."

Archilev had discovered the truth that Su Ming’an was Su Rin from over sixty years ago.

He knew who had saved him when he was on the brink of death, who had transformed him.

Between the two Protectors, Su Ming’an had chosen him over Sevya, which he believed represented Su Rin’s trust in him.

...

[Among them, Su Ming’an noticed that the three soldiers developed by the despicable ones of Heaven were all very strong.]

["The Silent Knight" and "The Frost Ruler" were particularly good at fighting, and every time the balance of war tipped, sending them out yielded great results.]

[However, these two soldiers seemed incompatible and couldn’t be sent to the same area at the same time; otherwise, the troops in that area would start fighting among themselves.]

...

"I thought so."

Su Ming’an picked up the Princess in his hand: "It seems we still need to have a more in-depth communication."

"...No need." The Princess, with her swollen bun-like face, restrained the angry expression on her face.

In the face of Su Ming’an, who could make her cry with one punch, her voice became very small: "...I’ll arrange the coronation right now."

...

In the palace, warm with heating, Su Ming’an sat on the golden throne, twirling the royal crown that should have been on the Princess’s head.

In front of him, the Pope held a red leather-bound book, reciting a blessing text.

This was the traditional Pulayan new king’s ascension ritual. Only after completing these processes would the system recognize that Su Ming’an had seized the position of King of Pulaya.

...

[He used a feather pen dipped in blood to engrave the contents of the booklet onto the stone tablet, copying the text bit by bit.]

["...Is this some kind of homework copying game?" Su Ming’an wondered as he copied.]]

[After copying the unintelligible symbols, he looked at the stone tablet covered in blood-red characters.]

[The stone tablet emitted a glow, and the blood letters gradually disappeared.]

...

[Aside from "The Silent Knight" and "The Frost Ruler," the despicable ones of Heaven had also developed a soldier named "Divine Radiance."]

[This soldier was particularly suited to tasks like inscribing tablets and diplomacy, so Su Ming’an placed it beside himself, to take over his copying tasks.]

...

[—The Pope was someone who could communicate freely with the deities in the heavens and pass on the letters from the clouds.]

...

The blessing text was finished.

The Pope bowed his head, his hand resting on the bright red book.

"Su Rin," he said softly, his eyes, aged with time, staring straight at the youth upon the throne, "you were once the deity’s most favored one. Why must you do this?"

Su Ming’an looked back at him.

In his eyes, there was an indifference born of a full understanding of the situation.

...

[To let the flames of war burn eternally across the world, to allow sin to rule over life forever... the throne of the Demon King requires an heir.]

[Great Demon King, you can now cultivate your own successor!]

[A puppet different from the others, emitting a golden light, appeared before him.]

[Above the puppet’s head floated the words "Scoundrel of Heaven."]

...

The Pope lifted his head, the book in his hands slowly closing, the cover over his hands, crimson as blood.

"...You shouldn’t have seized this throne, nor should you have chosen to unite humankind with the Soul Clan. Without their sacrifices and struggles, the deity will lose the power to maintain the Barrier," he said slowly, "This is a violation of the Divine Realm—this is betrayal."

Archilev’s Guardian stood in front of Su Ming’an, his face wearing an elegant smile.

"Whatever decision my father makes is his own," Archilev said, "As for what deity? A deity who cannot leave Yun Shang City and even requires your help to deliver messages, why should I submit to it?

——My father now possesses the ability to stabilize the Barrier.

Pulaya no longer needs the deity; my father should be the true ruler."

As he spoke, he knelt on one knee before Su Ming’an.

"I will follow all your commands, father," he said:

"...Please, lead Pulaya out of this meaningless sacrifice."

...

[The Scoundrel of Heaven has been swayed by the local army, loyalty plummeting.]

[The Scoundrel of Heaven has decided to leave the Demon King City, You have lost the heir·Scoundrel of Heaven.]

[Following that, Su Ming’an saw on the sand table, the triangle that originally represented the Scoundrel suddenly disappeared, and no matter how he searched, he could not control the Scoundrel’s actions anymore.]

[...How could there be betrayal?]

[Su Ming’an’s eyelids twitched violently.]

[He had never considered that an heir could escape.]

[...Scoundrel, you truly live up to your name.]

...

"Su Rin."

The Pope looked up, his voice booming throughout the hall.

His eyes bore directly into Su Ming’an’s golden ones, filled with immense sadness and regret.

"—You have forsaken your faith, defied the oracle of the deity to maintain the balance of war.

—You, the most despicable traitor.

You better pray you stay in Pulaya your whole life, pray that the deity never truly descends on Pulaya, pray that I can never escape, never summon the deity to punish you.

Otherwise, the day you ascend to Yun Shang City will be the day of your death—"

Su Ming’an looked back at him indifferently.

In the eyes of the Pope, there burned the wrath of a betrayal by a deity’s heir.

...

[In Su Ming’an’s somewhat blurred vision, a white boot embroidered with golden sanctity patterns appeared in front of him.]

[...Finally, you have climbed up here," the deity said.]

[Su Ming’an couldn’t understand.]

[Why the deity of Cloud City would so decisively, without leaving any room for mercy, kill him.]

...

Su Ming’an raised his hand.

He slowly placed the spinning crown in his hand upon his own head.

At that moment, he heard the system’s authentication voice for the transfer of Pulaya’s royal power.

He had become the supreme ruler of Pulaya.

The crown felt somewhat heavy, his head dipping slightly.

"Your Majesty."

Jin Qiangwei, her face full of despair, handed him the scepter.

...

[Perfect Completion Progress: 85%]