A different world game? A different world game!

abyss.

On the bloody battlefield.

The scorching sulfur wind whipped up sand and gravel, lashing against the cold metal armor and worn leather clothing.

Having left the protection of the Bloodbath Fortress's energy field, the desolation and malice of the Abyss Level 1121 came rushing in.

A four-man squad silently marched across the scorched earth, their target the newly rising beacon of order on the horizon—Blood Pit Fortress.

The leader was an elf whose face, honed by long battles, still retained sharp features, but deep in his eyes lay unmistakable signs of fatigue and bloodshot eyes.

Here, you cannot see noble races, nor can you discern their nobility from their appearance.

This is a bloody battlefield in the abyss, where all that is visible on everyone is the traces of battle and the presence of blood and iron.

His name is Arian Silverleaf, and he is the team leader for this trip.

To be honest, he quite liked the mission, since he hadn't been to Blood Pit Fortress yet.

However, the most significant news about their battlefield in recent years has been related to the Blood Pit Fortress.

After all, no one expected that they would witness changes that had not occurred in a thousand years.

This brought more excitement and comfort to their hearts, which had gradually become weary and numb from killing and fighting.

It would be great to be able to go to Blood Pit Fortress on a government-sponsored trip to see for myself and see if those exaggerated, outrageous, and chaotic rumors are true.

And they don't need to reimburse us.

His steps were light and alert, as if he were walking in the shadows of a hunt.

Behind him followed a variety of companions.

The dwarf Grom Stonefist carried his signature volcanic steel warhammer, his thick arms wrapped in bandages.

That's how the abyss is: old wounds haven't healed, new wounds are added, and one knows death is imminent.

This is especially true for dwarves.

Old and new scars were mixed together. He muttered something under his breath as he walked, his short, stocky body like a moving rock.

The presence of another member seemed both out of place and just right—Sophia.

A half-demon with succubus blood.

Her skin was pale purple, and a dangerous glint flickered in the depths of her eyes.

A tail with demonic markings swayed restlessly behind it, carefully concealing its chaotic aura to avoid attracting unnecessary trouble, but the alluring aura from the abyss still lingered faintly.

Half-demons are relatively common on the battlefield, and there isn't much discrimination against them, unless they are newcomers.

Because all the Avengers clearly understand that when the world is invaded, all sorts of half-demons will appear.

The chaos of demons is not only reflected in their killings, but also in their undisguised desires.

And the children born to mothers who died with hatred are also avengers.

Simply put, the people here can empathize and understand, so there is naturally no discrimination.

As for whether half-demons are more likely to fall into the abyss, frankly, who here isn't more likely to fall into the abyss?

There is no difference.

Not to mention that there are many different races on the battlefield, and there are many other races that look like demons.

No matter what you are, as long as you kill demons, we are all comrades.

The last one is the silent iron warrior "Node-07", whose body, constructed entirely of adamantite, gleams with a cold, hard metallic luster under the dim red light.

His joints hummed subtly and precisely as they moved. He carried a folded energy cannon on his shoulder, his steps mechanical and steady, making him a reliable bulwark for the team.

He is the most peculiar one here. Although he has a human appearance, you cannot feel the pulse of life emanating from him.

Because he is not a being of flesh and blood, but a creation of steel, only possessing advanced intelligence like a human.

You might find this strange elsewhere, but this is the abyss, a battlefield of bloodshed, so there's no need to be alarmed.

“Hey, boss,” Grom broke the silence in a gruff voice, wiping his beard, which was covered in sweat and dust.

"Was that 'blood pit' really like the legends say? They say that in their land, demons only deserve to be burned as firewood?"

Arian's lips twitched slightly, but he didn't turn around immediately.

"It's common for legends to be over-embellished, Gron. But they did do the impossible—to hold their ground at the heart of the demon siege and repel the evil god's personal attacks, and not just once."

"The intelligence department has verified some of the energy fluctuation characteristics, and the accuracy is very high."

His voice carried the coolness unique to elves, but when he mentioned Kana, there was a hint of barely perceptible awe in his tone.

He didn't know this deity, but he had seen him from afar when he was just a guard in charge of ceremonies.

Although I don't know what his personality is like, the orderly power emanating from his whole body is undeniable.

Order is always the first thing to be impacted in the abyss.

“Not only that,” Sophia’s voice was languidly hoarse, but her eyes gleamed with a sharp light.

"I also heard that after the battle, the lord casually sprinkled stardust, and the crippled warriors grew new, gleaming silver arms, and even the filth of their souls was washed away."

"...This sounds even more outrageous than the promises of the Abyss Lords. Our new recruits are practically treating it as a bedtime story."

Her words carried a self-deprecating tone, yet also revealed a deep longing—as a half-demon, she understood all too well the rarity of pure, orderly power.

The main reason is that these gods care about these ordinary warriors below.

Most gods are only concerned with their own battles, although they may consider the impact of the aftermath of battles on friendly forces.

But they would never praise the soldiers and bestow various blessings upon them after the war, or even help them repair their disabilities, like Karna did.

"The rumors are exaggerated, but the core indicators are logical." Node-07's voice was a synthesized electronic tone, calm and even.

"The tactical report of Blood Pit Fortress shows that its unit combat damage recovery rate is far higher than the average of 98.73% of Blood Battle Fortress, and its consumption of logistical supplies is extremely high, especially purification agents and healing agents."

"This indirectly confirms that it possesses powerful recovery methods and a strong rear support chain. Regarding Venerable Kana's 'data-driven rules,' the combat efficiency enhancement model is currently under analysis."

From a purely logical and intelligence analysis perspective, he confirmed that the legend was not unfounded.

Just like their appearance, this is a highly intelligent life form, like artificial intelligence.

It could certainly be a product of alchemy.

Arian nodded: "The veterans who came back before also mentioned that the 'pure light filter' constructed by the Venerable blocked the polluted blood rain from the evil god's body being cut off."

"They're envious of the logistical support capabilities of that system... That massive structure has a wide coverage area, and according to reliable intelligence, it should be able to provide protection, purification and nourishment, and post-war repair... Sigh!"

He sighed and rubbed his temples, which ached from prolonged tension. "The supply lines to Bloodbath Fortress are getting longer and longer. Every time we have to haggle with those old foxes from the merchant guilds, Brock's temper almost makes him smash the table."

"Could we really do as Lord Ferrian suggested and open up channels to buy their goods directly... especially those potions..."

The other three couldn't help but feel a surge of mental exhaustion.

The constant fighting, the harsh environment, and the unpredictability of the future are all swords hanging over our heads.

The rest after each major battle is like a drowning person's brief respite.

Ge Long rubbed his aching shoulders hard, while Sophia suppressed the alluring aura that had inadvertently emanated from her, an aura inherent in her bloodline.

Even the heat dissipation vents of Node-07 seemed to hum slightly.

The scars of bloody battles are deeply etched in the minds and bodies of every soldier who can still walk on the scorched earth.

Just then, several distorted, foul-smelling demons and imps suddenly emerged from the cracks in the ground ahead.

Upon seeing living creatures, these lowest-ranking demons immediately roared and pounced, their eyes filled only with chaos and slaughter.

"Hmph, an appetizer! Perfect for loosening up my muscles!"

With a roar, Gronn didn't wait for any orders. His massive warhammer roared and took the initiative, smashing a leading coward into a bloody pulp with tremendous force. The splattered blood and debris left scorching trails in the air.

Sophia's figure flashed like a ghost, her short energy whip striking out precisely, instantly shattering the head of a lesser demon. The faint orderly energy attached to the whip tip made the nearby demons feel uncomfortable.

“What a... filthy greeting.” Her voice was filled with undisguised disgust.

Arian's rapier transformed into a blur of light and shadow in his hand, blending elven elegance with lethality. The tip of the sword pierced swiftly, sealing throats and hearts, each strike deftly dismantling the demon's pitiful offensive.

Node-07 didn't even use the shoulder cannon; with a simple raise of its arm, two high-speed vibrating wrist blades instantly sprang out from its forearm.

Like a precise harvester, it cleanly and efficiently sliced ​​through the approaching demon, its metallic body remaining perfectly still, efficient and cold.

The battle ended in an instant, leaving only a few puddles of filth on the scorched earth, which were quickly "digested" by the sulfurous soil.

"Damn it, this is never going to end..." Geron spat and habitually poked the demon's corpse with the handle of his hammer.

"Abnormal".

Arian sheathed his rapier and scanned his surroundings with sharp eyes.

The unusual thing isn't that there's a demon here.

"Given our distance from Bloodbath Fortress, the harassment density has decreased...by a lot."

It's perfectly normal to encounter demons in the Abyss this time, but only a few small creatures seem a bit too few.

Maybe they just got lucky today.

As they continued toward Blood Pit Fortress, the unusual sensation became increasingly pronounced.

The number of demons suddenly became scarce. Logically, they should have increased before decreasing. This depends on whether the Blood Pit Fortress has the ability to clear the surrounding demon density to a certain extent.

The smell of sulfur in the air was still strong, but the omnipresent, unsettling whispers and sense of being watched had noticeably diminished, as if filtered by some invisible barrier.

This indicates that the forces of order here are somewhat mixed with forces that are counteracting the forces of chaos.

The surrounding environment was no longer filled with malicious "vitality," but instead showed a kind of anxious but... relatively peaceful deathly stillness.

Just as everyone was wondering about this, a small, uniformly dressed group of figures appeared in their field of vision from behind the hills on the flank.

They rode on a type of high continental bird adorned with light metal plates and possessing sharp eyes, their steps light and powerful.

Arian immediately signaled the team to stop, his gesture of identifying himself clean and crisp.

The opposing squad was well-trained, splitting into formations and maintaining a safe distance, with the leader controlling the bird to move forward.

Arian could clearly feel the scrutinizing gaze directed at him—calm, wary, and devoid of malice, yet filled with a professionally cold assessment.

Is this the patrol team from Blood Pit Fortress?

Because he saw the markings on the armor opposite him.

Elite, absolute elite!

Arian was deeply shocked.

He almost instantly realized that every member of this five-person patrol team had honed their aura to the pinnacle of mortal life, and were only one crucial step away from embarking on the path to legend.

After all, he himself is a legend, so naturally he can clearly understand and see it.

Even in Bloodbath Fortress, such personnel are the backbone of the military and are rarely used together for perimeter patrol missions!
Their equipment was what truly captivated the attention of the Bloodbath Fortress delegation.

A unified style, yet perfectly switching between soft armor and heavy armor according to one's role.

The main body is a gray-black, tough composite material armor, with faint but dense energy runes clearly flowing on it, appearing and disappearing like breathing.

The inner lining clings to the body, outlining the warrior's streamlined silhouette without any unnecessary elements hindering movement.

The weapons were varied—one carried a greatsword, another wielded twin blades, another carried a strangely shaped crossbow, a mage held a short staff inlaid with gems, and a melee fighter wore a brass-like garment.

These pieces of equipment are clearly customized according to individual combat styles, but the materials, craftsmanship, and enchantment levels are all in the high-end category.

It's worth noting that customizing outer armor alone is already a sign of a powerful force.

What astonished these well-traveled Abyss Warriors the most were the details: the tactical pouch at the waist—the mage clearly sensed the spatial fluctuations emanating from it, indicating that it was by no means a simple package.

Even more eye-catching are two or three different colored, shimmering medicine tubes, which are quickly and securely attached to slots on the outside of the waist pack or the edge of the shoulder armor, allowing for immediate and rapid access and use, far exceeding the cumbersome method of venturing into space to equip the device.

The mage's eyes practically popped out—rapid healing, stamina restoration, mana replenishment, even instant purification?
The logistics and battlefield concepts behind this equipment configuration exceed the average imagination of Bloodbath Fortress.

Are you that rich?
"Order... pure and efficient order."

Sophia murmured softly, feeling the faint but incredibly resilient aura of order emanating from the other person repelling the abyss environment, as well as the indescribable suppression of the chaotic bloodline within her.

She became even more careful to conceal herself.

"Strict discipline and excellent equipment indicate that this is no small-scale operation."

The dwarf Gronn, unusually, refrained from grumbling and complaining. His gaze swept intently over the armor, runes, and novel potion hook devices, his eyes filled with the dwarf's characteristic appreciation for fine creations and a hint of hidden envy.

"Like... the Imperial Guard of our empire. The country behind that... must be a behemoth."

After identifying themselves and stating their mission, the patrol captain nodded slightly, his voice calm and clear: "Target: Blood Pit Fortress? Follow this scorched stone path straight ahead, it's five kilometers away. The outer area has been cleared, but please remain vigilant."

Without any unnecessary pleasantries, the patrol turned cleanly and decisively to continue their patrol duties. The tall, armored chocobos disappeared into the reddish-brown smoke with powerful strides, leaving the Bloodbath Fortress delegation to digest the intense impact of this first encounter.

Arian took a deep breath of the still-hot but seemingly "cleaner" air: "Let's go. The truth is just ahead."

Amidst a mixture of anticipation, doubt, and a deeper sense of awe, they quickened their pace. (End of Chapter)