This bug is amazing!

Chapter 192: God's Game

Having lost his left arm, Zui Wan Gu Hong raised his head, looked at Ji Yi across the distance, nodded indifferently, and then walked into the villa.

Ji Yi, with a complicated expression, immediately left the room and went downstairs to greet him.

After a while.

In a private meeting room, Ji Yi and Gu Hong sat facing each other, with no one else in the room.

"Shouldn't we order the chicken leg too? He seems to be writing a book and hasn't gone to the dungeon, so he'll have some free time now."

Instead of asking about the other person's injuries directly, Ji Yi tried to keep her tone casual.

"No need. There's no need to let too many people know about some things."

As he spoke, Zui Wan Gu Hong took out a cigarette with one hand and lit it with a flourish.

Ji Yi: "I remember you don't seem to smoke."

Drunkard and Lonely Goose: "I've just never smoked in front of you."

He exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes filled with deep thought. After a moment of silence, he spoke:
"The top bastard brought a lot of valuable information, and I was able to use it to successfully dismantle a number of headhunting dens."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yi looked at Gu Hong's missing left arm and asked, "Was that where he died?"

"Yes, I just came from the hospital."

"Shouldn't you rest for a few more days?"

"too busy."

The two remained silent for a while.

Then Ji Yi spoke first: "The Headhunter Alliance shouldn't be able to cause any trouble these days. Have you noticed that you've lost some memories? For example, the time in the [Lakeside Cabin] instance when we were harmed by someone?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Hong's eyes showed a hint of doubt, and his brows gradually furrowed.

"Do you remember who was so eager to find Miss Cat? And why? Back at the lakeside cabin, who was I pretending to be clueless about and hiding from?"

As Ji Yi spoke, Gu Hong's eyes gradually brightened: "You eliminated 'that guy's' existence? Was it a high-ranking member of the Headhunter Alliance?"

“Hmm.” Ji Yi nodded. “He might even be the leader of the Headhunter Alliance, but the specifics are unknown, because I myself can’t remember him—after all, he’s a ‘non-existent person.’”

Next, Ji Yi recounted matters concerning the Faceless Ones.

After hearing this, Gu Hong sighed, stubbed out his cigarette, and said softly:

"It sounds like the work of a god, which happens to be something I learned about in a dungeon."

"A god?" Ji Yi became interested. "Is it the god I'm thinking of, the god who reigns above the game and the dungeons, manipulating the players?"

"Hmm. It seems you've already come into contact with that god. But that god is very special, and it's not even certain if he exists. Wait a moment, I'll take some painkillers."

Gu Hong took out a strip of medicine, plucked out a pill, and swallowed it.

Looking at his missing left arm, Ji Yi could imagine the pressure Gu Hong was under, which was so great that he had to stay at his post even in this condition, working around the clock without stopping.

“I’ll continue,” Gu Hong said, putting away the medicine. “That is a god called ‘Nothingness,’ whose concept is that all things are illusions and dreams, and all will and matter do not exist. Some characteristics of the Faceless Ones are very similar to the god ‘Nothingness,’ so there should be some connection.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yi also fell into thought.

"I see."

Ji Yi understood.

Since it is a nonexistent god, it is uncertain whether this "god" even exists. It makes perfect sense that the Eye of Data cannot find any trace of the god.

However, according to the interpretation of the "nothingness" god, He should also be able to directly eliminate matter, etc. Erasing a person's conscious existence should only be part of His ability.

After all, the Faceless Man's mask doesn't make a person completely disappear; it only erases the concept of their existence.

"A terrifying power."

Ji Yi couldn't help but sigh.

“He is a special god, after all, the only god who ‘does not exist,’ so I was impressed by him.”

At this point, Gu Hong suddenly changed the subject and asked Ji Yi:
Do you usually watch live streams? Like those game competition streams.

Ji Yi asked in confusion, "I don't really look at it, what is that?"

"It's a type of game that's streamed live. Viewers support their chosen faction by sending gifts and sending comments, and the game changes in real time. It's a very boring thing."

Ji Yi seemed to understand what Gu Hong wanted to say.

"Are you saying that hyperdimensional games are like these live-streamed games, and we players are just minions spawned by the gods in this game?"

Gu Hong nodded: "That's pretty much it. To them, we're just lowly soldiers on a live stream screen, there for their amusement."

“So,” Gu Hong and Ji Yi looked at each other, “all we can do is try our best to perform this ‘game’ and make them happy. Maybe then we can protect the safety of all mankind.”

An indescribable displeasure rose in Ji Yi's heart.

Are life-or-death games, even the destruction of a planet or a universe, merely a game of amusement for those beings?

It's infuriating to think about; I have this urge to elevate my hand to a higher dimension and slap them across the face through the screen.

Just as he was thinking, Gu Hong continued:

"What I know so far is that I seem to have become a pawn of the 'God of War'. Even my job change to the [Sword Master of Selflessness] must have been orchestrated by Him. However, the intervention that gods can exert is limited, otherwise I wouldn't have lost my hand."

"God of War?"

Ji Yi muttered to herself, "The one who chose me must be the evil god."

Looking at Gu Hong's severed arm, Ji Yi suddenly changed the subject:
"Speaking of which, since you started playing the game, have you noticed any difference in your physical abilities?"

Gu Hong blinked upon hearing this: "You noticed all this? You shouldn't have. Actually, I didn't want to say this now."

Ji Yi asked curiously, "You knew all along?"

"Not really, but knowing in advance doesn't really help. The realism of game data is negligible these days. Did you use any items that temporarily boost your strength in the game?"

Ji Yi recalled the battle with the Faceless One.

"Yeah, that's right."

"That's right. It's possible that the effect at the time unexpectedly carried over into reality, which is why you felt a significant improvement even when your 'descent rate' was less than 1%."

"Degree of arrival?"

"Well, the impact of hyperdimensional games on reality isn't static; it doesn't just affect player freedom and ordinary people's perception of reality. It will become increasingly apparent over time, and the so-called 'descent rate' refers to the degree to which player data is projected onto reality. Speaking of which, the concept of 'descent rate' was taught to me by the number one loser."

Ji Yi was somewhat surprised to hear this. That dark-skinned young man who had been recruited?

"This shows how superior the Headhunter Alliance is in terms of information." Gu Hong thought, as if recalling something again, "But that may not be the case now. I suspect you've caught a big fish, and our advantage will be significant in the future."

"Um"

Ji Yi pondered, now having gained a deeper understanding of how to play the hyperdimensional game.

Players cooperate and fight within the instance.

This will gradually change in the future and become a reality.

How harmful would that be to ordinary people? It's simply unimaginable.

Even if the dungeon world is incredibly realistic, it's still not your own world. But once it impacts the real world, the experience is completely different. Ordinary people will be affected, and many will die. At that time, people will be as worthless as weeds, making it far more terrifying than any previous chaotic era.

What a terrible game.

Is the ultimate goal to become the winner of this game?

Ji Yi thought to himself.

If he could, Ji Yi would even like to go back to the days when he was in debt, but now, he is clearly trapped in the vortex.

Ultimately, some responsibilities must be borne.

He certainly had no obligation to save all of humanity, nor did he have such grand ambitions.

But he was, after all, a human being with flesh and blood, bound by inseparable bonds and emotions.

Hsieh Chia-yi, Miss Cat, and the player friends I met in the dungeons, as well as the friendships I gained in each dungeon.

Thinking of this, he recalled the scene in the "Forbidden Zone of Ghost Stories" where Misaki underwent a strange change.

Subconsciously, I touched my head, trying to find the hair clip.

Of course, I didn't touch anything.

"I made a decision."

Ji Yi suddenly stood up and spoke loudly, but she didn't look at Gu Hong; it was more like she was talking to herself.

"Ok?"

Upon hearing the sound, Gu Hong looked at Ji Yi.

"I'm going to beat this damn game completely! I'm going to become the strongest! I'll slap every single one of those spectators, the nosy spectators, and those high and mighty gods across the face!"

Gu Hong's eyes widened, and he rarely showed such surprise.

Even if he reached the pinnacle of humanity, he wouldn't dare to dream such an arrogant dream.

"Ah"

A slight smile appeared on Gu Hong's face, and he shook his head.

"If it were someone else, I might have just taken it as crazy talk, but what you said just shows that you are truly the boldest person I have ever met."

Ji Yi didn't respond, her gaze distant:
"What happened to the group of Headhunter Alliance members you wiped out? Were they all killed? Were there no survivors?"

Seeing that Ji Yi quickly brought her mind back to the main topic, Gu Hong also quickly and seriously said:

“I killed thirteen and captured eight alive. They are now being held in a specially set-up place under surveillance. I deliberately left tracking chips in their bodies, trying to catch bigger fish with a long line.”

"Um"

Ji Yi didn't press further and changed the subject: "What did Lao Hei say about the Headhunter Alliance's recent big moves, and what information did you gather?"

Gu Hong continued earnestly:
"Based on the current information, it seems the Headhunter Alliance is trying to control all the instances,"

Ji Yi was taken aback: "All of them?"

“Yes.” Gu Hong said with certainty, “In fact, the number of dungeon worlds is limited. We have also compared the data and found that the number of dungeon worlds seems to be fixed at about seven hundred.”

"In other words, no matter how different the tasks, locations, and forms are assigned each time, there are only more than 700 dungeon worlds in total. The hundreds of thousands or even millions of dungeons that players of Hyperdimensional Games have participated in over the past few years are actually based on these 700-plus worlds."

"It's just that, even if players enter the same instance multiple times, it's difficult for them to realize that they've been to this world before, so over the long term, no one has been able to summarize this information."

"Speaking of which, I have to praise you. How did you manage to take down someone with such a huge information advantage? It's unbelievable."

Ji Yi scratched his head: "If I can solve this, you might be able to as well."

Gu Hong simply smiled upon hearing this and continued his explanation:
"In short, the Headhunter Alliance is trying to collect the coordinate units of these more than 700 worlds and then suppress all players through some means."

"As for the specifics of how to implement it, I think even most members of the Headhunter Alliance probably don't know how it works."

Ji Yi immediately replied, "Perhaps, it's not just most of the members who don't know, but all of them in the Headhunter Alliance who don't know anymore."

After a few seconds of contemplation, Gu Hong said calmly, "I can only say that I hope so."

"Relax, the verification method is also very simple."

Ji Yi smiled and said, "If the Headhunter Alliance were truly leaderless, why would they continue to do something that seems pointless?"

Then, Ji Yi steered the conversation back to Gu Hong's operation:

"I need to meet with those survivors and talk to them about something."

Gu Hong nodded: "When you asked me just now, I guessed that you wanted to do this. I will arrange a time for you, but we need to do our best to ensure safety."

"no problem."

Ji Yi nodded, then looked at Gu Hong's severed arm:
"There's something else I want to discuss with you. Do you want your arm healed? Like, restored to its original state? After all, you're the pinnacle of players, the face of humanity."

The lone goose was clearly intrigued:

"Do you have any idea?"

"Of course I can, and I can even cure you very quickly, but I certainly can't give you the benefits for nothing."

Seeing this, Gu Hong wasn't in a hurry: "Tell me, what do you want?"

Ji Yi rubbed his chin: "Your sword is pretty good. I used it last time and it felt good in my hand."

Gu Hong shook his head: "I can give you an epic-level one, but I think you wouldn't just want something so simple."

"Nonsense, do you think mythical-level consumables are as common as cabbages?"

Ji Yi said irritably.

Clearly, his confidence in treating Gu Hong stemmed from the "panacea."

It's something that can bring the dead back to life, and its use can directly affect reality. It can even cure congenital disabilities, as well as cancer and other diseases.

This item is extremely valuable, so much so that it cannot be bought with any amount of money; it can only be exchanged for equivalent game resources.

However, Ji Yi no longer has this item; the rest are all in Miss Cat's hands. At most, he can act as an intermediary, exchanging some nice things for Miss Cat to use.

After all, the two are the best partners.

“A mythical item?” Gu Hong closed his eyes. “I can’t afford it right now. Losing a legendary weapon would be a much greater loss of combat power than losing an arm.”

Ji Yi: "."

Is this a matter of combat strength? This is seriously affecting real life!

How will I be able to hold my phone in one hand to watch videos while simultaneously using my other hand to fly?
Just thinking about it is painful.

However, Ji Yi did not insist:

"Okay, if you're interested, contact me anytime and I'll make sure it's taken care of. But if it's too late, I can't guarantee that the item will be there by then."

"Ah."

Gu Hong appeared quite composed, seemingly unconcerned about the matter.

But Ji Yi's curiosity has been piqued again:
"I'm telling you, with your intelligence and strength, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say you could take on a hundred people single-handedly, right? Tell me in detail how you lost your arm?"

(End of this chapter)